Vikrant Massey was last seen opposite Deepika Padukone in Chhapaak (2020), where his performance won appreciation from both critics and audience. The actor, will next be seen on the big screen after three-and-a-half years in 12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Excerpts from the chat.
Tell us about the changes in your professional and personal life.
I am happy that I had the opportunity to meet good people in life. I have really received much more than I asked for. I started working at an early age because I had to support my family financially; and later, I wanted to work to entertain those who supported me right from my TV days. Indeed, I have come a long way.
What do you fear the most?
I don’t even fear not having work, but I fear that I will not be able to give back the love that I received from people. I want to give back by picking up worthwhile stories and through performances which they will be able to relate with. I want to give them something worth their time and money. Sometimes you fail, sometimes you pass.
Do you feel that if one of your films tanks at the box office, it will affect the next one?
Over the last few years, I have done a few films which did not create magic at the B.O, but I had to get up, put my chin up, restart and move forward.
What strengths do you draw on when you face failures?
My self-belief keeps me pepped up whenever I experience failures. I have been lucky to have strong family support. I have very few friends. That handful of honest people have told me to my face when I failed and that helped me try again.
How does it feel to come back to the theatres after a gap?
It’s a kind of a restart for me. I am bringing this film to theatres after almost three-and-a-half years. I want people to come and watch this film. I restarted earlier when I left off working for television. It was an informed decision. We all keep restarting in life.
Have you ever used corrupt means to safeguard yourself, as is shown in 12th Fail?
I was 17 years old, when I took my friend’s two-wheeler for a drive. I didn’t have a license, and I was caught. I was scared of what my family would say. I had Rs 50, so I gave it as a bribe. But soon I understood this was wrong, and since that day I have never repeated it.
You were outspoken on social media earlier, but now you have stopped. Why so?
I was vocal on social media earlier. But people are judgmental and I faced setbacks for being vocal. Originally, social media was an exciting source of information and knowledge. Now, these platforms have taken a different route. We are living in a cancel culture. This is having an adverse effect on today’s youth. We can hardly indulge in constructive discussions on social media. It is creating a lot of negativity. This minimises our growth. But I still speak out on what I feel is right, with certain people.
