The Gulshan Devaiah Interview | 'Kantara: Chapter 1 Has Introduced Me To A New Set Of Audiences'
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In a conversation with Subha J Rao, the actor reminisces about his childhood, opens up about his craft and Kantara: Chapter 1 , and shares what he’s learning — and unlearning — about life along the way. |
IN THE PAST DECADE or so, Gulshan Devaiah has grown to become one of the few actors in the Hindi industry who can be called Mr Reliable. Any film or series he is part of has a certain thought process, and even if the creations do not hold up well, his performances are usually on point. Despite all of that, in the eyes of the audience, he never got the roles he truly deserved. The massive success of Kantara Chapter 1, where he plays the role of King Kulasekhara (or Kullu as he refers to him), has changed the tide. Gulshan, also known for his witty repartees on social media, is not overwhelmed. He’s waiting it out to see which offers stick after some months. The film is now out on Amazon Prime Video. Ironically, for someone born and brought up in Bengaluru — more specifically, the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) quarters in Jalahalli, then rural Bangalore — this is his first Kannada film, and audiences and interviewers alike seem pleasantly surprised at his diction. Your pop culture fix awaits on OTTplay, for only Rs 149 per month. Grab this limited-time offer now! However, restricting Gulshan’s career to one tentpole movie is doing him an injustice. For he’s an actor who can play a playboy with the same sincerity with which he plays a baddie. In this conversation, the actor travels down memory lane to revisit his growing-up years, his acting process, and what he expects from life. Edited excerpts below: |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being dependable as a performer? The advantage is that people always have a good thing to say about you, as a colleague and performer. It feels good when people tell others that you’re a delight to work with. No amount of PR can get you this. It has to happen organically, the result of being a thorough professional. And in this industry, controversy ensures your name is circulating, making you visible. (laughs) Even with your career, you’ve made some bold choices early on. Your first decade was you exploring various genres… I was almost 30, living at home, and well settled in a job when I entered films. I never knew I was making these choices that were considered bold. I knew I wanted to be in the industry and try doing diverse work. I did not expect everyone to understand that choice of mine. Many would see a trend and follow it, and it might work for them. But, I was not tuned that way. It took me 15 years to get called a versatile, reliable actor. I think it happened after Dahaad. People keep bringing up Hunterrr (2015) and how bold it was. You know, back then, I looked at it as a role on the lines of what Mr Amol Palekar would do. It was the story of a boy growing up from adolescence to young adulthood and then adulthood. It was the coming-of-age story of a person who stopped growing. I will never call it a perfect film, but it makes me very happy that after all these years, when someone gets the film the way it was meant to be. For me, it was a wonderful opportunity to work with director Harshvardhan and make that leap to playing a lead. |
Let’s speak about Kantara 1 and the kind of love that has come your way… Honestly, it feels as good as any other appreciation that has come my way. But what the film has done is introduce me to a new set of audiences. My approach to playing Kulasekhara was not typical. He does not fit into your regular image of a king. We tried to break every stereotype. I think Rishabh [Shetty, actor and director] wanted to cast me because I am the facade to the real danger that is lurking in the shadows. Kulasekhara is entitled, lazy, vengeful and a drunkard. He kills those who are unarmed or older than him. His is never an equal fight; he folds on seeing a formidable opponent like the Guliga. I wanted to be a part of Hindi cinema because when I was growing up, that was pan-India. I wanted to be part of a cinema that everyone watched. Now that’s happening in a language that I grew up with. But, like I said, I do not want to devalue the appreciation of the past 15 years. I have always wanted to wait for newer opportunities, and I have never milked what worked well to enhance my career. ALSO FROM THE AUTHOR | Rishab Shetty's Kantara: Chapter 1 Is All Sound & Little Fury |
What tempts you to sign up for a film? I look to see if the script empowers me. I should be tempted to want to be a part of the story. The initial calls that come after the success of a Kantara are the casual calls. The ‘cherry on top of the cake’ offers take time. Having worked for 15 years, and having tried to be a keen student of the business, when Kantara came, I knew it was the cherry. How have your growing-up years impacted you as a person and performer? I grew up in a multi-cultural set-up in the BEL quarters. From my birth in 1978, I’ve been surrounded by neighbours from different parts of the country — we had Gujaratis, Sindhis, Punjabis, Tamilians, Telugus, Malayalis. I went to an English-medium school where the kids spoke different languages. So, it has been 30 years of listening to different languages and living amid different cultures. Now, I can definitely speak good English, Kodava (mother-tongue), Kannada, Hindi and Tamil. I can manage Telugu, and believe that if I am given enough time, I can handle Malayalam, Punjabi and Bengali. I was also into sports — cricket and javelin. I represented the district in the under-18 category for javelin. During kabbadi and hockey matches, we would spar with arch-rivals and our neighbours, HMT. Today, I am very fond of HMT hand-wound, limited-edition watches. — Watch these Gulshan Devaiah titles only on OTTplay Premium — |
| | In this charged political atmosphere, where everyone’s taking sides, how have you managed to be honest with yourself? I won’t say it is because I am a courageous person. I probably am not. I have been that child who hid in a toilet to escape being shoved into a tempo and taken to a political meeting. I just think I am not particularly useful to anyone. We all have morals and principles, but how I will react under pressure is something I don’t know too. Anyway, even as it is, putting my view out sees the trolls out in force. Do you remember your first exposure to cinema? Ah, yes, through Disney films. I think the first one I watched was Lady and the Tramp. Dad would take me to Galaxy or Rex on MG Road on his Faulkon scooter. I was probably 10 years old then. Then, the television boom happened. We had a black-and-white TV. Then, a BPL colour TV for the longest time. I would watch all kinds of films and programmes — the entire filmography of Satyajit Ray on Doordarshan, UGC programmes… I even began a herbarium after seeing how to set up one on a programme. TV was my window to cinema. I remember watching Hallmark plays and TNT Classics. Once, I was old enough to go out with friends — when I was 14 or 15 — we would watch English films featuring Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, among others. In the early 1990s, I watched Schindler's List. I think I forced some friends to come along too. It cost about 25 rupees a ticket back then. I remember being moved to tears by the movie and wondering what I just watched! This is not entertainment, this is something else. This new wave of Hollywood films made a deep impact on me. Watch Schindler's List here on JioHotstar, now available with your OTTplay Premium subscription |
Amid the glitz and glamour, what grounds you? The desire to be a better person. I reflect internally, talk to friends and family. My partner is a trained actor, and she sometimes tells me, as damaging as it is to the ego, that I was plain lazy and should do better. As a result, I’ve accepted what I can do and what I cannot. I, for instance, cannot be a world-class athlete, which was my dream. You cannot be good at everything. So, I chose to do the next thing I wanted to do. Yes, favouritism exists, and you have to work harder to be noticed, but you do that, and be authentic while at it. The small victories enthuse you — for instance, your first good review. You work on that and build on it, but always be conscious that your opinion of yourself should not be based on validation. But, if Naseeruddin Shah tells me I am a good actor, his opinion comes from an informed place (smiles). For me, authenticity is keeping it fresh for myself. Watch Su From So and other Kannada hits with OTTplay Premium. Get JioHotstar, Zee5, Sonyliv, Fancode, Discovery+ and 25+ OTTs for only Rs 149 per month |
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