At the WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai, actor Vijay Deverakonda spoke out about the dominance of the English language in global cinema. He argued that English has become a symbol of Western imperialism, which has influenced how films are made and consumed worldwide. Deverakonda highlighted the power dynamics at play, especially in Hollywood, where English-language films enjoy massive budgets and global reach. He pointed out the pay disparity between Hollywood stars and actors from other regions, using Brad Pitt as an example.
Vijay Deverakonda Advocates for Indian Cinema
According to Devarakonda, if he were to make a film, he would earn much less than Brad Pitt simply because more people around the world understand and watch films in English. He criticized how this disparity is a result of historical Western influence, which spread the English language and made it a global standard.
The actor stressed the importance of expanding the reach of Indian languages, particularly Hindi and Telugu, through cinema. He believes that Indian languages should be promoted internationally to increase India’s cultural influence. Deverakonda sees this as a way to challenge the global dominance of English and to ensure that Indian cinema has a larger presence on the world stage.
During the discussion, Deverakonda shared the stage with actress Kareena Kapoor Khan and was moderated by filmmaker Karan Johar. While the event touched on various topics related to India’s cultural impact, Deverakonda’s comments on the global spread of Indian languages stood out. He emphasized the need to celebrate and promote films in Hindi, Telugu, and other Indian languages to connect with global audiences.
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In the same session, Kareena shared a memorable experience when Hollywood director Steven Spielberg recognized her from the movie 3 Idiots. She spoke about how certain Indian films, like Jab We Met, reflect the spirit of young Indian girls and would resonate with people globally. This discussion at WAVES Summit 2025 shed light on the ongoing conversation about language, culture, and the global reach of Indian cinema.
