Exclusive: Vinay Gowda on playing a baddie in Namma Lacchi: Playing a lead role seemed very monotonous, I'm trying to explore the other side now

Vinay Gowda is the new baddie to make an entry to the daily soap Namma Lacchi. The actor is set to make his appearance in the upcoming episode and is roped in to play the role of a rapper named Badrinath Chinni. In a tête-à-tête with ETimes TV the actor opened up about playing a baddie and his aim to create a new wave in the industry.

I'm really happy to be playing a grey shade on television. I play the role of a rapper in Namna Lacchi. It's one of the characters in my acting career so far. There's got a lot of space to show acting as a baddie. I think the times are changing now. Having played lead for the longest time now on television, it was getting too monotonous to me. I'm trying to go to the other side and explore. I feel I'm getting the freedom to explore more in terms of acting a baddie. Seeing Vinay Gowda as a lead is very common. Now, seeing me be that baddie on-screen is something I want viewers to look forward to.

I have undergone a massive changeover to meet the needs of Badrinath Chinni of Namma Lacchi. I've given myself a new-age stylish look and also, had to shed quite some weight for reel appearance. The makers gave me complete freedom to work on my looks and I didn't put any boundaries to explore more. Even the dialogues, I have room to deliver it and improvise it in my own way.

I follow a lot of peculiar kinds of webseries and understood the heights an artist goes to get into the skin of the character. If you're playing a baddie, they make viewers hate their on-screen character to the core. It's that journey of an artist that interests me a lot. The journey of how an artist gradually gets involved in living and playing their on-screen character. That growth gives immense satisfaction when you're recognized for your acting. So here, with Namma Lacchi too I'm just going to have no limits in playing a baddie. It's also a learning process. Not just by acting, if you're performing as a baddie, I believe one can get into the nerve of the audience.

When it comes to Kannada serials, we hardly have any male-dominating characters on-screen in a negative shade. I always kept wondering about it too. Now that I have got a chance to play a baddie on the small screens, I want to take it to a new height. I want to build a fan following for playing a baddie too. I want the viewers to hate me and shout at me for my portrayal of a baddie on-screen when they see me in public.

I feel, our industry is sourcing artists for a negative role from other industries. Personally, I feel that's only because of their appearance. To be honest, apart from the appearance, an artist from other industries needs to work a lot on the languages. They also lack body language according to the nativity here. So, there is a lot of effort for them. There are times when the body language and the dialogue do not match the requirements of a particular scene when essayed by an artist from a different industry. Considering the present scenario, our audience is so intelligent that they capture everything that is shown on-screen. Eventually, they are our biggest critics. The generation is changing. Viewers accept good content-oriented shows and movies. So, it's our responsibility to match their expectations.

At times, I have heard audiences grumbling about the need for native artists as villains in a movie. Considering my personal experience, my teenage son and wife themselves have discussed it a lot of times. We have a lot of talented actors in our own industry who are ready to explore a baddie rather than sourcing artists from other industries. I want the makers to make use of us.

We, as native artists, can effortlessly deliver any scene or shot without any hassle. We are ready to invest our dedication in meeting the needs of playing a baddie on-screen. At the same time, there are a few makers who give opportunities to our native actors. An opportunity is what we need.

I am personally fed up of listening to the fact that makers are sourcing artists from other industries to play a baddie only because there is none here. I want to bring in the change and create a new wave in showing that we, native artists, can also ace playing a baddie effortlessly.When our neighbouring industries are sourcing Kannada actors for their projects, why can't our own people make use of our talent? Just because there is a lack of opportunities here, many are migrating to other industries. Right?

Well, aside from this, I'm glad to have got a chance to play a baddie. I am hoping to bring in a new wave on Kannada television with my portrayal of Badrinath Chinni in Namma Lacchi. Viewers will get to see Vinay Gowda entirely in a new avatar. I have tried to bring in a new wave in terms of my looks, appearance, and the body language through my on-screen character. People will have a love-and-hate relationship with me after watching me play a baddie on-screen.