WHEN VINEET MADE SACRIFICES FOR THE LONG RUN...

Hunger for a meaty role — that’s what led Vineet Kumar Singh to write the script for

Mukkabaaz and turn it into a film. But, the journey wasn’t an easy one, as Vineet — who has done films such as Ugly (2013), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) and Bombay Talkies (2013) — was being unable to find takers.

The actor, however, didn’t give up. To maintain a living, he had to sell his car before filmmaker Anurag Kashyap agreed to direct Mukkabaaz with Vineet playing the lead role.

“I was being offered similar roles [like my previous films], and I wasn’t interested in that because I was looking for something new. So, I decided to start writing [a script] for myself. Since I was a national-level basketball player, I knew a lot of things about several games and the condition of the players, which the common man wouldn’t be aware about. I had no money left, and to survive, I had to sell my car,” says Vineet, who was always sure that he wanted to act in Mukkabaaz.

“My condition to every filmmaker I met [to make the film] was that I would play the boxer in the film. That was acceptable to Anurag sir. The money I generated from selling my car helped me a lot. It was a good decision. I went to Patiala to train as a professional boxer and came back to Anurag sir,” adds the actor.

Presented by Eros International and Aanand L Rai, and produced by Colour Yellow in association with Phantom Films, Mukkabaaz is directed by Anurag Kashyap and releases on January 12, 2018.

PHOTO: HTCS Actor Vineet Kumar Singh has penned the script of Mukkabaaz