For Kunal K Kapoor, a four-year gap from acting was never meant to be a break from cinema. If anything, it gave him more time to reconnect with the part of filmmaking that drew him to the industry in the first place — storytelling. Now, with his Telugu debut Vishwambhara, Kannada debut Lambodhara 2.0, Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus Ramayana and three scripts of his own in the works, Kunal is stepping back into a busy phase of his career, but on his own terms.

He says, “The break gave me a chance to develop the stories I really wanted to tell. At my core, I am a storyteller. I’ve been writing for years and just finished three scripts. Those are films that I’d like to act in. The break happened because I haven’t got the kind of work that I was excited about, but now I see a lot of that coming around.”

This year, Kunal’s film Rang De Basanti, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, marked its 20th anniversary. Reflecting on the film’s enduring legacy, Kunal says, “We were just telling an interesting story. It was not like we believed that we were setting out to do something so important that would be remembered 20 years later.”

The actor thinks that the possibility of making a film with that kind of cultural resonance still exists. The challenge, he says, is finding the right story. “I think the possibility of telling an interesting story still exists. It’s only about finding those interesting stories together. But those are far and few in between. I meet so many people who come up to me and say, ‘Rang De Basanti jaisi picture aur banao na.’ And I’m like, sure, but you have to find the content for it, right?”

Ask him about his experience of being part of Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated film Ramayana, in which he plays Lord Indra, and he replies, “I enjoyed being on that set because it felt meditative. It was quiet. I’ve never been on such a quiet set. Usually our sets are crazy. There’s so much noise and chaos. But the sets of Ramayana felt different. Everyone seemed to feel like they were part of something they genuinely cared about. That doesn’t happen often. I think it’s a combination of Nitesh sir’s energy and also the kind of film that we’re making.”

A project as culturally significant as Ramayana was always going to attract scrutiny, particularly in the age of social media. The trailer brought with it a flood of opinions, from casting choices to the appearance of its characters. Kunal, however, sees the online reaction as a consequence of how audiences consume and discuss cinema today.

“We live in a world where everyone has access to expressing their opinion. When I was starting off, we had three newspapers and those three would have a review and you probably had one show on TV that reviewed movies. You either had to be part of a television network or a newspaper network to express how you felt about something. But today, everybody can express what they feel online. We live in a world where the more aggressive you are, or the more you attack something, the more likely you are to go viral. So virality is not necessarily based on just expressing your opinion; it’s based on how aggressively you express your opinion.”

Kapoor is also venturing into south cinema with back-to-back projects in Telugu and Kannada. While he doesn’t find the filmmaking process fundamentally different, he says there is one aspect that struck him — the continuity of language throughout the filmmaking process.

He says, “The only difference that I find, and which is one of the reasons that a lot of films from the south industries feel more rooted, is that everybody is operating in one language. For instance, if I’m doing a Telugu film, that film is written in Telugu first. Everybody on that set speaks mostly in Telugu. Then you go and say your lines in Telugu. So the whole process is in one language. That doesn’t happen on the set of Hindi films.”

Kunal Kapoor, best known for his breakout role in Rang De Basanti, is set to make a comeback in Telugu cinema as the antagonist in Vishwambhara, starring opposite Chiranjeevi. At the same time, the actor is also gearing up for Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated Ramayana in which he’s set to appear in a key role along with Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol.

“It’s a little early to talk about Ramayana, given that the release is still far off. But I believe it will be something very special — a cinematic experience worthy of such an integral part of our culture and history,” he says. In a candid conversation with Hyderabad Times, the actor opens up about his admiration for Chiranjeevi, his views on fitness and emotional well-being, and the evolving synergy between film industries across regions.

Reflecting on his time shooting for Vishwambhara with Chiranjeevi, Kunal says, “Chiranjeevi sir is just incredible, both on and off screen. His work ethic is absolutely humbling, and he approaches every film with the energy of a newcomer, even after doing over 150 films.”

