Says aar Jigri and Ankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan will be his last two films
Vikrant Massey, known for his stellar performances in films and OTT shows, will retire after completing his upcoming films, Yaar Jigri and Ankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. (Image by arrangement)
Vikrant Massey has announced his retirement from acting, shocking the industry and fans.
The 12th Fail actor took to Instagram to tell his fans he would meet them one last time in 2025.
“The last few years and beyond have been phenomenal. I thank every one of you for your indelible support. But as I move forward, I realise it is time to recalibrate and go back home. As a Husband, Father & a Son. And also as an Actor. So coming 2025 we will meet each other one last time,” he wrote.
The actor, who is currently shooting Yaar Jigri and Ankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, said they would be his last two films.
So what could have brought on this sudden decision, especially when he’s on a career-high with The Sabarmati Report? Could it be a publicity stunt, or is it something that has been in the offing for a while? The actor’s publicity team has been unavailable for comment.
The last couple of years have been tough for the 37-year-old actor, given the incessant social media trolling and threats. A few weeks ago, during the promotions of The Sabarmati Report, Vikrant revealed that not only he, but also his 9-month-old son Vardaan had received threats and hate on social media, because of the political sensitivity of the project he was part of.
In an earlier interview with the Deccan Chronicle, he had said fear was a very common human emotion, irrespective of whether one was an actor, a sportsman or common man. “There is such a clear divide, as we have seen in the last decade; we have been subject to extreme viewpoints. There is no balance of perspective or opinion. Even if you have a balanced opinion, one is wary of expressing it because of the charged atmosphere and the fear.”
Vikrant has often been vocal about his politics and was trolled for changing his political stance and lending his name to The Sabarmati Report, based on the 2002 Godhra riots. He apologised for a 2018 post on Twitter, now X, which was a cartoon of Lord Ram and Sita voicing their concerns on the Kathua and Unnao rapes, and had sparked outrage.
Later, his remark that being part of The Sabarmati Report made him realise the minority wasn’t under attack, was disapproved of by netizens. This October, he was slammed for touching his wife’s feet on Karwachauth.
The actor, who has often been critiqued for his family’s secular approach, said, “A truly secular person stands by others regardless of religion, caste or background, living together, respecting each other’s culture, while taking pride in one’s own. My parents had an inter-caste marriage, and so did I. My brother converted to another religion, so who would be more secular than me?”
As the industry comes to terms with the shocking announcement of Vikrant’s retirement, an insider says the actor is yet another victim of the prevalent cancel culture. “Celebrities are often soft targets, and the trolls don’t even spare innocent kids. One certainly fears for their near and dear ones, and the only way out is to cut the noise, but sometimes it gets so overbearing you have no other option. Some have succumbed to the online trashing and bullying, others just bow out.”
Raashi Khanna had recently revealed she feared for Vikrant since he had been held hostage for his opinions in the past. “As an actor, there is a certain territory and we are all soft targets, people start pouncing on us. So best is to stick to your craft, and stay away from politics, because there is a responsibility I have as an actor. I may make a statement, and it influences public opinion, only to change my opinion again, it leads to a certain disillusionment”
The proverbial outsider, Vikrant Massey has won nods for his effortless and nuanced performances. After being part of TV shows like Balika Vadhu, the actor had blink-and-you-miss-it roles in hits such as Dil Dhadakne Do before making his mark on OTT with shows such as Broken But Beautiful, Made in Heaven, and films such as Haseen Dilruba. He went on to do prominent roles in films like Lootera and Chappak. The actor tasted his biggest blockbuster success with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail, which won him much acclaim, and the possibility of a national award as well.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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