It's now becoming very common to see B-town's A-list stars as antagonists in South Indian films.
"I see so much passion, love, energy, and heroism in the films made in the South. I think we need to learn that back in Mumbai." - Sanjay Dutt
Well, it's a new trend we are seeing in Indian cinema these days. With Bollywood films not doing that well at the box office, and South Indian cinema becoming more and more popular, several A-list Bollywood stars are now looking to work in the South - especially Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films. And it's not just about the pay scale; those industries are way more organized as well, offering a better work environment for artists. Moreover, it's a win-win situation for both as it also boosts the marketability of those films in North India.
In this regard, what's more interesting is the actors who play heroes in Hindi films are playing villains in South Indian films. And most of them are absolutely killing it there, marking the beginning of a whole new chapter in their careers.
Bobby Deol made his comeback last year with 'Animal', and it took everyone by storm! His performance as Abrar Haque, the antagonist in the film, showcased his true capabilities as an actor, getting him more villainous roles along the way. Within a few months since the release of 'Animal', it was announced that he would play the main villain in Suriya-starrer 'Kanguva'.
Directed by Siruthai Siva and written by Adi Narayana, 'Kanguva' is currently in production.
While Vivek Oberoi is best known for his romantic roles in Hindi films, he is equally good as the anti-hero on screen. After Ram Gopal Varma’s 'Company', Rajat Mukherjee’s 'Road', and Rakesh Roshan's 'Krrish 3', he played the villain in Mohanlal-starrer 'Lucifer', directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. It was one of the coolest ever villains, and Oberoi delivered an excellent performance! Later, he played the villain in Boyapati Sreenu's Telugu film 'Vinaya Vidheya Rama'. In 2022, he starred in the Malayalam film 'Kaduva', playing the villain opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran.
(Credit: Aashirvad Cinemas)
Sanjay Dutt has become the new favorite of South Indian filmmakers for villainous roles. While he has time and again played negative characters in Bollywood films (like 'Khalnayak', 'Vaastav', 'Agneepath', etc.), it's his role as Adheera in 'K.G.F: Chapter 2' that catapulted him to new heights. Later, he achieved further acclaim with his role as the antagonist in Lokesh Kanagaraj's 'Leo'. And if reports are to be believed, he will be seen as the antagonist in Thala Ajith’s next film, 'Vidaamuyarchi'.
(Credit: duttsanjay)
Arjun Rampal is no stranger to dark roles, and he is really good at playing the bad guy on screen. From 'Om Shanti Om' to 'Ek Ajnabee' to 'Ra. One' to 'Daddy' and more, he has time and again won our hearts with his charisma as the villain. However, he took it just to the next level in 2023 by playing the villain in the Telugu film, 'Bhagavanth Kesari'. The film earned him enormous acclaim from both critics and audiences alike.
(Credit: rampal72)
Saif Ali Khan owns one of the finest villains of Indian cinema, Langda Tyagi in 'Omkara'. He surprised everyone with his performance in the 2006 film and went on to play several villains along the way. And the exciting news is that he is playing the main villain in one of the most anticipated films of the year, 'Devara', starring Jr. NTR as the lead. He will play the role of Bhaira in the upcoming Telugu film, and he looks absolutely breathtaking!!
(Credit: Jr NTR)
Besides these actors, the list also includes Jackie Shroff, Neil Nithin Mukesh, and Emraan Hashmi among others.
