‘Nepotism a minor road bump on a smooth and straight highway’
He rose to fame with his stint in the TV show Balika Vadhu and has grabbed eyeballs with his roles in films such as Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) and Lipstick Under My Burkha, and the web series Mirzapur. Actor Vikrant Massey makes no bones about nepotism playing spoilsport but dismisses such traits as “minor road bumps”.
Vikrant, who comes from a non-filmy background, has previously admitted that nepotism does exist in Bollywood. Has it ever played spoilsport for him?
“Yes, in certain cases. At the same time, I’ve also maintained that fair opportunities too exist. So in case of things like nepotism, I take these as minor road bumps. They are bound to happen on a smooth and straight highway. One is bound to encounter a few hiccups, which is fine. It is all part of a longer journey,” says Vikrant.
The 32-year-old actor made his debut on TV with Kahaan Hoon Main in 2004 and later went on to do shows such as Dharam Veer, Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo and Qubool Hai.
Vikrant says his fans will definitely see him on the small screen again. “I am waiting for something exciting to come my way,” he explains.
Currently, he is looking out for good cinema. “Good cinema is a reflection of society. It is something that resonates with people, something that people take home. It has a certain archival value,” he says.
Vikrant made his Bollywood debut with Lootera in 2013, and followed it with notable acts in many other films. He starred in Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), was seen as a protagonist in Konkona Sen’s critically-acclaimed film A Death In The Gunj (2016). With roles as different as chalk and cheese, the actor has not been pigeonholed yet. “That’s great. That was the target of my life and I am glad I have been able to create that space for myself,” he says.
Although his performances have been appreciated, Vikrant is yet to essay a quintessential Bollywood hero. He is now looking forward to his next release, Chhapaak, Meghna Gulzar’s film based on acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, which stars Deepika Padukone in the title role. “I’m proud to be associated with a film on this subject, and with each and every person associated with the film. It was a gruesome crime and with this film, the world will resonate with the message we want to give out,” he says.
Good cinema is a reflection of society. It is something that resonates with people, something that people take home. It has a certain archival value.
VIKRANT MASSEY ACTOR