Gulshan Devaiah’s journey in cinema has been marked by steady growth and a strong commitment to his craft. The actor, who started his career with Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl in Yellow Boots (2010), has built a reputation for choosing challenging, complex roles that often explore the grey areas of human nature.
Gulshan Devaiah has zero regrets about turning down Mirzapur: “Some projects are great for your careers, but that’s not enough”
With the success of Kantara Chapter 1, the Kannada film industry is finally recognizing one of its own — a talent who made his name in Hindi cinema. Directed by Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 has become a box office sensation. It has overtaken films like Saaiyara, Coolie, War 2, and Lokah Chapter 1, making it the second-highest-grossing film of the year across languages.
Gulshan’s filmography includes notable titles such as Shaitan, Hunterrr, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, and Dahaad. Over the years, he has worked with some of the finest directors in contemporary Indian cinema. Yet, he remains candid about roles he admires from afar. “Half of Rajkummar Rao’s career!” he laughs. “Ayushmann Khurrana’s role in Andhadhun, Rajkummar’s in The White Tiger. Also, Varun Dhawan’s parts in October and Badlapur. I even told Varun and his dad, David Dhawan, that I’m burning with jealousy! I fantasized about doing Badlapur.”
Despite his admiration for these roles, Gulshan has no regrets about turning down parts, including the iconic roles of Guddu Bhaiya and Munna Bhaiya in Mirzapur, which were eventually played by Ali Fazal and Divyenndu Sharma. “No regrets, absolutely none,” he said. “Some projects are great for your career, but that’s not enough. I need a genuine reason to do them. Divyenndu and Ali did phenomenally well, and I’m happy for them.”
Born and raised in Bengaluru, Gulshan had never worked in Kannada films before Kantara Chapter 1, where he portrayed the menacing King Kulashekhara. That role changed everything for him. “Maybe in the Kannada film industry, they didn’t know me because people don’t regularly watch Hindi films or series,” he explained. “When my dad had an accident and was at the hospital for a hip replacement, suddenly all the staff — housekeeping, nurses — started saying, ‘Hey, you’re in Kantara!’ One of them even showed me a WhatsApp message from his son asking for a voice note. That’s when I realised the Kannada audience finally knew me.”
For Gulshan, the success of Kantara Chapter 1 goes beyond box office numbers, though he acknowledges their importance. “It definitely impacts my career. I won’t pretend I don’t care. I’ll give it the importance it deserves, but I won’t take it too seriously. Rishab gets all the credit — I’m just a small part of it. But yes, it empowers me. Prices will go up, and new opportunities will open up,” he said. “The key is to stay realistic. If I start outpricing myself, people will just move on to actors like Vijay Varma or Jaideep Ahlawat, who are both phenomenal and more expensive.”
He added with a laugh, “I’ve been around for nearly 15 years; I know what’s reasonable. It’s all about perception and being wise.”
Fifteen years since his debut, Gulshan Devaiah continues to balance instinct and intellect — an actor who understands that while success is about perception, dedication to craft is about conviction. With Kantara Chapter 1, he has found both — a film that brought him back home and introduced him to an audience that has finally embraced one of its own.
Also Read: Gulshan Devaiah reveals well-wishers told him to buy second-hand BMW for building image: “I know how perception works in this industry”
More Pages: Mirzapur Box Office Collection
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