Vijay Deverakonda’s Shelved Film Hero: The Story Behind the 2019 Sports Drama
Vijay Deverakonda’s 2019 sports drama Hero was shot but never released. Producer Y. Ravi Shankar recently revealed why the Anand Annamalai-directed film, co-starring Malavika Mohanan, was shelved.
Dumtika Editorial
September 9, 2026 · 1 min read
(Image: Dumtika Editorial)
Key Highlights
- Vijay Deverakonda’s Hero was launched in 2019 but shelved after filming a schedule
- Producer Y. Ravi Shankar confirmed the film was partially shot before being halted
- Hero was directed by Anand Annamalai and starred Malavika Mohanan as the female lead
- Mythri Movie Makers, the production house, is now backing Vijay’s Ranabaali
Vijay Deverakonda’s filmography holds a unique chapter with Hero, a sports-action drama that was launched in 2019 but never made it to the big screen. As anticipation builds for Vijay’s next release, Ranabaali, which is scheduled for a September 9 release, the story of Hero has resurfaced, drawing attention from fans and industry watchers alike.
At the recent Sardar 2 pre-release event, Mythri Movie Makers producer Y. Ravi Shankar shared fresh insights into Hero’s fate. Directed by Anand Annamalai and starring Malavika Mohanan alongside Vijay, Hero was announced with much fanfare in May 2019. The film, which cast Vijay as a biker, quickly generated buzz. However, after completing a filming schedule, the project was quietly shelved. Ravi Shankar revealed that the team had already shot a portion of the film before deciding to halt production, making it more than just an unfulfilled announcement.
Vijay Deverakonda had previously indicated that Hero required additional time to be completed, but the project ultimately did not progress further. The production house behind Hero, Mythri Movie Makers, has a history of collaborating with Vijay on films like Dear Comrade and Khushi, and is also producing the upcoming Ranabaali, directed by Rahul Sankrityan.
The renewed interest in Hero comes as Malavika Mohanan, who was cast as the female lead in the shelved film, is now part of Sardar 2. For many fans, the resurfacing of Hero serves as a reminder of a promising sports drama that came close to release but was left unfinished.
