Bollywood villains have long been known for their theatrics — loud laughs, dramatic monologues and flashy menace. But in Vadha 2Akshaya Dogra’s Keshav presents a quieter, more disturbing type of antagonist.
“Keshav doesn’t need to shout or threaten people to feel powerful,” says Akshay. “His strength is silence and control.
What scared me about him was how calmly he manipulates everyone around him.” Located mostly in the prison system, Keshav works through silence, psychological pressure and exploitation of power. “He understands where the system is weak and uses that knowledge as his weapon,” explains Akshay.
“Fear works better for him than force.”The actor says that his approach was based on restraint. “I deliberately avoided sharp expressions or dramatic moments. I wanted Keshav to feel real—like a person you could meet in such a space.” This shift reflects a broader shift in Hindi cinema driven by OTT storytelling and an audience drawn to moral ambiguity. “Today’s villains are not evil for their own sake,” says Akshay.
“They reflect broken systems and uncomfortable truths about power.
»Having worked on television and behind the scenes before moving on to challenging on-screen roles, Akshay sees this milestone as part of a larger evolution. “I have always believed in playing characters, not images. Roles like Keshav allow you to explore psychology, not spectacle.”Also starring Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta, as well as Kumud Mishra, Amitt K. Singh, Shilpa Shukla and Yogita Bihani, Vadha 2 out in theaters today.
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