Mumbai April 28 (IANS) When "Arjun Reddy" actor Vijay Deverakonda tweeted about the legendary Tamil actress Savitri being a "cool chick" he hadnt expected a backlash. While he remains unfazed he says he had meant it in the most harmless way.
Savitri s fans took umbrage and slammed Vijay.
The actor justified: "I meant she was a super cool girl who did as she willed. Apparently she had the largest vintage car collection. I found that very fascinating about her. At a time where most women didn t work she was acting directing singing producing having the largest car collection."
But the southern movie-goers are known to be heavily into hero-worship... or heroine-worship. Vijay will have none of that.
"I don t worship people like gods or goddesses. I don t pretend to. I see her (Savitri) as a young girl a woman a superstar. We are all human have our attributes and weaknesses. She had hers."
Vijay was rather taken aback by the vehemence of the attack.
"It was a bit surprising because a lot of it comes from ignorance. Some of them have the right intentions. But it s misplaced. And the issue whoever had it had it with my choice of word (chick). But I think it s never about the word but your understanding of it. Mard in India means ‘man something you are proud of. Merde - pronounced similarly -- in French means ‘shit . So I meant it in the coolest most harmless way."
Vijay is not going to apologise for his remark.
"If someone s understanding of it is so crude then it s none of my problem. As I understand it people have opinions people have intentions. I let it be for the most part. But I don t like being told how I should say stuff how I should do stuff. You pass your opinions on me. I am fully okay with that. But don t dictate to me what I should or shouldn t do."
Vijay himself features in "Mahanati" Savitri s biopic directed by Nag Ashwin. The film releasing on May 9 features Keerthy Suresh as Savitri Dulquer Salmaan as Gemini Ganesan and an ensemble cast comprising Samantha Akkineni and Naga Chaitanya.
--IANS
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