Diganth: Audiences have begun accepting me in different roles

Diganth, who has portrayed numerous roles throughout his career, is widely recognised as a charming and romantic hero in Sandalwood. Affectionately known as the ‘Doodhpeda’ of the industry, his upcoming film, Yadha Yadha Hi, will showcase a different facet of his acting prowess as he ventures into the role of a Khaki-clad cop for the first time. Directed by Ashok Teja, the film also stars Vasishta Simha and Hariprriya.

Diganth reveals that he had been approached a couple of times for cop roles before but he was hesitant about truly embodying the character. However, in Yadha Yadha Hi, there is a refreshing twist. “He is not an honest cop; he takes bribes and lacks punctuality. Playing this unconventional cop character granted me significant creative freedom. While he possesses a certain goodness, there is a specific reason behind his behaviour. With Manju Pavagada (Bigg Boss winner) traveling along with me, we both bring a delightful quotient of fun to the film,” he says.

Yadha Yadha Hi is a remake of the successful Telugu film Yavarvu, which has been remade in other languages as well. Diganth is confident that the Kannada version will perform well at the box office. Regarding his approach to the role, which gave him a sense of patriotism, the actor explains, “Since I am not playing a strictly serious cop, I infused the role with a sense of fun. The director initially wrote some serious dialogues for me, but I felt they wouldn’t suit the character. So we discussed and made adjustments to make it more enjoyable.”

Diganth has often been part of multistarrers, and Yadha Yadha Hi has him sharing the screen with Vasishta Simha and Hariprriya for the first time. “My scenes with Vasishta are limited,” says the actor, who describes the KGF actor as a talented performer with a captivating voice, personality, and screen presence. On the other hand, he has more scenes with Hariprriya. “I have been watching Hariprriya’s work since the days of Ugramm, and she comes across as a powerful actor with an impressive memory,” adds Diganth, who shares that such skilled actors coming together enhances the impact of the scenes.

Looking ahead, Diganth reveals his involvement in the upcoming film The Judgement, directed by Gururaj Kulkarni and starring Ravichandran, where he portrays a lawyer. He mentions that diverse characters are now coming his way as he is growing older. “Previously, people associated me with the chocolate boy image, and the films that often featured me in mischievous characters that brought laughter without many responsibilities have been successful. However, I believe that now audiences have begun accepting me in different roles.” When asked if he yearned for such roles, Diganth explains, “I simply took up the characters that came my way. But at one point, I desired a change. Nevertheless, I never felt bad about filmmakers not considering me for serious roles. Now that they are coming, I am genuinely happy.”

Currently, Diganth is waiting to complete the three-day shoot for his upcoming film, Edagaiye Apaghatakke Karana, while the dubbing process is underway. He concludes by saying, “At the moment, I am filming for Bachelor Party, made under Rakshit Shetty’s Paramvah Studios, which is in its final phase of shooting.”