Actor Yashwanth likes essaying villain’s role

‘Jwalantham’ fame Yashwanth Shetty is back in a different avatar in his latest release ‘Soojidaara’

An alumnus of prestigious institutes like ‘Neenasam’ and the National School of Drama, Yashwant Shetty is a well-known actor in Kannada industry. Having made his film debut with ‘Jwalantham’, he is best known for his appearances in films like ‘Chowka’, ‘Samhaara’ and ‘KGF: Chapter 1’.

In a candid chat with Rakshitha M N, Yashwanth talks about his latest release ‘Soojidaara’, his upcoming projects and more.

You are always seen playing a negative role. ‘Soojidara’ sees you in a different light. How was the experience?

The experience has been great. The storyline is also unique. The character I play faces a lot of identity crisis which gave me an opportunity to experiment more.

I agreed to ‘Soojidaara’ the minute I heard the script. Every character and scene is interlinked, which is a different approach in the Kannada industry. The climax of the film is unique.

What role do you like playing more— that of a villain or a hero?

I was introduced to the industry as a villain. I think I do pretty good in that shade. Playing a villain provides an opportunity to explore different shades of the same character.

Heath Ledger is my inspiration; his ‘Joker’ is my all-time favourite character. Though he is not with us anymore, his work continues to inspire thousands of aspiring actors like me.

How did your interest in acting develop?

I was always interested in acting. ‘Majestic’ and ‘Om’ are the films that made me take up acting. In college, we had our own theatre group; we practised and performed numerous plays, which further developed my passion. This was fuelled after joining Neenasam and National School of Drama. After coming back to Karnataka, ‘Jwalantham’ happened; the film was a big break to my film career. Opportunities have been pouring in since then.

Do acting schools help? Do students there have an advantage over those who don’t go to such schools?

Theatre is in itself a learning place, but getting into an acting school sure helps. Though acting always interested me, I was a lot more confident after coming out of National School of Drama. So, actors who come from acting schools do have an added advantage.

Tell us about your upcoming projects.

‘Aa Drishya’, ‘Salaga’, ‘Krishna Talkies’ and ‘Kaalankata’ are some of my upcoming projects. I am excited as I play a pivotal role in most of them.

Any advice to the upcoming actors?

Well, my only advice to them is to stay calm and work with perseverance. Success never comes in a readymade format. It took me a while to make my place in the industry; ups and downs are a common part of this industry.