Nikitin Dheer Journey: Wanting To Be A Hero Like John Abraham And Arjun Rampal
Actor Nikitin Dheer has carved a niche for himself in the entertainment industry by frequently playing intense negative characters, most recently seen in the web series Raktanchal 3. However, stepping into the film world, his initial aspirations were entirely different. Inspired by tall and well-built stars of his era, Nikitin wanted to lead films as a mainstream hero. Despite his early fitness training and dance preparation, fate had a different plan. When his debut heroic project was shelved, he ventured into antagonist roles, and with consecutive box office hits, he found himself permanently typecast and deeply hooked to playing the villain.
Getting Trapped In The Villain's Trap: From Hero Dreams To Antagonist Stardom
Reflecting on his transition, Nikitin shares that while playing a hero might seem structurally easier in commercial setups, his entry into cinema took an unexpected turn. Growing up idolizing physique-oriented stars like John Abraham and Arjun Rampal, he believed his height and build would make him a successful romantic or action lead. However, after his very first planned film was shelved, accepting a negative character changed the trajectory of his career. Encouragement from industry veterans who pointed out how legendary actors like Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha transitioned from negative shades gave him perspective. Once caught in the specialized character trap, escaping proved difficult, leading him to embrace the dark side and aspire to match the legendary legacy of icons like Pran and Amrish Puri.
Missing The Golden Era Of Bollywood Villains And South Indian Cinema Impact
Voicing concerns over the evolution of commercial scripts, Nikitin notes that well-crafted, powerful villain roles are rarely written in contemporary Bollywood anymore. He reminisces about the golden era when antagonists commanded substantial narrative space, even having dedicated chartbuster songs filmed on them, much like Amrish Puri. Highlighting a major contrast, he praises South Indian cinema for keeping the legacy of prominent, memorable villains alive, whereas modern Hindi cinema often relies on a single lead actor trying to handle every facet of the story, dialogue delivery, and action punches. According to him, the industry's shift from independent producer-driven passion projects to corporate-dominated studio cultures has diluted the rich ensemble casting of diverse characters, comedians, and villains that defined cinema two decades ago.
Switching Off From Dark Roles And Fond Memories Of Varanasi
Playing intense, menacing characters can often take an emotional toll, but Nikitin maintains a strict boundary between reel and real life. Sharing insights about his upcoming projects, which also feature dark, rustic backdrops set in Bihar, he explains that such characters exist strictly between the director's "action" and "cut." Because these personas are entirely removed from his actual personality, they stay on set, allowing him to maintain personal positivity. He believes exploring contrasting shades helps an artist grow and understand human psychology deeper. Furthermore, recalling his shooting schedule for Raktanchal 3 in the spiritual hub of Varanasi, the actor expressed immense fondness for exploring the ancient alleys and visiting the revered local temples during downtime
