The Family Star

The Family Star is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language romantic action drama film written and directed by Parasuram, and produced by Dil Raju and Sirish under Sri Venkateswara Creations. The film features Vijay Deverakonda and Mrunal Thakur in lead roles.

The film was officially announced in February 2023 under the tentative title VD13 and the official title was announced in October 2023. Principal photography commenced in July 2023. It was shot sporadically in several legs, with filming locations including Hyderabad and New York. The film has music composed by Gopi Sundar.

Family Star was initially scheduled to release on Sankranthi 2024, but it was postponed as filming was delayed due to visa issues and not going to be completed in time The Family Star received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. While Parasuram’s writing, plot, and direction were criticized, the lead cast’s performances and the soundtrack were mostly praised or at least considered adequate, and the comedy received mixed reviews. The film was a failure at the box office grossing ₹34.78 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹50 crore.

Present: A woman named Indu sadly sits in the middle of a ceremony. When she is questioned about her unusual behavior, she tells her past.

Past: Govardhan is a family man. As a selfless character, he works in a business to provide for his family. He also faces trouble with his drunkard brother. However, he meets Indu when she moves into his "space", which is a room upstairs that Govardhan used. That too, Indu and his family quickly become friends. Soon, they both fall in love. After a big incident, he reconciles with his brother after his mother reveals to Indu that his brother hated him because of Govardhan shaming him. However, when he finds her thesis on his family and him for a college project, he slaps her and vows to teach her a lesson. He goes to Keshu, a previous job offeror, requests to join the company, and asks for a big advance. He uses that advance to defy whatever Indu has written in her thesis. However, it is revealed that Indu is Keshu's daughter. Though annoyed, he continues in the company but demands everything Indu gets. After learning that his flight tickets were not paid for, he resorts to Indu, who provides money for his family. After falling in love again, she hears him talking to a lady negatively about Indu, saying that she is not the right person for him. Heartbroken, Indu isolates herself from him. After revealing that she heard him that day, she leaves him.

Present: Govardhan finds out Indu's true intentions of writing the thesis from her father and proceeds to stop her from a wedding, held for one person who got injured due to Govardhan and (according to the person's grandfather, a famous politician) would be the only thing to make him feel better. It is revealed that Indu is at that wedding. Govardhan defeats the politician's goons along with his grandmother, wins back Indu, and marries her at the end.

On 6 February 2023, Vijay Deverakonda, who had a successful collaboration with director Parasuram after Geetha Govindam (2018), was announced to join hands with the latter for his directorial venture after Sarkaru Vaari Paata (2022). Sri Venkateswara Creations, headed jointly by Dil Raju and Sirish, would reportedly produce the venture. The company made a public announcement on 14 June, confirming the project. Tentatively titled VD13, a muhurat puja was held on that week with the presence of the film's cast and crew. The presence of Devarakonda and actress Mrunal Thakur revealed their inclusion. Shortly after the beginning of the principal photography, Divyansha Kaushik was announced to play as a second lead actress. The official title, The Family Star, was speculated in June 2023 and was announced in October 2023.

Principal photography began with the first schedule on 15 July 2023. The first schedule was held in Hyderabad, where they also celebrated Thakur's birthday on 2 August. In late December, the third schedule began in New York.