Vitaly Gogunsky: “I will create a football club and name it in honor of my daughter Milana. Why did Vitaly Gogunsky leave Univer and what was the reaction of the producers? – Everyone wants it, but not everyone succeeds
This funny hero was remembered and loved by many. The series was associated with Kuzya and the series could not be imagined without Kuzya. Even all kinds of changes in the project while he was there. But suddenly he left. Moreover, the reason for Kuzy’s departure from the plot was strained and implausible. Why did he leave
“Univer” stayed, but Kuzya left...
There are such students in every university. They are big, strong, interested in some kind of sport, do poorly in basic subjects, but are always interested in girls. Therefore, Kuzya became near and dear to the main audience of the series, unlike the girls model appearance and In addition, it is Kuza who owns the songs from the project, humorous and original words. Almost everyone likes the light humorous atmosphere of the series, and love lines add spice to the story.
The end of the storyline of Eduard Kuzmin
In the new season of the series "Univer: New Dorm" Kuzya found new love- Masha, who she played petite Anna Khilkevich. According to the plot, he sought her love for a long time, and in the end she could not resist. The romance lasted for quite a long time until Masha gave Edward a reason to be jealous. Jealous and offended Kuzya got drunk to the point of clouding his mind, which is not at all like him, since he is an athlete. Returning to the dorm late in the evening, he managed to swing at his neighbor and hit Masha, which he did not forgive himself for and therefore promptly left for his native Agapovka. The inconsolable girl even went to his village, hoping to bring him back, but she herself came back after a couple of days. This turn of events seemed somewhat far-fetched to many TV viewers, so questions about why Vitaly Gogunsky left Univer did not subside.
Rumors about Vitaly leaving the series
Perplexed fans of the series and the character played by Vitaly pestered the channel’s editors with questions and discussed the actor’s departure everywhere. Various rumors appeared about why Vitaly Gogunsky left Univer, among which the most popular were information about the actor’s abuse of alcoholic beverages and the resulting scandals with the director. The public was also agitated by rumors about the “star sickness” of the artist, who allegedly demanded an increase in wages from year to year.
According to the TNT channel, the actors of the sitcom are not in poverty anyway, and during the five years of filming they managed to buy themselves an apartment in Moscow. But Gogunsky’s greed knew no bounds and the producers lost patience. So the following answer can be given to the question of why Vitaly Gogunsky left Univer. A continuation of this rumor was the information that the “star-struck” Vitaly broke off relations with his wife and left her with their little daughter Milana for the sake of a certain blonde Anna.
The reason for breaking the contract, according to Vitaly himself
The actor gave his fans some time to worry, and then made an official refutation of the rumors, saying that he himself had given up the idea of renewing his contract with the channel. He starred in “Univer” for 5 years, 12 hours a day. Hard work resulted in 390 episodes of the beloved series. Such a schedule did not allow me to concentrate or even just pay attention to my family and other work proposals.
In addition, Vitaly realized back in the fall of 2012 that he had become too old for a student series. He has passed the thirty-year mark, is happily married and is raising a little daughter, Milana, to whom he wants to spend time. He is also tired of the image of Eduard Kuzmin, of the fact that fans associate him with a dull, good-natured guy from the village, without taking into account that Vitaly himself is an educated and well-read young man. In a word, the reasons for leaving were personal.
In his interview, Vitaly Gogunsky avoided the topic of agreements with the producers of the series, who were very unhappy with his departure from the project, because his character has many interesting moments. From the creators of the series, Vitaly received several angry attacks and accusations of irresponsibility. And he himself notes with bitterness that what was most striking was that at the height of the scandal, none of the filming partners with whom he was friends during work contacted him. Therefore, after leaving the series, Vitaly stopped communicating with his former colleagues.
Future plans in personal life and work
Rumors that Vitaly Gogunsky was leaving Univer appeared earlier, and then
The actor cited the desire to try his hand at directing as the reason. He still has similar intentions: in collaboration with his friends at VGIK, Vitaly is preparing a script for the series, and also devotes his free time to filming the project “Sasha + Tanya”. Many people do not understand why Vitaly Gogunsky left Univer and continues to act on the same channel in a similar field. This is because he was given the opportunity to select the material offered and accept age roles, as well as free time, which can be devoted to both family and incoming work offers.
