Actor Gulshan Devaiah, known for his unconventional choices and layered performances, has once again sparked conversation with his candid views on masculinity and character portrayals in Indian cinema. In a recent interaction with Screen, the actor spoke at length about playing antagonistic roles and shared his thoughts on what he sees as an overused visual and narrative trope — the obsession with beards and ultra-machismo among leading men.
Gulshan, who has portrayed memorable negative and morally complex characters across films and web series, questioned why rugged masculinity has become the default template for heroes. “I just have a problem with everybody having a beard. Why does everybody need to have a beard? Everybody is doing Pushpa only. What’s the problem with being clean-shaven? It’s just a trend. So is ultra-machismo. It can be incredibly fun, but I’ve gotten tired of it after a point. Why is every leading man ultra-macho?” he said, calling out the lack of variety in mainstream characterisation.
The actor went on to explain that his approach to intensity is different from the commonly seen aggressive, stoic performances. Referring to his casting in Kantara, Gulshan suggested that director Rishab Shetty saw something distinct in him. “I think that’s why Rishab cast me in Kantara, because I wouldn’t approach it by just staring and not blinking at all,” he added. According to Gulshan, his performances rely more on internal tension and storytelling needs rather than exaggerated physicality.
He further elaborated on how he prefers to interpret roles in a way that serves the narrative without resorting to surface-level markers of toughness. “I would have a different way of still hitting those marks that are needed from the story’s perspective,” he explained, underlining his belief in subtlety over spectacle.
Gulshan also reflected on audience reactions to his popular character Atmaram from Guns & Gulaabs (2023), acknowledging that viewers often romanticise flawed or outright dark characters. “Also, since people really love Atmaram, I have to keep reminding them that he’s not a nice guy. He may be cool and fun, but one shouldn’t get carried away and forget that these are extremely flawed characters,” he said.
Driving home the point, the actor highlighted the moral ambiguity of such roles. “He’s considering killing children. Come on, who does that? That never burdened me, but later I realised he’s not a nice guy at all,” Gulshan remarked.
By openly challenging popular trends and calling for more nuanced portrayals, Gulshan Devaiah continues to stand out as an actor unafraid to question conventions — both in appearance and in the characters he chooses to bring to life.
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