Kunal says it was the Megastar’s passion that left a lasting impression on him. “Legendary status isn’t just about talent; it’s about showing up every day with love for the craft. And that’s exactly what he does. Plus, he’s got this amazing ability to make everyone feel like family on set. I went in intimidated and came out inspired,” he notes.

Kunal, who has worked across industries, sees the growing synergy between regional film industries as one of Indian cinema’s biggest strengths.

“Whether I’m shooting in Mumbai, Hyderabad or Chennai, the essence is the same. We’re all storytellers. The North vs South narrative serves politicians, not artistes. Each region brings something unique. Be it storytelling style, visual texture, or cultural flavour. When we combine all of that, we’re not just making films that connect within the country, but ones that resonate globally. The cross-pollination that’s happening right now is very exciting. It’s no longer about regional cinema, but Indian cinema. And the world is watching,” he remarks.

Known for his impressive physical fitness, Kunal believes true wellness goes far beyond the surface. “Fitness isn’t just about looking good. It’s about feeling balanced, emotionally and mentally. People often overlook the emotional side of fitness. But that’s just as important. If you’re mentally scattered, it shows — on screen and off. You can have six-pack abs and still be an emotional wreck. Your body and mind are roommates. If one is struggling, the other will too,” he says.

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Balancing work and fatherhood in this industry can be tough. Sometimes you’re away for weeks at a stretch. But the flipside is, between projects, you get stretches of real quality time that most other professions don’t allow for

Kunal Kapoor, who began his Bollywood journey as a lead actor nearly two decades ago, is now making a mark in the south film industries, particularly in antagonist roles. Following his performances in Veeram (Malayalam) and Devadas (Telugu), Kunal shared that he feels more satisfied in his career, especially when portraying negative characters.

In an exclusive interview with Hyderabad Times, he spoke about his upcoming Telugu film Vishwambhara, where he stars alongside Chiranjeevi. “Playing an antagonist is more exciting than the protagonist. There are no rules to follow. For a long time, I was stuck in certain roles, but it’s incredible how south filmmakers are seeing me in a whole new way now,” he said.

Working with Chiranjeevi sir has been an absolute pleasure — he’s among the kindest and most supportive co-stars. He’s truly a legend, both on and off the screen. I’ve always been a huge fan of Chiranjeevi garu. Back in the day, I had a vast collection of videotapes, and Aaj Ka Goondaraj (Gang Leader in Telugu) along with his Hindi debut Pratibandh were part of it. The last film of his that stood out to me was Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. Though he’s a Megastar on screen, he’s incredibly down to earth in real life. I remember during an action scene, I felt a slight twinge in my shoulder, and the first thing he asked was, ‘Is your shoulder okay?’ It’s rare to meet someone of his stature who is so thoughtful and concerned about everyone on set.

When I started, the roles I was offered were all very similar. Back then, a hero was expected to fit a certain mould, but now even the idea of a hero has changed. Audiences seem to prefer anti-heroes over traditional ones, and I feel fortunate to explore these grey-shaded characters, especially in south films. In the Malayalam film Veeram, I was given a role that no one in Hindi cinema was offering me end of the year.at the time. Director Jairaj saw something in me that the Hindi film industry didn’t, and I’m enjoying this new phase as an actor.

This is an incredible time for actors and technicians, with collaborations across industries becoming more common. South films like Baahubali, RRR, and Kalki 2898 AD have broken language barriers and are being watched nationwide. As an actor, it’s exciting to explore diverse roles in different regions. The content today is outstanding — like the Tamil film Maharaja, which became the most-watched film, largely thanks to OTT platforms making it accessible to wider audiences. It’s amazing to see people appreciating films beyond their language. Everywhere I’ve been, from Bombay to Hyderabad, people have been praising Vijay Sethupathi sir’s performance in that film.

I’m working on Jewel Thief with Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, followed by a mythological project, Ramayana, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, with shooting starting soon. I’ve also ventured into writing and recently completed a script for an action-packed vigilante series, which is set to begin production by the end of the year.