Rukmini Vasanth, who played the female lead in Kantara: Chapter 1, surprised audiences by transforming into the villain in the film. Directed and headlined by Rishab Shetty, Kantara: Chapter 1 became the biggest grosser of Indian cinema in 2025, earning over Rs. 800 crores, and is now the second-highest-grossing Kannada film of all time.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Rukmini revealed that taking on the antagonist role was a bold and risky move early in her career. She said, “Playing the antagonist character in Kantara Chapter 1 was a very dangerous experiment in the early days of my career. I wondered if I would be spending the rest of my career playing the bad guy.”
Rukmini added that the audience’s positive response gave her confidence. “People are saying that they loved me playing an evil role and that they didn’t hate me. So, I don’t need to be scared anymore thinking about how it will play out. Nobody saw it coming, and that’s the best part,” she explained.
Her performance as the villain has been praised for its intensity and authenticity, making her character memorable and unexpected. Industry experts believe this daring role could open doors for more complex characters in her future projects.
With Kantara: Chapter 1 breaking records and Rukmini’s bold performance winning hearts, the actress is set to shine as one of Kannada cinema’s most versatile talents.