Nikitin Dheer Reflects on Getting "Trapped" in Villain Roles and the Loss of Classic Bollywood Antagonists
Actor Nikitin Dheer, widely recognized for his imposing presence and powerful portrayals of screen antagonists, recently opened up about his journey into villainy and the changing landscape of character writing in Indian cinema. Speaking during the promotion of his digital web show Raktanchal 3, the actor revealed that he originally entered the Hindi film industry with the sole ambition of playing leading man roles. Inspired by the towering, muscular physiques of early 2000s stars like John Abraham and Arjun Rampal, Nikitin trained extensively in dance and physical fitness to prepare for a hero's launch. However, after his initial lead project was unexpectedly shelved, he took on a high-profile negative role that became a major commercial success, inadvertently locking him into a career trajectory dominated by intense antagonist roles across big-budget films and streaming platforms.
The Decline of the Classic Antagonist: Nikitin Decries Corporate Filmmaking
Reflecting on his transition, Nikitin shared that senior industry mentors comforted him by pointing out that screen legends like Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha also launched their illustrious careers as villains before evolving into mainstream leading heroes. Over time, Nikitin accepted his screen image, aiming to honor the legacy of master antagonists like Pran and Amrish Puri. Nevertheless, he expressed sharp disappointment over the declining status of villain roles in contemporary Hindi cinema. He noted that unlike South Indian films or classic 1990s Bollywood blockbusters where villains were granted elaborate narrative arcs and iconic musical sequences—such as Amrish Puri's legendary song in Tridev—modern corporate-driven Hindi cinema often consolidates action, comedy, and major dialogues solely into the central lead actor, diluting the depth and variety of traditional character roles.
Managing Dark Roles: Staying Grounded Behind the Scenes in Varanasi
Addressing how he manages the psychological toll of portraying dark, menacing figures on screen, Nikitin emphasized the necessity of maintaining strict emotional boundaries as an actor. Whether filming Raktanchal 3 on location in Varanasi—where he spent his downtime exploring local streets and visiting ancient temples—or preparing for an upcoming gritty role set in Bihar, he keeps every dark emotion strictly confined between the director's cues. He remarked that immersing oneself in characters vastly different from one's personal values fosters deeper self-awareness and artistic maturity, provided actors maintain their internal positivity once the cameras stop rolling.
