ENTERTAINMENT
JD Chakravarthy talks about playing the villain in Bhuvan Bam-starrer Taaza Khabar and his most iconic role - Satya.
JD Chakravarthy has been an actor for over three decades but he is what one would brand a ‘media shy’ actor. “There should be something to talk about instead of I have done this film or show. I get bored,” he says with a laugh as we connect over phone. But the actor lets go of his inhibitions slowly in a freewheeling chat with DNA about his life, career, and future.
Having worked in iconic films like Shiva and Satya and a host of hits down south, he recently appeared in a negative role in the Disney+ Hotstar show Taaza Khabar, which starred Bhuvan Bam and Shriya Pilgaonkar. However, JD is quick to point out that he is not the typical ‘antagonist’ on the show. He says, “I am an antagonist only to Bhuvan’s character and he is an antagonist to my character. From one’s perspective, I can be a protagonist as well. The character is sensitive, understanding and nice to others.”
The actor says he was positively surprised to do a role that was fresh and different on the show. “I like when people tell me to do things differently, when people stop me from doing things my way. See, when I do things my way, you will only see JD Chakravarthy. If you want to see the character, the creator has to mould that. That has happened here,” he adds.
In Taaza Khabar, JD plays a gangster in Mumbai. The same can be said of the role that is arguably his most iconic – the title role in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1996 film Satya. Does he see any similarities in the characters beyond that? “No,” the actor responds, “They are very different. Satya was very cold and logical. This character here is very emotional. Satya was calculative whereas he isn’t.”
JD Chakravarthy had already done quite a few films in the south when he starred in Satya. He was a known face and name in the Tamil and Telugu industries. Recalling that time, he says. “Satya was more like my 40th film, and not my first as many people believe. When Satya was released, there was no platform for promoting a film. But people do remember me for it. I didn’t have to talk about it, the work did. Apart from acting in Satya, I was also designing the sound and editing the film. I was supposed to check the sound design in the Eros theatre in Mumbai. When I went for the first show around 11.30, there were around 30-40 people in the hall. By matinee show, half the theatre was full. There was no WhatsApp, no message. People just flocked. By the evening show, I couldn’t park my own car.”
Satya was a sleeper hit and it transformed the career of Manoj Bajpayee, who broke through with his role of Bhiku Mhatre. However, JD, despite playing the lead, did not have the same career trajectory. Explaining that, JD says, “What happens in the south is that we block our films and dates almost a year in advance. When I was doing Satya, I had signed 4 films down south. It wasn’t that I was expecting Satya to do well but I got other work and I signed those films. Also, Ramu sir (Ram Gopal Varma) wanted me to direct a Hindi film rather than act in another. So that happened plus my work in south took me over a year. In the meantime I was offered Hindi films that I did not accept. I told them I will finish these films and come back. But by the time that happened, time had passed.”
That passage of time meant offers diminished and whatever did come JD’s way were of a certain kind. He shares, “Then, the typecasting happens because of that 3-4 year gap. People remember you as that one character. They want you to play the same thing. In Vaastu Shastra, I was clean-shaven and people did not recognize me. Film folks would ask me the number of that boy from the film, not realizing it was me. But they didn’t want me in that image because they remembered the bearded Satya.”
In 2022, JD Chakravarthy returned to Hindi films after almost a decade with two films – Anek and Ek Villain Returns, followed by his OTT debut with Taaza Khabar, his first release of 2023.
Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra Hocane react to Amitabh Bachchan's shout out to Sanam Teri Kasam re-release
Chhaava box office collection day 2: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna film mints Rs 67 crore
15 injured in stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, probe on
Amitabh Bachchan was 'mind-blown' in a Bangkok strip club, reveals...: 'He was wearing...'
Watch: Gautam Adani and his wife offered 'chadar' at Ajmer Sharif Dargah
European man shares 10 lessons that shattered his western mindset after moving to India
'India needs strong production base, not empty words': LoP Rahul Gandhi's veiled dig at centre
Ranveer Allahbadia says he’s getting death threats from..., promises he won’t...
Bad news for Rohit Sharma ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, BCCI to take huge step on India captain
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries buys new company for Rs 6.73 crore, it is called...
Who was Lavoo Mamledar, former MLA who died after altercation with...in...
World's largest gold deposit worth over Rs 7 lakh crore found in China, hidden beneath....
Video Viral: Monalisa Bhosle, Mahakumbh sensation, takes first-ever flight to Kozhikode
Who Owns Burj Khalifa? Know the SURPRISING owner of the world's tallest building
Legendary Bengali singer-songwriter Pratul Mukhopadhyay passes away at 82
Whale swallows, then spits out kayaker as moment is captured on camera; WATCH viral video
'I do not regret being part of it': Raghu Ram opens up on India's Got Latent controversy
Meet influencer Ashley Clair who claims Tesla CEO Elon Musk is the father of her child
After Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh cuts ties with Ranveer Allahabadia – Here's what happened!
NASA’s curiosity Rover captures stunning twilight clouds on Mars, leaves internet in awe
Who is Ashley St. Clair? Author claiming she secretly gave birth to Elon Musk's child
Google secures Mumbai's BKC offices, renews lease with staggering monthly rent of over Rs.....
Meet man, who sold previous company for Rs 1 lakh crore, he is...
American whiskey Bourbon set to take over Indian market, here's how
Ten devotees from Chhattisgarh killed as car collides with bus enroute to Maha Kumbh
What happens after UPSC? Civil servants share about life at LBSNAA
Mukesh Ambani, sons Akash and Anant take holy dip at Mahakumbh, woman shares video; watch here
'What Akshay Kumar does is..': Ahmed Khan reveals superstar uses teleprompter for…, defends his…
Maha Kumbh fame IIT Baba aka Abhay Singh's 10th, 12th marksheet goes viral
Ameesha Patel shares 'fraudulent promise' video of Gadar 2 because Anil Sharma...: 'How will you...'
After Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi’s teammate Federico Redondo takes dig at PSG, claims...
Who is Abhinav Chandrachud? Lawyer representing YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, he is son of famous...
India's Got Latent controversy: YouTuber Apoorva Makhija kicked out from IIFA? Here's what we know
Former WWE wrestler gives BIG warning to Ranveer Allahbadia, says, 'people like him have...'
Ukraine's Zelenskyy makes BIG claim, says Donald Trump can push Putin to...
Anti-Valentine’s week: From Breakup Day to Slap Day, 7 days explained
Saturday bank holiday: Are banks open or closed on February 15? Check here
Meet Fearless Nadiya, first female Bollywood action star, she was from...
Prateik Babbar shares passionate kiss with Priya Banerjee in dreamy wedding photos
Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna’s Chhaava is a historic epic that roars to glory
'India, US stand firmly together in fight against terrorism': PM Modi
Ranveer Allahbadia hires Ex-Chief Justice of India's son as his lawyer, approaches Supreme Court
CanCentra Review 2025: Scam Or Legit Trading Platform? - Canada Facts!
PAFI Kabupaten Gunungkidul Launches Pharmacist Training Program to Elevate Healthcare Standards
Oswal Energies introduces Advanced Clean Energy Solutions at India Energy Week 2025