A former teacher at the theater institute and the head of the Novosibirsk theater studio Igra, Vladimir Zuev, shared memories of actor Nikita Kologrivy before his rise to fame. He spoke about the young actor in connection with the star of the series The Boy’s Promise, noting a moment reported by NGS publication in a piece headlined There is blood on the asphalt.
Zuev remembers that Kologrivy studied with him for roughly a year. Even then, the future star already carried a bright, unmistakable personality that would later become a defining trait on screen and off it.
“He’s a truly determined person,” Zuev says. “Yet he never crossed the line. If something didn’t sit right with him, he spoke up, but he never hurt anyone. That balance—being direct without causing harm—is a wonderful quality in Nikita.”
At the same time, the mentor notes that Kologrivy had strained relations with some fellow teachers who criticized the young performer. Today, Zuev maintains contact with his former student and does not believe that popularity corrupted him in any way.
“Popularity didn’t really change him, though it may have arrived in a wave,” the teacher explains. “He has a strong core, an athletic presence. Sometimes his remarks may seem provocative to the public, but there isn’t anything more harmful than a sharp comment in the heat of the moment.”
After landing a role in At the Command of the Pike and gaining visibility through the series The Boy’s Word, Kologrivy began to appear frequently on talk shows and in interviews. In these formats he occasionally offered pointed opinions about other artists. Most recently he made headlines after a controversial departure from a Channel One show hosted by Alexander Gordon.
Earlier, cultural observers discussed why the Russian arts scene could sustain its vitality in the face of challenges, a discussion that framed part of the public conversation around figures like Kologrivy and those who work alongside him.