Four of the favourite villains of Indian cinema — Ranjeet, Gulshan Grover, Raza Murad and Kiran Kumar — had a gala time spotlighting the nuances of playing the role of a villain that forms the crux of many a film.

At a session themed ‘The Villains- Leaving a Lasting Impression’ on Monday, held on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India in Panaji, Goa, the four ‘bad men’ of the Indian entertainment industry, some of whom still make appearances in films and web shows, regaled a housefull audience with anecdotes and insights into what goes on to make a superhero out of a hero.

Kiran Kumar, a handsome personality in his youth — some of the charm he still retains — summed it all up aptly when he said that the job of a villain, who plays a negative role, is to ensure that the hero in the film gets portrayed as a superhero.

Speaking on the audiences’ expectations from the roles villains play, Kumar said “We are entertainers, not actors. Our job is to entertain those who sit from the front to the last row in a theatre. It is to deliver and give him his money’s worth.”

He added: “Without an opposition to the hero, any film is incomplete.”

While sharing his thoughts on the use of profane language used by a villain in a film, Kumar said, “If required, one should not shy away from using it.”

He, according to a brief of the session put out by the IFFI organisers, further explained that the language can help the viewers to understand the region to which a person belongs, thereby effectively conveying the part one is playing in the film.

Highlighting the importance that villains play in cinema, Raza Murad expressed that the bad men (and sometimes women too) add flavour to a film and play a vital role in the storytelling.

“When we play such parts in a film, we serve the audience the flavour they love, enjoy and crave for. Films are incomplete without a villain,” he asserted.

On being asked how one prepares for the role of a villain, Gulshan ‘bad man’ Grover said, “When I play the role of a villain in a film, my belief, my thoughts have no significance. I am the person that the script demands.”

In addition to the others remarks, Ranjeet added, “I believe one can portray himself/herself as a villain even without the use of profane languages. I can do so with just my acting alone.”

Based on his experiences in the movies, he added, “Yes, I have played the role of a crude villain, but never an uncouth one.”

Recognizing the significance of costume as an important aspect of portraying a character, Murad added, “Costume is essential for character build-up. It enhances the role a person is playing. However, one must always remember that a costume will always be an accessory, and will not work if one is not talented enough.”