Bhargavi LLB actor Manoj Kumar on his Kannada debut after Telugu journey: Playing Arjun Patil is my way of giving back to my roots, it gives me emotional satisfaction

Manoj Kumar, who plays Arjun Patil in the Kannada daily soap Bhargavi LLB, is a proud Kannadiga who first rose to fame through Telugu TV shows. But deep down, he always wished to make a mark in his motherland’s entertainment industry."Being a Kannadiga, I always had this longing to be part of Kannada television. No matter how much recognition I got from my Telugu projects, and I am grateful for that, there was a part of me that kept saying, ‘You need to do something in your own soil, in your own language.’ When the team first contacted me for Bhargavi LLB, the discussions and casting process took its own sweet time. It wasn’t like the role landed in my lap instantly. There were moments when I wondered if it would even work out. But after that long wait, when I finally got the call confirming that I would be playing Arjun Patil, I felt a deep sense of pride. This was not just a role, it was my chance to connect with Kannada audiences in a way I had always dreamt of."The actor says the experience so far has been extremely heartwarming. "I’m genuinely enjoying playing Arjun. He’s a well-written, relatable character, and I think that connection reflects on screen. The audience’s response has been amazing. The messages, the appreciation, the way people now call me by my character’s name in public. Recognition for my work in Telugu was always special, but when someone from my own state says, ‘Hey, I watch you every day in Bhargavi LLB,’ it hits differently. There’s an emotional satisfaction to it that’s hard to explain. It’s almost like your own people are embracing your work with open arms, and that feeling is surreal."To step into the shoes of Arjun Patil, Manoj made a conscious effort to match the character’s persona. "I went through a small makeover. I shed a little weight, trimmed my beard, and went for a neat, short hairstyle. The idea was to present Arjun as confident, charming, and sharp, someone you can’t ignore when he walks into a room. Of course, as the episodes rolled out and the story evolved, my look started shifting back to a more relaxed, natural style. But that initial transformation really helped me ‘become’ Arjun in front of the camera."Language, however, came with its own learning curve. "I’m from Mangalore, so my Kannada naturally had that coastal touch. The Kannada used in daily soaps, especially the Bengaluru dialect, is a little more formal and layered. When I first entered the industry, I struggled to get the tone and pronunciation right. I would sometimes overthink lines because I didn’t want to sound off. But over time, it became smoother, and now I actually enjoy switching between dialects. In a way, it has made me connect more deeply with my own language and its diversity."Interestingly, Manoj says he has never faced any extreme hardships in life. "Honestly, I consider myself very blessed. Things have always come to me in a fairly smooth way. That doesn’t mean I haven’t worked hard, I’ve put in the hours, the effort, and the dedication. But I haven’t had to fight impossible battles to get where I am. From my childhood till now, life has been kind to me, and I think that’s a blessing not everyone gets. I carry a lot of gratitude for that."Right now, he is in a happy place both personally and professionally. "Life is treating me beautifully at the moment. I wake up every day doing what I love, surrounded by people who support me, and I’m able to entertain an audience that values my work. I’ve learned that life gives you exactly the energy you put into it, if you put in positivity, patience, and passion, it comes back to you in double measure. And right now, I’m feeling that abundance in every way."