As Vijay Deverakonda became a year older today, his fans made sure that Liger, his next actioner, became a trend. The Arjun Reddy actor has risen to prominence in a very short period of time, and his image appears to be resilient to a single box office flop, such as his most recent film, World Famous Lover. For his future ventures, the actor is partnering with filmmakers such as Sukumar and Shiva Nirvana, and Liger is aimed at an Indian audience.

His path to success, however, was not simple. Vijay Deverakonda is a celebrity now, but before breaking out as a major actor, he had minor roles in films like Nuvvila and Life is Beautiful. What has maintained him in good standing is his choice of characters and his desire for something new in each of his films. Regardless of box office success, each of his films has made him a better actor. On the occasion of Vijay Deverakonda’s birthday, we present his top five films.

Yevade Subramanyam (2015)

Yevade Subramanyam, director Nag Ashwin’s debut film, also gave Vijay Deverakonda the opportunity to demonstrate his acting ability in a well-defined role. In the film, he played a character named Rishi. While Nani played the lead, the film gave Vijay the acclaim that each aspiring actor craves.

Pelli Choopulu (2016)

Pelli Choopulu is Vijay Deverakonda’s first solo blockbuster. Prasanth, his character, portrays the thoughts of today’s youngsters who aspire to carve their own way in life. Prasanth is a slacker engineering graduate in his parents’ eyes, but he wants to live his life on his own. This Tharun Bhascker-directed film is a moving story interlaced with sparkling humor.

Arjun Reddy (2017)

An actor is rarely given the opportunity to work on a film that would put their acting skills to the test so early in their career. Arjun Reddy provided Deverakonda with the opportunity. Despite the controversy and discussion around it, the picture proved to be a box office success. The film’s lasting impression on fans and reviewers alike was largely due to Vijay Deverakonda’s outstanding performance. However, each new picture in which the actor appears is compared to Arjun Reddy, and the actor is now attempting to break out from the film’s lengthy shadow.

Geetha Govindam (2018)

Well, this is a picture that caused quite a stir in terms of box office receipts. Vijay’s persona in the film is the polar opposite of Arjun Reddy. Vijay Govind, played by Deverakonda, is a sweet, sensitive man with no anger issues. It’s a pleasant watch with hummable melodies and a light touch.