Nagabhushana interview | On ‘Vidyapati’ and transitioning from a comedian to hero in Kannada cinema

Nagabhushana interview: On ‘Vidyapati’, friendship with Dhananjaya and growing up in Mysuru

Kannada actor Nagabhushana, known for his comedic characters, is gearing up for his film Vidyapati, produced by Sandalwood star Dhananjaya.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu

Nagabhushana, gearing up for the release of Vidyapati, talks about the importance of all-round entertainers. “The film industry always worries about people not coming to theatres. If you entertain people, they will always support you. You should not bore them,” says the Kannada actor.

Also starring Garuda Ram and Malaika T Vasupal, Vidyapati hits the screens on April 10, 2025. Nagabhushana plays the husband of Vidya (Malaika), a popular heroine. He is a greedy man who lives a lavish life from the earnings of his wife. The story turns into a quirky David-vs-Goliath comedy-drama when the small-statured protagonist takes on a burly criminal (Garuda Ram).

“In acting, you must either be yourself or become the character. In many of my movies, I have played the hero’s friend. I remain as casual and natural as possible while essaying those roles. However, the character in Vidyapati is unlike who I am. It required me to flaunt my wealth and lead a flashy lifestyle. It was a challenge for me to crack the character,” says Nagabhushana.

Actor Nagabhushan.
| Photo Credit:
Ravichandran N

Transitioning from a comedian to a hero has been a cherishable journey, says Nagabhushana. He first played the lead in Ikkat (2021), a hilarious lockdown-inspired comedy directed by Esham and Haseen Khan, the brothers who have now directed Vidyapati. “Before Ikkat, I would play the role of a comedian and entertain people in bits and pieces in a movie. However, as a hero, I faced the challenge of keeping the viewers engaged for the entire runtime of Ikkat. But when people loved that film, I got the confidence that I can carry a film as a protagonist,” he explains.

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Nagabhushan adds that comedians always aim to break their stereotypical image on-screen. “People have seen me in comic roles in movies. On the contrary, I have mostly played serious characters during my theatre days. I am not a comedian. I am an actor who also does comedy. When comedians turn into heroes, people might feel that they aren’t capable of handling the new role. It’s not their fault because they are used to seeing me in similar characters.”

Vidyapati has helped him experiment in his career, with a smattering of action sequences. “InVidyapati, I have attempted action for the first time. You won’t see me do traditional action. The fight sequences come with coatings of comedy and emotions. It’s a great combination. That’s how people will slowly embrace my shift to playing lead roles. I can’t do what star actors do and expect people to accept me,” Nagabhushana says.

The actor in ‘Vidyapati’.
| Photo Credit:
Daali Pictures/YouTube

Vidyapati has been bankrolled by actor-producer Dhananjaya, Nagabhushana’s friend since their college and theatre days in Mysuru. The actor mostly features in films from Dhananjaya’s banner Daali Pictures, along with other artistes (Poornachandra Mysore) from the heritage city. What is the brand of filmmaking the Mysuru team is trying to champion?

“We want to set our stories in villages in and around Mysuru. I am well-versed in the dialects of those regions. I grew up witnessing the cultural diversity in those small towns. My Tagarupalya was relatable to people because it was set in a village, and the story was about a popular ritual. 

He says he was a ‘nobody’ when I acted in the film, but audiences embraced me. “Tagarupalya ran to a full house in theatres before doing well on OTT. We released the film on YouTube as well. So far, it’s got 6M views. It’s the highest-rated film on TV for 2023 with a score of 7.2.”