Vijay Deverakonda Calls CM Vijay ‘Already a Favourite’

Four days before Ranabaali opens in cinemas, Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna made a Chennai stop that has turned into a warm pre-release story. The actor-couple met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former film star Vijay, and Deverakonda’s social media note has given fans a new talking point just as the film’s promotion peaks.

Deverakonda wrote that he had ‘the most beautiful time’ with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader, and that even after a long day, Vijay received them warmly and shared personal insights. ‘One meeting and sir is already a favourite,’ he added, in a line that quickly travelled across fan accounts.

A meeting that looked like an occasion

The pictures from Chennai are part of the story. Deverakonda arrived in a formal bandhgala jacket with black trousers, Rashmika Mandanna kept it traditional in a dark blue silk saree, and CM Vijay stayed crisp in a dark navy shirt and trousers. A warm hug between the two Vijays became the defining image of the visit.

Why the timing matters

Ranabaali is not a routine release. It is a pan-India period action drama set against the Great Madras Famine of 1876-78, a historical backdrop that already gives Tamil Nadu a prominent place in the film. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan and backed by Mythri Movie Makers alongside T-Series, it is the first major collaboration between Deverakonda and Mandanna since their marriage in February 2026, with music by Ajay-Atul.

• The film: Ranabaali, a period action drama
• Release: October 16, 2026, worldwide
• Director: Rahul Sankrityan
• Backers: Mythri Movie Makers and T-Series
• Music: Ajay-Atul
• Setting: Great Madras Famine of 1876-78

The Thalapathy factor

The meeting carries extra weight because Vijay has moved fully into politics with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and has assumed office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. His last theatrical release, Jana Nayagan (2026), directed by H Vinoth and also featuring Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Nassar and Prakash Raj, is widely considered his final film. That makes every public appearance a blend of state leader and screen icon.

For Hindi film fans, this is a reminder that pan-India releases run on relationships as much as trailers. A warm note from Deverakonda can travel further than a formal press statement, and it lands exactly as Ranabaali’s promotional window is closing.

What to watch next

The test now is whether this goodwill translates into opening-day energy in Tamil Nadu, where the Chief Minister’s fan base still shapes how films are received. Ranabaali opens worldwide on October 16, 2026, and this meeting has given fans one more reason to treat it as an event. If the Tamil Nadu opening pops, expect this hug to be remembered as an early signal.

Source: India Today