Good to be bad

Sanjay Dutt, who makes his Tamil film debut as the antagonist in Thalapathy Vijay's Leo, says he tries to find humanity in the villainous parts

Witnessing Sanjay Dutt’s on-screen role reversal has been a joy for filmmakers as well as fans. From being the action hero who would beat villains to pulp, he has transformed into an intimidating baddie in the past few years —be it as Kancha Cheena in Agneepath (2012) or Adheera in KGF: Chapter 2 (2022). His negative streak continues with his maiden Tamil offering, Leo, which sees him lock horns with Thalapathy Vijay. The trailer of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s action fare sees Dutt in a rugged avatar, sporting salt-and-pepper hair. 

So, what is it about villainous parts that draws him? The complexity that they present, says Dutt. “Playing an anti-hero is an exhilarating journey into the depths of human complexity. It’s about understanding the shades of grey and finding humanity even in the darkest characters.” 

The senior actor adds that the idea is to find distinct motivation in each character, thus differentiating Leo’s Antony Das from KGF’s Adheera. “Every time I step into such a role, I aim to bring soul into them, making them more than just villains. They become a reflection of our own contradictions and desires.”

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