In the film "Bartender" your hero dreams of changing his life. Do you ever get bored? What makes you sad?
An intelligent person is never bored alone with himself. It sounds funny when someone who played Kuzya at Univer for five years says this, right? In fact, the question is not whether a person is smart, but how he copes with his boredom: takes energy from others or finds inspiration and support within himself. And to be honest, those who love are never bored. Loves loved ones, family, life, cinema, music, sports - everything!
If there was an opportunity to dramatically change your life, would you take it?
I think yes. Although the whole story of the film “Bartender” is about the fact that a person creates these opportunities for himself. Very often, the people we meet along the way provide us with obvious chances to quickly change our lives - we just need to be prepared for success. But often people are not ready and do not see their possibilities. Like in that joke about the fool who caught goldfish and asked her for some nonsense, and the other asked for a house, money, and a beautiful wife. The fool was surprised: “What, it was possible?” Absolutely everyone has had or will have such an incident in their life, but many do not understand that they missed it. Or they chose something they don’t really need.
We must live by love, not by mistakes.
What would you ask a wizard bartender?
Probably, I would have tried everything he offered: cocktails called “Charisma”, “Talent”, “Voice”, “Dance”, “Aristocrat”. In general, when I arrived in Moscow, I always talked to God before going to bed, and everything I asked and dreamed about then, I did. I believe that a person can realize his dreams if they are sincere and correct.
Has alcohol played tricks on you?
Alcohol is, of course, a catalyst for a good mood, but in large quantities reveals in a person his essence. Now I’m a non-drinker, but when I drank at the institute, I didn’t have any negative stories, fights or quarrels, except for feeling unwell the next day. You just feel empty the next day because you were so happy the day before. In our film, this situation is also played out: the hero drinks the Charisma cocktail, and the next day he is just a loser. But there is a moral in this: if you want to be better not at the expense of your internal qualities, but with the help of external doping, then you have to pay for it. If you want to gain some quality, you need to devote time to it.
Do you have a signature recipe for fighting a hangover?
Honestly? I've never had pomegranate in my life! And he never drank himself into unconsciousness. I know how to drink - I was taught to drink in small sips. But at the same time I can drink a lot!
An intelligent person is never bored alone with himself. It’s funny when someone who played Kuzya at Univer for five years says this, right?
What advice would you give to insecure guys like your hero?
First you need to understand that all successes and failures are relative things. Our failures make us stronger, and our successes are a test. The main thing is not to lose yourself, not to chase fashion. And although public opinion It’s very important, you need to decide what you need to be happy, and believe that it all exists and will be found. All our mistakes on the scale of the Universe are nothing. There is no need to dwell on our problems, because we are who we say we are. A loser is someone who broadcasts his own failures to people, and this cannot be done. You have to love yourself, life and the people around you. We must live by love, not by mistakes.
What do girls like best about you?
Recently, one girl said to me: “Why are you trying to understand something that is impossible to understand?” And I do not understand! This is a very subtle point. By the way, returning to the previous question. Many people take failures in love personally, but, in my opinion, there is a degree of fatalism in this issue. I am 36 years old, and everything that I have read, watched, seen in my life proves the following: chemistry happens between people regardless of any rules. It is clear that most girls pay attention to more successful guys, but, again, because these men convey a sense of security around them and do not dwell on their failures. I think girls like guys who don't think negative thoughts.
Why did you come to the project? Your victory in the show “One to One!” and so you proved to everyone that you are an excellent vocalist.
– Initially, I came to Moscow to sing. And the jury of the project “ Main stage“These are the producers with whom I wanted to work at one time. When the casting for the group was announced in 1998 Ivanushki International“I almost went from Odessa to Igor Matvienko. Later he came to Kyiv and tried to meet with Konstantin Meladze, but suddenly doubted himself. As for Max Fadeev, he is a real music guru. As you can see, I simply could not help but come to the “Main Stage” project.
– From whom did you hear about this show?
– My friend Philip Kirkorov told me about him.
– How did you get the king of Russian pop music himself as a friend?
- Why not be friends with a kind and sincere person...
– Everyone wants to, but not everyone succeeds!
