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For actor Vishwanath Kulkarni , the journey from theatre to the screen has been one of patience, perseverance and constant learning. As he completes a decade in the entertainment industry, he looks back at the milestones that shaped his career, the changing landscape of Indian entertainment, and the lessons that continue to guide him.

"My acting journey began on January 1, 2016, when I first stood in front of the camera," Kulkarni recalls. "Before that, theatre had shaped me as an actor. It taught me discipline, dialogue delivery and, most importantly, how to truly understand and portray a character."

That theatrical foundation paved the way for opportunities across television, films and digital platforms. Over the last 10 years, Kulkarni has appeared in more than 20 Marathi television serials, two Marathi feature films, two Hindi web series, a Hindi feature film, a Hindi short film, four music albums and two digital advertisements. "Every project has been different," he says. "Every role has taught me something new and helped me grow as an actor."

One of the defining chapters of his career came with the serial Aai Tuljabhavani , where he portrayed the character Nabhaji. The role demanded much more than a conventional performance. Over six months, Kulkarni played three distinct versions of the same character, each requiring a unique body language, personality and speaking style.

"It was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career," he says. "I am originally from the Vidarbha region, so performing in Belgaavi Marathi, Standard Marathi and the dialect of Western Maharashtra required extensive preparation. The appreciation I received from viewers, my co-actors and the director gave me the confidence to take on more linguistically diverse roles."

The same period also brought another major breakthrough. Kulkarni was cast as Shailesh in the Hindi feature film Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos , produced by Aamir Khan Productions. For the actor, the project represents an important milestone as his first Hindi feature film.


"Sharing screen space with Mona Singh, Mithila Palkar, Sharib Hashmi and Vir Das was a learning experience in itself," he says. "Watching their approach to performance and working with a production house of national stature has enriched me as an actor."

Having witnessed the industry's evolution over the last decade, Kulkarni believes the rise of OTT platforms has fundamentally changed the opportunities available to actors.

"OTT has opened doors for actors to work across regional and national industries simultaneously," he says, adding, "But it has also made the competition much tougher. Today, being a good actor is no longer enough. You have to keep updating yourself, learn new skills and maintain a professional approach."

He also points to the growing influence of social media, which has transformed the relationship between actors and their audiences.


Vishwanath shares, "Earlier, audiences only knew us through our work on screen. Today, they want to know the person behind the performance as well. Social media has reduced that distance. Maintaining an honest connection with audiences and consistently engaging with them has become just as important as acting itself."

Like many performers, Kulkarni's career has been marked by auditions, rejections and setbacks. However, he views those experiences as an essential part of the profession rather than obstacles. "I have faced countless auditions and accepted rejection as part of the process. There are no shortcuts to success in this industry. Patience, consistency, hard work and unwavering belief in your craft are an actor's greatest strengths," he says.

As he enters the next phase of his career, Kulkarni says his focus remains unchanged: taking on diverse, challenging roles that allow him to keep discovering new facets of himself as a performer. "Every new role is an opportunity to rediscover myself as an actor," he says, adding, "That excitement of becoming someone new every time is what continues to inspire me."