Gopalkrishna Deshpande

{{Infobox person
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| birth_date = 7 October {{birth based on age as of date|19|2003||}}
| birth_place = [[Karnataka]], India
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| occupation = Actor
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'''Gopalkrishna Deshpande''' (born 7 October 1983 / 1984) is a Indian actor known for his work in [[Kannada cinema]]. After a stint in theatre with [[Ninasam]] and in television, he made his film debut in 2017. He is a noted [[character actor]].{{cite web |last1=Sebastian |first1=Shilpa |title=Gopal Krishna talks about his journey in films |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/never-at-the-crossroads/article25938374.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en-IN |date=8 January 2019}}

Deshpande gained recognition for his role in [[Raj B. Shetty]]'s gangster film ''[[Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana]]'' (2021), after which he had many notable supporting roles. The include ''[[Sapta Saagaradaache Ello: Side B]]'' (2023), ''[[Shakhahaari]]'' (2024), ''[[Blink (2024 Indian film)|Blink]]'' (2024) and ''Second Case of Seetharam'' (2026). His performance in ''Blink'' won him the [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada]].

== Early life ==
Gopalkrishna Deshpande hails from the town of [[Hunagunda]] in the [[Bagalkot district]] of [[Karnataka]]. His father, Dhruvraj Deshpande, was an alumnus and acting teacher of the theatre troupe [[Ninasam]].{{cite web |title=#AFilmThatChangedMyLife: Gopalkrishna Deshpande on 'Ulidavaru Kandanthe', his early days of acting, and more |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/afilmthatchangedmylife-gopalkrishna-deshpande-on-ulidavaru-kandanthe-his-early-days-of-acting-and-more/articleshow/88299511.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=24 April 2026 |date=16 December 2021}} He had also founded his own troupe, Durvaranga. Gopalkrishna recalled his household being "fairly artistic" and that the family would discuss about Kannada literature. Although he watched [[Hindi cinema|Hindi films]] while growing up in [[Bagalkote]], he was not drawn towards acting. A few years after his father's death in 2005, he enrolled at Ninasam to study theatre and acting "just out of curiosity." He later dropped out of a [[bachelor of science]] program to pursue stage acting seriously.{{cite web |last1=Sudhan |first1=G. S. Karthika |title=Gopalakrishna Deshpande; ಸದ್ದು-ಗದ್ದಲವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಮನಮುಟ್ಟುವ ನಟ |url=https://udayavani.com/sandalwood-news/kannada-actor-gopalakrishna-deshpande |website=Udayavani |access-date=24 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260423012552/https://udayavani.com/sandalwood-news/kannada-actor-gopalakrishna-deshpande |archive-date=23 April 2026 |language=kn |date=5 January 2024 |trans-title=Gopalakrishna Deshpande: An actor who touches hearts without noise or hype}}

== Career ==
With Ninasam's wandering troupe, Ninasam Tirugaata, Deshpande travelled while performing in plays for three years. He recalled that he was "bitten by the acting bug, when I saw the audience's reaction to our work on stage." In 2011, he moved to [[Bangalore]] to try his hand at television. His made his first screen appearance with the serial, ''Putta Gowri Maduve'', before acting in [[B. Suresha]]'s ''Aliguli Mane''.

Deshpande's film debut came in 2017 with ''[[Saheba (film)|Saheba]]''. In the gangster film ''[[Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana]]'' (2021), he played, [[sub-inspector]] Brahmayya, a cowardly cop who slowly gathers courage to nab a dangerous gangster. His performance earned him praise; Sunayana Suresh of ''[[The Times of India]]'' opined that his performance "deserves special mention for his nuanced performance and subtle acting."{{cite web |last1=Suresh |first1=Sunayana |title=Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana Movie Review: Raj B Shetty redefines mass entertainment |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/garuda-gamana-vrishabha-vahana/movie-review/87792018.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en |date=19 November 2021}} In the rural drama ''[[Kothalavadi]]'' (2025), he played a junk-shop owner who goes on to become a vile politician.{{cite web |last1=M. V. |first1=Vivek |title=‘Kothalavadi’ movie review: A bland village drama with a superb Gopalkrishna Deshpande |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kothalavadi-movie-review-goplakrishna-deshpande-pruthvi-ambaar-yash-mother-pushpa/article69889493.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en-IN |date=3 August 2025}} A. Sharadhaa of ''[[the New Indian Express]]'' wrote, "The real show-stealer is Gopal Krishna Deshpande. As Gujari Babu, he is all charm and chill menace. He doesn't raise his voice or brandish weapons; instead, he manipulates with pauses and smiles, weaponising belief in the guise of empowerment. It's a performance rooted in restraint, and it anchors much of the film's tension."{{cite web |last1=Sharadhaa |first1=A. |title=Kothalavadi Movie Review: A rural fable burdened by its subplots |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/review/2025/Aug/01/kothalavadi-movie-review-a-rural-fable-burdened-by-its-subplots |website=Cinema Express |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en |date=1 August 2025}}