- So I mean myself! ( Laughs.) But seriously, Philip and I met a long time ago. In 2001, I came to Moscow and attended the casting of the musical “Chicago”. I made it into the top twenty, but the chief choreographer said that I lacked professional skills and needed to learn more. By the way, Philip Kirkorov, remembering how I sang at the casting, invited me to go to the second “Star Factory” and promised to put in a word with Max Fadeev. But I realized that I really missed school, and entered VGIK, into the workshop of Alexei Vladimirovich Batalov.
As for Philip, the idea of my participation in the show “One to One!” also belongs to him. It turned out that the producer of the project was Timur Weinstein, a mutual friend of Masha Kozhevnikova and me. He approved the idea: they say, I will be a kind of dark horse - no one knows about my vocal abilities.
– Indeed, until that time your ceiling was “Shnyaga shnyazhnaya.”
- It was a hit! So that you understand whole month this song was among the leaders in downloads on the Internet resource Zaycev.net. I didn't take this song seriously. Moreover, it took me a long time to convince me to sing it. But to my amazement, it became a hit. “Shnyaga shnyazhnaya” is teamwork. I wrote only the music, the words were composed by eight authors.
– Yes, it was a difficult text!
- You shouldn’t laugh! It is very difficult to write a simple thing.
– Show business, as you know, requires sacrifices. To what extent are you willing to tolerate the producer's experiments?
– After Kuzya, I’m no longer afraid of anything! ( Laughs.) If, to be convincing, you need to dye your hair in Blue colour and put earrings in your ears, I agree.
– In your opinion, Kuzya is the bottom, below which there is nowhere to fall?
- On the contrary, Kuzya is the top! And Alexey Batalov says that playing a fool is the highest acting skill. When people see me, they laugh for about fifteen minutes before speaking.
– Your duet with your daughter became a real sensation in the show “One to One!” Did you name your daughter Milana after the football club?
- Of course not. This only name, which was approved by everyone at once. By the way, she herself likes it too. So we guessed right. Milana was only four years old at the time; it was her debut. My daughter was auditioned by a vocal teacher who worked on the project and said she could try it. But no one expected such success. The uniqueness of Milana is that when she goes on stage, she does exactly what is needed. Timur Weinstein himself, before whose eyes passed great amount children, said that this girl is special. During the performance, she turns into an adult.
– At your joint performance, Milana was with wonderful long hair. Why did you cut your child's hair?
“The make-up artists gave her curls. But my daughter has good heredity. Her mother (Irina Mairko, model, beauty pageant participant - Ed.) is very beautiful. Milana generally took the best from her parents.
– If Max Fadeev invites you to perform a duet again, will you agree?
– Without waiting for such an offer, I began to cooperate with good composer Alexander Lukyanov (author of the hits “Atlantis”, “Primadonna”, “Let me go to the Himalayas”, etc. - Ed.), We are now working on a song for our duet with Milana. Good ideas are in the air!
– Aren’t you afraid that your daughter will become arrogant?
– How do you feel about being compared to a young Brad Pitt? Indeed, there is something in common.
– Nobody needs a second Brad Pitt. If an actor wants to succeed, he must be himself. It’s much more pleasant for me when they say: “Oh, it’s Kuzya!”
– It seems that you really do not disown this hero.
– I’m not denying it? Yes, this is my victory, my recognition! I haven’t acted in this role for more than two years now, but viewers are still asking me to come back. And the producers of “Univer”, by the way, too. Of course, I miss Kuza. But I'm interested in doing something new and moving on.
Interviewed by Natalya Yuzhina
“I took seven hundred dollars and a guitar with me to Moscow”
Photo: Maxim Aryukov
VITALY GOGUNSKY, who became popular thanks to his role as Kuzy in the TV series “Univer” on TNT, has now opened up to viewers from a different side. He participates in the “One to One” project on the Russia-1 channel, where he had to use his vocal skills.Few people know, but Vitaly’s career began with music. Once upon a time he even recorded his own music album.
Having seen Vitaly Gogunsky perform in the show “One on One” in the image of Shura, I was amazed. Firstly, it was practically indistinguishable from the original, and secondly, it turned out that Vitaly not only sings great - he sang exactly like Shura! However, the actor himself evaluates himself quite critically: “Yes, I managed to get into this image, but I could have done others better,” he said when we talked at the I. S. Turgenev Library-Reading Room.
What exactly could have been done better, Vitaly?
