The line between heroes and villains has become increasingly blurred in Indian cinema and OTT. Several actors have moved seamlessly between characters audiences root for and those they love to hate. Vikrant Massey, Vijay Varma, Adarsh Gourav, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Jaideep Ahlawat are among the performers who have showcased this versatility across both theatrical releases and streaming projects.
Tahir Raj Bhasin
Tahir Raj Bhasin’s career began with him making an impact as an antagonist in Mardaani and Force 2. He subsequently moved into more layered and sympathetic roles, playing Derek in Chhichhore and Sunil Gavaskar in 83. On OTT, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein put him in the centre as Vikrant, a protagonist whose choices gradually lead him into dangerous territory. His upcoming releases Shaque in OTT and Pal Bhar Ke Liye, in theatre is completely contrasting from each other. His journey reflects a clear transition from playing villains to leading morally complicated stories.
Vikrant Massey
Vikrant Massey has built a reputation for playing vulnerable, relatable characters, but his filmography also features darker turns. From Bablu Pandit in Mirzapur and Aditya Sharma in Criminal Justice to his empathetic performances in 12th Fail, Chhapaak and A Death in the Gunj, Massey has largely explored grounded characters. However, Sector 36 saw him take a dramatically darker route, proving that the actor can move convincingly from sensitive protagonists to disturbing characters.
Vijay Varma
Vijay Varma has made morally grey characters a defining part of his career. His performances in Gully Boy, Pink and Jaane Jaan showcase different shades of his acting, while Hamza in Darlings and Shatrughan Tyagi in Mirzapur pushed him into darker territory. His portrayal of Anand Swarnakar in Dahaad further established his ability to play an outwardly ordinary man hiding a sinister side. At the same time, projects such as IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack have allowed him to explore more sympathetic roles.
Adarsh Gourav
Adarsh Gourav’s breakthrough as Balram Halwai in The White Tiger immediately established his ability to play a protagonist whose ambition comes with morally questionable choices. On the theatrical side, films such as Kho Gaye Hum Kahan have showcased a more relatable and emotionally vulnerable side. His OTT work, including Leila and Guns & Gulaabs, has further allowed him to experiment with characters inhabiting morally complex worlds.
Jaideep Ahlawat
Jaideep Ahlawat has frequently used his imposing screen presence for darker characters, but his career has also produced memorable protagonists. From Gangs of Wasseypur and other intense theatrical roles to Khalid Mir in Raazi, he has explored contrasting shades. His defining OTT role, Hathi Ram Chaudhary in Paatal Lok, presented him as a flawed but determined police officer. The actor has continued to move between intimidating and sympathetic characters across films and streaming projects.
What connects these six actors is their willingness to move beyond the traditional hero or villain mould. Vikrant, Vijay, Adarsh, Tahir, and Jaideep have all used both theatrical cinema and OTT to explore characters with shades of grey. Their filmographies underline a larger shift in Indian storytelling, where audiences are increasingly drawn to complex characters rather than straightforward heroes and villains.