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
! class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
| 2017
! scope=row| ''[[Saheba (film)|Saheba]]''
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2018
! scope=row| ''[[Thayige Thakka Maga (2018 film)|Thayige Thakka Maga]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Nathicharami]]''
| Ravi
|
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2019
! scope=row| ''[[Lambodara (film)|Lambodara]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Arishadvarga]]''
| Bheemsen Joshi
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Mahira (film)|Mahira]]''
| Kashi
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Kannad Gothilla]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Avane Srimannarayana]]''
| Bandmaster
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Nalke''
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2021
! scope=row| ''[[Mangalavara Rajaadina]]''
| Madeva
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana]]''
| Brahmayya
| Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Kannada)
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2022
! scope=row| ''[[777 Charlie]]''
| Kripakar
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Buddies''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Hope (2022 film)|Hope]]''
| Shivashankar
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Shubhamangala (2022 film)|Shubhamangala]]''
| Manjunath
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[10 (2022 film)|10]]''
| Pradeep Gowda
|
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2023
! scope=row| ''[[Gowli (film)|Gowli]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Toby (film)|Toby]]''
| Damodhara
|
| {{cite web |last1=P. S. |first1=Abhilash |title=‘ನಟ ಕೇವಲ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮವಷ್ಟೇ’: ಗೋಪಾಲಕೃಷ್ಣ ದೇಶಪಾಂಡೆ |url=https://www.prajavani.net/entertainment/cinema/gopalakrishna-deshpande-kottalavadi-role-interview-3437865 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801004309/https://www.prajavani.net/entertainment/cinema/gopalakrishna-deshpande-kottalavadi-role-interview-3437865 |archive-date=1 July 2025 |website=Prajavani |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=kn |date=31 July 2025 |trans-title=An Actor is Just a Medium: Gopalkrishna Deshpande}}
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Sapta Saagaradaache Ello: Side A]]''
| Prisoner
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Sapta Saagaradaache Ello: Side B]]''
| Prakash
| Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Kannada)
IIFA Utsavam Award for Performance in a Supporting Role – Male
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Marichi (film)|Marichi]]''
| Naga Shetty
|
|
|-
| rowspan="16" | 2024
! scope=row| ''Yathabhava''
| Hiremath
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Supplier Shankara''
| Narayana Swamy
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Shakhahaari]]''
| Mallikarjuna Hiremath
| Nominated—[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada]]
Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Kannada)
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Blink (2024 Indian film)|Blink]]''
| Gopal Krishna
| Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Kannada
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Kerebete]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Yuva (2024 film)|Yuva]]''
| Principal of college
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Bisi-Bisi Ice-Cream]]''
| Mahantesh
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Green''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[O2 (2024 film)|O2]]''
| Nayak
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Not Out (film)|Not Out]]''
| Sridhar
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Happy Birthday to Me (2024 film)|Happy Birthday to Me]]''
| Janardhan
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Hejjaru''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Kenda (film)|Kenda]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Bheema (2024 film)|Bheema]]''
| Allu
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Powder (2024 film)|Powder]]''
| Sulaiman
|
| {{cite web |last1=Sharadhaa |first1=A. |title='Powder' movie review: Revels in easygoing fun and uncomplicated laughs |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Aug/24/powder-movie-review-revels-in-easygoing-fun-and-uncomplicated-laughs |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en |date=24 August 2024}}
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Bhairathi Ranagal]]''
|
|
| {{cite web |last1=Suresh |first1=Sunayana |title=Bhairathi Ranagal review: This prequel is a Shiva Rajkumar show all the way |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/kannada/bhairathi-ranagal-movie-review |website=The South First |access-date=24 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241115111744/https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/kannada/bhairathi-ranagal-movie-review/ |archive-date=15 November 2024 |language=en-IN |date=15 November 2024}}
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2025
! scope=row| ''[[Royal (film)|Royal]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Bandook''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Kothalavadi]]''
| Ramesh "Gujari" Babu
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Bank of Bhagyalakshmi]]''
| Kesavaditya
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''The Task''
| Shreelakshmi's Father
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Mark (2025 film)|Mark]]''
| Rangayya
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2026
! scope=row| ''[[Landlord (film)|Landlord]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[Rakkasapuradhol]]''
| Teacher
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Second Case of Seetharam''
| Sebastian
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''[[The Rise of Ashoka]]''
|
|
|
|-
! scope=row| ''Neeli Hakki''
| Maasti
|
| {{cite web |last1=Angadi |first1=Jagadish |title=‘Neeli Hakki’ review: A poignant tale of childhood, nature and displacement |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/neeli-hakki-movie-review-a-visual-masterpiece-3914628 |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=24 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260306025307/https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/neeli-hakki-movie-review-a-visual-masterpiece-3914628 |archive-date=6 March 2026 |language=en |date=28 February 2026}}
|-
|}

=== Television ===
* ''Putta Gowri Maduve''

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|9109380}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Deshpande, Gopalkrishna}}
[[Category:Male actors from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:IIFA Utsavam winners]]