I would like to establish myself more as a person who can sing. At the theater university we were taught vocals, and before that I studied singing, but I don’t have much experience in performing. Now, halfway through the show, I understand some of its subtleties. The main task of the participant is to capture the recognizable features of the artist he is about to show. At the same time, the most difficult thing is to transform, let’s say, in front of the fans of this artist. You have to do everything so that fans of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley or Freddie Mercury will forgive you for touching the image of their favorite performer. And of course, we must not upset viewers who expect something interesting from the show.
Play female image Is it more difficult for you than for men?
I graduated from Alexey Batalov’s workshop and I want to say that from the point of view of acting, the most difficult thing is to simply play good man, such as Gosha from the film “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears.” (Smiles.)
Acting education became the second for you, first you graduated from the Polytechnic University in Odessa. What prompted you to change your life plans?
My parents saw me as an engineer. My father once told my brother and me: “I always wanted the best for you, in my opinion.” And my mother secretly dreamed that I would become an artist. For her, my participation in the “One to One” project is a dream come true. I know that she is sitting in front of the TV and crying. To be honest, I also participated in “Dancing with the Stars” at one time, because I know that my mother is happy that her son is an artist. You know, like in the song: “The main thing is that my mother likes this song.” My parents tried to instill in my brother and me as much knowledge as possible, instilled in us a thirst for life, and we gladly used all the opportunities that were given to us.
Which for example?
We lived in the small provincial town of Kremenchug, in Ukraine. Across the street from the house was School of Music, two stops in one direction there is a football section, in the other there is a rowing base, across the bridge there is a chess club. Any whim please. At that time, it was fashionable to study well, participate in sports competitions, and play the guitar. Everyone knew the song “The girl is crying in the machine gun.” The girls listened and cried. ( Smiles.) There were almost no computers then, we were always doing something outside the house. And at some point I wanted to use my skills and turn them into a profession, despite the fact that in the field theatrical arts there was complete devastation.
What do you have in mind?
When I first began to be interested in the acting profession, it was not as fashionable and prestigious as it is now. Then even the film “Brigade” had not yet been released. In provincial theaters there were such actors that one could begin to hate art after one performance. But I realized that in this profession I can be myself, I can become happy.
Did you easily get into VGIK?
Moreover, I got in twice on the first try. ( Smiles.) I arrived, successfully passed the exams, but did not study - I decided to return to Kyiv because I was recording a music album there. I was not satisfied with the results, so next year I came to Moscow again and took a course with Batalov.
How did assimilation go in the capital?
“Moscow’s love is not quick, but true and pure.” I came here in mid-July in 2001. He took all his property with him - seven hundred dollars and a guitar. I rented a room in a communal apartment. It was hot, there were few people, tanned girls were walking around. Squares were being built, Okhotny Ryad, there was such beauty all around! I thought: “How cozy Small town! And then autumn came, and everyone returned from vacation. The “parade of penguins” began in the metro, there was no crowd... But that was it, there was no turning back - I managed to fall in love with Moscow. ( Smiles.) This city provides an opportunity to develop. Already in my first year I made my debut as a composer in one film. I always believed that everything would be fine.
Are you thinking about trying your hand at music again?
Don't know. I don't feel like I've grown up. When I wrote that album, I had the best musical samples like George Michael and Michael Jackson. And when I heard what I had sculpted in the studio myself, I was very upset and immediately abandoned everything.
Maybe you immediately set yourself too much high bar?
I couldn't do it any other way. All the people I grew up with were music lovers. We had Nirvana Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Scorpions, Metallica, Tsoi and Vysotsky. We got together as a group and listened to music that we dreamed about, worried about, fell in love with and parted with. And there was no such flow on the radio as there is now, when everything is boom-boo-boo... Producers call it “format”. And I think something important is missing.
It seems to me that the period of youth and the romance that accompanied it has simply ended.
And I will object! This is different. There is no general philosophy or culture of listening to music. Who writes their own songs now? You can count it on your fingers. There are production projects all around. Writing your own song and protecting it is very difficult.
What will you do after the show “One to One”? What paths have you outlined for yourself?
I would like to become a director, producer, do some things myself interesting projects. We are soon launching a project for children - cartoons. I won’t say anything specific yet, it’s still in development. I will be voicing one, maybe two characters. Most likely, even in the voice of my hero from Univer, because the cartoon will be very similar to him. By the way, he was copied from me: eyes, voice, habits. ( Smiles.)
