Vijay Deverakonda recalls licking ice cubes after cutting water intake for Liger

Vijay Deverakonda has looked back at the punishing physical preparation behind Liger, his 2022 pan-Indian release that failed at the box office. Speaking in a recent interview while promoting his next film, Ranabaali, the actor admitted the process was far from healthy. At its lowest point, his daily water intake had dropped to just 200 ml.

Vijay explained that he started out drinking four to six litres of water every day, and the amount was cut down step by step. In the final 10 hours before a shoot, he was not drinking water at all. "You're just licking an ice cube," he said, adding bluntly, "It's not at all healthy."

The thirst took over his mind completely. He described a constant inner chant of "water, water, water" from the time his intake fell to 300 ml, and said he would go to sleep thinking about water. With four more hours of shooting still ahead before he could drink, he gave his team one clear instruction. He wanted four litres of chilled coconut water, and no food at all.

The memory came up as Vijay promotes Ranabaali, which according to reports is set during the Madras Famine of 1876 to 1878. Reports say he called photographs from that era some of the most disturbing he has ever seen, with starving people whose ribs were visible. He added that the research changed how he looks at food. Now, when he feels like skipping a meal he does not like, he stops himself, because people a century and a half ago would have felt blessed to have plain white rice.

Liger, a sports action drama, was reportedly directed by Puri Jagannadh and featured Vijay alongside Ananya Panday, Ramya Krishnan, Ronit Roy and Mike Tyson. Ranabaali arrives in theatres on October 16.