In a candid revelation, producer Naga Vamsi has officially confirmed that there will be no sequel to the 2025 big-budget film 'Kingdom', starring Vijay Deverakonda. He labelled the project one of his 'biggest mistakes' of the year, a sentiment that follows the film's disastrous performance at the box office.
A Costly Gamble That Didn't Pay Off
Released in theatres on July 31, 2025, 'Kingdom' was a highly anticipated project meant to be a comeback vehicle for Vijay Deverakonda, whose career had seen a series of setbacks after the success of 'Arjun Reddy' and 'Dear Comrade'. However, the film, made on a massive budget of Rs 130 crore, opened to a collection of Rs 18 crore and could only muster a lifetime worldwide total of approximately Rs 82 crore. This resulted in reported losses exceeding Rs 70 crore for the makers.
In a recent interview, Naga Vamsi took full responsibility for the debacle. "I am not blaming anyone. If the film failed at the box office, it is completely on me. The film isn't bad, but we misfired somewhere," he stated. He expressed his confusion over the exact reason for the failure, mentioning possibilities like miscasting or issues with the music, but admitted he still cannot pinpoint the core problem.
Pre-Release Doubts and Aggressive Promotion
Naga Vamsi disclosed that he had sensed trouble even before the film's release. "About a week before the release, I knew the film wouldn't work. It wasn't about whether it would be a hit or a flop — I knew there was a problem in the second half," he explained. He felt that the emotional core, which is director Gowtam Tinnanuri's strength (seen in 'Jersey'), was missing in this film.
Despite these internal doubts, the team pushed for an aggressive promotional campaign. Their strategy was clear but risky: "Our idea was to recover around 70 per cent of the budget on the opening day itself. Once a film releases, there's nothing you can change. So our entire focus was on ensuring a massive opening," Vamsi revealed. This gamble, however, did not yield the desired results.
Creative Differences and Future Plans
The producer also shed light on creative disagreements during the film's production. He mentioned that his uncle and director Gowtam Tinnanuri argued for nearly three months over issues identified in the second half. "While we felt the film should resonate with the audience, Gowtam wanted to break stereotypes. He was adamant," Vamsi said. He added that in hindsight, involving writer-director Trivikram, whom he considers a mentor, might have helped salvage the project.
Looking ahead, Naga Vamsi has decided to stick to his strengths. Reflecting on his uncle's question, "When we know our strengths and are happy making moderately budgeted films, why did we attempt a big-budget project?", he promised to focus on films with strong entertainment value, akin to their successful venture 'DJ Tillu'.
As for Vijay Deverakonda, the actor continues his search for a solid hit since 2019's 'Dear Comrade'. He is reportedly part of the upcoming mega-project 'Kalki 2898 AD', though details about his role remain under wraps. Meanwhile, the chapter on 'Kingdom' is firmly closed, with Naga Vamsi's confirmation: "We won't be making Kingdom 2."