Do you plan to involve your wife Anna in any projects?
Maybe in the future. In show business there are not only advantages, there are plenty of disadvantages: life is for show, nothing is yours. Besides, you have to study for a long time, you can’t just...
This argument stops few people. Some just want to show off.
Well, yes, PR rules. Fortunately, theater universities enroll not those who want to show themselves, but those who have something to say. But a person must feel that this is his business.
Are you raising your daughter the same way you were raised? Do you take her to any sections?
Yes, she studies at choreographic school, sings, she has amazing hearing. Like any girl, my daughter loves Rapunzel and dresses, loves to be the center of attention and on stage. She even writes something herself.
Wait, how old is she? It seemed to me that she was just a baby.
Four years old. The children are all talented. The question is how this will all develop. After all, many start in early childhood, but they reach a dead end in their career. You know, when I talk to someone about life paths, I have an association with a fairy tale in which a hero finds himself in front of a stone. He must make a choice where to move next: right, left, straight. But there is no clear answer; everywhere you gain something and lose something. At the university we were always told that only one or two people from the entire course would be able to achieve something. But there is risk in any profession, not just acting. Isn't it scary to spend your whole life in a bank and realize that you were counting someone else's numbers? Or everyone complains about traffic cops. But try standing all day, when trucks drive by, there is lead in the air, and you stand in shape in both heat and cold. Everyone looks at others and thinks that their life is easier.
Do you always try to put yourself in other people's shoes?
Yes, they taught this at university. I would also introduce classes in schools like acting, which I would call, say, ethics. So that children play the roles of a policeman, a soldier, an athlete and learn to put themselves in their place. I will definitely talk about these topics with my child. I will say that if my daughter sees a businessman getting into expensive car, then this is just the tip of the iceberg and you shouldn’t think: “Damn, cool!” My father and I often philosophized on this topic. Maybe the man under the fence is much happier than some deputy. A person’s task is to find something that will make him happy and at the same time not force him to break the rules of society. I respect people who understand that to be happy they need, say, one hundred thousand dollars, on which they will live in Bali for twenty years. In Moscow, I heard many stories about how some bank shareholder sells an apartment, a car and goes to India to surf. This is great! The man understood what he needed.
Could you do that?
Probably, if I didn’t have everything that I have now, I would still be happy. If, for example, today I have the opportunity to order carpaccio, but tomorrow I don’t, I will feel great. At any moment I’m ready to switch to doshirak. Happiness consists not only of material goods. Family, friends, music, cinema, hobbies - that's what's important. And I would also wish everyone to find something they can’t imagine their life without. I think this is what makes a person happy.
Vitaly Gogunsky and Irina Mairko got married
Vitaly Gogunsky and Irina Mairko planned to get married eight years ago. Then the actor proposed to the beauty, but for some reason the wedding never took place. In 2010, the young people became the parents of a charming daughter, Milana. But three years later, and despite the little daughter, the young people decided to separate. As Irina and Vitaly later reasoned, this sometimes happens in families. And it just took more time to understand and check my feelings.
All this time, the star of “Univer” and “Sashatanya” did not forget about his daughter Milan and her mother Irina. They supported friendly relations, met, talked, and often went out together. And soon the artist realized that it was Mairko who was his destiny and only love all my life.
Photo: Andrey Nastasenko and Anastasia Belskaya
“I proposed to Irina eight years ago. And it remained in force all these years,” said Vitaly. They started talking about the wedding last fall, and at the end of winter.
“We specifically decided to separate the registration ceremony and the holiday itself. Only the three of us went to the Griboedovsky registry office: me, Irina and our daughter Milana. We received a very beautiful certificate with a coat of arms and went to a restaurant to celebrate,” the actor explained.
Photo: Andrey Nastasenko and Anastasia Belskaya
Two days after the painting, the Gogunsky couple (Irina took her husband’s surname) invited their relatives and guests, having a fun evening. The wedding party for the newlyweds was planned and organized by the artist’s colleague Anna Khilkevich.
"So honeymoon Now we’ll have to wait, because almost immediately after the holidays, my wife and I can leave for filming,” Gogunsky explained the situation.
But the lovers were not upset that they had to postpone Honeymoon. “Now I feel calm and confident in tomorrow. Everything finally fell into place,” the actor shared his feelings.