Actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna awarded scholarships to 180 students in Telangana earlier this year [1].

The initiative highlights the growing trend of high-profile cinema figures utilizing their personal wealth to address educational gaps in rural India. By targeting students in underserved areas, the program aims to reduce the financial barriers that often prevent youth from pursuing higher education.

The scholarship distribution took place in Telangana, specifically at the ancestral village of Vijay Deverakonda [2]. The event served as a community gathering, where the actors celebrated the academic achievements of the recipients alongside their families [3].

Reports said the program provided support to 180 students [1]. The effort is described as a way for the actors to give back to the community and support the pursuit of education [2].

While the specific monetary value of each scholarship was not disclosed, the event emphasized the importance of academic mentorship, and community support. The ceremony in the ancestral village provided a localized approach to philanthropy — connecting the stars directly with the families benefiting from the funds [3].

Actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna awarded scholarships to 180 students in Telangana

This philanthropic effort reflects a broader pattern of celebrity-led social interventions in India, where individual actors leverage their influence to supplement state education funding. By focusing on an ancestral village, Deverakonda is utilizing a 'hyper-local' model of charity that prioritizes regional development and familial ties over broad, anonymous corporate donations.