- Vijay Deverakonda reportedly trained in horse riding for six months for Ranabaali.
- The actor learned advanced riding techniques, including one-handed riding and full-speed galloping.
- Behind-the-scenes footage showed Vijay experiencing falls and injuries during filming.
- Sandeep Reddy Vanga praised Vijay’s action, calling it “raw, untamed ferocity.”
- Vanga predicted Vijay would become the next defining action hero of Indian cinema.
Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda has received a major endorsement from filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who believes the actor could become Indian cinema’s next defining action hero. But behind that praise is the physical preparation Vijay reportedly undertook for Ranabaali, including six months of horse-riding training and falls during filming.
Vanga, who directed Vijay in Arjun Reddy, shared his review of Ranabaali on X after the film arrived in theaters on October 16. His assessment was emphatic, praising the actor’s screen presence and intensity in the action sequences.
“Vijay… your action has a raw, untamed ferocity that can’t be manufactured. There’s a terrifying intensity in the way you fight,” Vanga wrote.
He followed that assessment with a prediction: “I genuinely believe you'll be the next DEFINING ACTION HERO OF INDIAN CINEMA.”
The praise has drawn attention to the work Vijay put into playing the titular character in the period action drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan. Set in the 1800s Madras Presidency, Ranabaali depicts the devastating consequences of British colonial rule and follows a man who fights back after witnessing people around him starve and die.
Six months of horse-riding training
One of the most demanding parts of Vijay’s preparation was reportedly learning to ride horses for the film’s action sequences.
According to an unnamed source quoted by Pinkvilla, the actor spent six months training in horse riding, beginning with the basics before progressing to more advanced techniques. These reportedly included one-handed riding, full-speed galloping and maintaining control while performing action scenes.
The same source said Vijay wanted to master the skill himself rather than depend on camera tricks to create the impression of riding expertise.
Behind-the-scenes footage released by production house Mythri Movie Makers on Vijay’s birthday, May 9, showed him training under expert supervision on stallions. The makers called him a “Stallion” while sharing glimpses of his preparation.
Falls and injuries during filming
The training was only part of the challenge. The birthday video also showed Vijay experiencing multiple falls and injuries while filming the riding sequences.
According to the footage, he continued shooting despite these setbacks. However, specific details about the injuries have not been publicly reported, making it difficult to assess their severity or the extent of their impact on production.
The footage nevertheless offered a glimpse of the physical demands involved in preparing for the film’s action scenes. Rather than relying entirely on the finished sequences, the behind-the-scenes material highlighted the training required to bring the character to life.
Why Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s praise matters
Vanga’s endorsement carries a personal connection: he launched Vijay into wider recognition with Arjun Reddy, and the two have remained associated through the film’s impact on their careers.
In his review, Vanga also praised Rashmika Mandanna’s performance as Jayamma, writing, “Rashmika’s Jayamma felt so achingly real.” He described the connection between the lead actors as something that went beyond on-screen chemistry and praised the film’s music by Ajay-Atul.
Vanga also commended director Rahul Sankrityan for his approach to the historical subject, saying the film offered material of “serious academic interest.”
Vijay responded warmly to the review, recalling Vanga’s reaction to the premieres of Arjun Reddy a decade earlier. Rashmika also thanked the filmmaker for his praise.
Whether Ranabaali ultimately establishes Vijay as a leading action star remains to be seen. The film has received mixed reviews, but the combination of reported physical preparation, demanding horse-riding sequences and Vanga’s emphatic endorsement has put the actor’s action credentials in the spotlight.
