Director Nikita Mikhalkov recounts a confrontation with actor Oleg Menshikov, describing an incident of physical aggression during a conversation with journalist Nadezhda Strelets on a YouTube channel. The account centers on a tense moment that left a lasting impression on their professional relationship.
The recollection goes back to the development of the film 12 in 2007. Menshikov was slated to take the leading role, but two days before filming began, he declined to participate. The project then shifted to Sergei Makovetsky, who stepped into the part and carried the production forward. This turn of events is presented as a turning point in the director’s assessment of the collaboration and its implications for the film’s creation.
The director states that he felt the actions of Menshikov were not neutral in nature, stressing that the choice to withdraw at such a late stage constituted a serious blow to the project and to the artistic process as a whole.
Later, on the set of the film Burnt by the Sun, Mikhalkov notes that Menshikov’s conduct did not meet professional expectations. He recalls instances of difficult behavior, including an early departure from the project before its completion. The director characterizes this attitude as a professional insult, implying that such conduct undermined the collaborative spirit required for a demanding production.
The discussion also touches on past statements about Anatoly Bely, the actor who left Russia and is often described as a foreign agent within the country. Mikhalkov indicates he has previously explained why he regards Bely as disloyal to certain professional or national expectations, framing the discussion within a broader conversation about loyalty and career choices in the acting community.