Vijay Deverakonda's success story: From struggling to maintain Rs 500 bank balance to amassing Rs 70 crore net worth

The wedding of VIROSH has taken the internet by storm. Netizens are eagerly waiting to catch the first glimpse of newlyweds Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna. What’s a more perfect time to look back at the journey that brought the ‘Arjun Reddy’ star to where he is today? From being broke to building an empire solely on hard work and sheer determination, Vijay Deverakonda’s success story is an inspiration to millions.

Let’s dive straight into it.

Vijay Deverakonda's first salary was Rs 500

Long before becoming a pan-Indian star, Vijay Deverakonda was a commoner—someone who worked as a tuition teacher. Yes, you read that right. According to a report by News18, his first salary was Rs 500. He used to make a living tutoring, which earned him Rs 35,000 a month, and he also had a small business. These humble beginnings surely taught him the value of hard work and persistence.

Vijay Deverakonda once struggled to maintain a minimum bank balance

Vijay Deverakonda has had his share of struggles growing up.

The actor once spoke about the time when he was 25 and struggled to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 500. “My account at Andhra Bank was locked because I couldn’t maintain the minimum balance of Rs 500. Dad said, ‘Settle before 30— that way you can enjoy your success when you are young and your parents are healthy,’” the actor said in a tweet when he made it to the ‘Forbes 30 Under 30’ list.

Vijay Deverakonda charged only Rs 5 lakh for ‘Arjun Reddy’

For his breakout role in ‘Arjun Reddy,’ he charged a modest salary.

The film, released in 2017, was produced on a budget of Rs 5 crore, and Vijay Deverakonda, who played the lead role, was paid only Rs 5 lakh, as reported by Deccan Chronicle. The film was a success at the box office.In fact, Vijay earlier confessed that he was “getting paid peanuts” until ‘Kushi.’ While promoting his film ‘Family Star’ in 2024, the actor spoke about how he earned very little until his 2023 film ‘Khushi,’ co-starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

“I am a star, but I started to see real money only recently, around ‘Kushi.’ As an outsider, one shouldn’t think about money at first. One should worry about cementing one’s style and performances; my work in the films should speak first.

Outside, a lot is said about how much I am earning and all that. I earned peanuts till ‘Kushi.’ Only after that film did I start taking my market price,” he said.

Now Vijay Deverakonda charges crores for a film

Vijay Deverakonda has emerged as one of the most sought-after actors in the country.

No wonder his fees have gone up to crores. He charges anywhere between Rs 12 crore and Rs 15 crore per film, according to a Mint report. Each brand deal in the beverage and fashion sectors earns him Rs 1–2 crore. His monthly income is estimated at around Rs 1 crore, making it roughly Rs 13 crore annually. For his Bollywood debut ‘Liger,’ he reportedly charged Rs 35 crore.Vijay’s current net worth is estimated at Rs 70 crore, according to a Deccan Chronicle report. His earnings stem from his movie deals and other ventures such as fashion, sports, and real estate. The actor lives in his lavish home in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. The bungalow is estimated to be worth around Rs 15 crore.From being broke to earning in eight figures per project, Vijay Deverakonda’s journey is solid proof that determination and hard work can rewrite your entire story.DISCLAIMER: Figures presented in this article are derived from various public sources and are considered approximate unless explicitly noted. We may include direct input from celebrities or their teams when available. We are open to feedback on [email protected].