Actor Allu Arjun, who graced the pre-release event of Vijay Deverakonda's upcoming film, Taxiwaala, was all praise for the Arjun Reddy-star. "Originality is the hallmark of Vijay (Deverakonda). While we all confined ourselves to routine formats, Vijay has been part of some really good cinema, which has struck a chord with the movie buffs. He is a fantastic performer and a self-made person. His meteoric rise has not only won him a legion of admirers, but also some detractors. That's part of the journey and I wish he continues his good work and delivers more hits in the days to come," said Allu Arjun.

Amid #MeToo and other sexual allegations by women that have sent ripples across Indian cinema, the actor took the opportunity to send a message to aspiring female actors. "No other industry in Indian cinema is as welcoming as and respectful as Telugu. So, all the girls can start coming into the industry without paying any heed to some nonsense," he added.

Billed as a supernatural comedy thriller, the event also saw Allu Arvind, Maruthi, BVS Ravi, VI Anand and the cast and crew of Taxiwaala in attendance. Produced by SKN and directed by Rahul Sankrityan, the film is slated for release on November 17.