Gulshan Devaiah, the actor who won significant audience acclaim for his role in the blockbuster 'Kantara: Chapter 1', has recently voiced his critical views on the dominant trend of hyper-masculinity, or 'machoism', in contemporary Indian cinema. In a candid interview, Devaiah expressed fatigue with the popular but exhausting template of films like 'Pushpa'.
Devaiah's Problem with the 'Beard' and 'Pushpa' Trend
During a conversation with SCREEN, Gulshan Devaiah was asked about the blurring lines between heroes and villains, referencing stars like Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh playing gray characters in movies such as 'Animal' and the upcoming 'Dhurandhar'. Devaiah shifted the focus to a more visible trend. "I just have a problem with everybody having a beard," he stated. "Why does everybody need to have a beard? Everybody is doing Pushpa only. What’s the problem with being clean-shaven? It’s just a trend. So is ultra-machismo."
While acknowledging that the trend is "incredibly fun," the actor admitted his weariness. "But I’ve gotten tired of it after a point. Why is every leading man ultra-macho?" he questioned. He revealed that director Rishab Shetty cast him in 'Kantara' precisely because he, as an actor, would not "approach it by just staring and not blinking at all," a subtle dig at the intense, brooding style associated with macho roles.
Reminding Fans Not to Glorify Flawed Characters
Devaiah also touched upon the audience's fascination with morally ambiguous characters, using his own role as an example. He noted that people loved his character Atmaram from the Netflix series 'Guns & Gulaabs'. However, he feels a responsibility to remind them of the character's true nature.
"He may be cool and fun, but one shouldn’t get carried away and forget that these are extremely flawed characters," Devaiah cautioned. Driving the point home, he added, "He’s considering killing children. Come on, who does that?" This highlights his concern about the uncritical glorification of violent, macho personas on screen.
Devaiah's Recent Work and Success
On the professional front, Gulshan Devaiah's performance as King Kulashekara in 'Kantara: Chapter 1' has been a major highlight. The film, which was released on October 2, 2025, achieved phenomenal commercial success, earning over 850 crore rupees at the global box office.
More recently, the actor was seen in the series 'Perfect Family', which features a stellar cast including Manoj Pahwa, Girija Oak, Seema Pahwa, and Neha Dhupia. The show is currently available for streaming on YouTube.
Devaiah's comments spark a timely conversation about creative diversity and the risks of homogenization in an industry often driven by formulaic success. His critique challenges filmmakers and audiences to look beyond the beard and brawn for more nuanced storytelling.
