Keshav’s power lies in silence, not in shouting, says Akshay Dogra

Bollywood’s villains have long been known for their theatrics — booming laughs, dramatic monologues and flamboyant menace. But in Vadh 2, Akshay Dogra’s Keshav represents a quieter, more disturbing kind of antagonist. “Keshav doesn’t need to shout or threaten people to feel powerful,” Akshay says. “His strength lies in stillness and control. What scared me about him was how calmly he manipulates everyone around him.” Set largely within a prison system, Keshav operates through silence, psychological pressure and exploitation of authority. “He understands where the system is weak and uses that knowledge as his weapon,” Akshay explains. “For him, fear works better than force.”

The actor says his approach was rooted in restraint. “I consciously avoided big expressions or dramatic moments. I wanted Keshav to feel real — like someone you could actually meet in such a space.” This shift mirrors a broader change in Hindi cinema, driven by OTT storytelling and audiences drawn to moral ambiguity. “Today’s villains are not evil for the sake of it,” Akshay says. “They reflect broken systems and uncomfortable truths about power.”

Having worked across television and behind the scenes before moving into complex screen roles, Akshay sees this phase as part of a larger evolution. “I’ve always believed in playing characters, not images. Roles like Keshav allow you to explore psychology instead of spectacle.”

Also starring Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta, along with Kumud Mishra, Amitt K Singh, Shilpa Shukla and Yogita Bihani, Vadh 2 has released in theatres today.


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