Vikrant too had an aspiration to be a part of the bigger screen fraternity and he was treading slowly towards his goal. He always believed in waiting game and slowly he has climbed the ladder in films. After doing supporting roles in ‘#Lootera’, ‘#DilDhadakneDo’, ‘#HalfGirlfriend’ he bagged a lead role in ‘A Death in the Gunj’ which fetched him a nomination for Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. Later he was paired with #DeepikaPadukone in ‘#Chhapaak’ and he received praise for his performance. He played lead roles in ‘#DollyKittyAurWohChamakteSitare’, ‘#HaseenDilruba’, ‘#RamprasadKiTehrvi’, ‘#LoveHostel’. He did web series too and was part of ‘#Mirzapur’, ‘#BrokenButBeautiful’, ‘#CriminalJustice’. Just a few weeks back ‘#12thFail’ was released wherein he played the titular role and the film emerged as a sleeper hit. Our Sr Editor Keerti Kadam interacted with Vikrant Massey. Excerpts…

Tell us about your academics…
I hail from a middle class family where there’s more thrust on education. Everybody advices you to study and acquire a degree so that you can get a decent job. But I was an average student. Frankly, I was not inclined towards academics. I was fascinated by fine arts. I was more into Naach-Gaana than studies. Due to constant family pressure I graduated, though with great efforts. Of course thay had said that whatever the marks, complete graduation. In fact I flunked in 13th standard, i.e. first year of senior college. But my parents knew that I was keen to do something in fine arts. I already had started earning while studying. I was acting on television and was earning good. So I have no regrets.

How did ‘12th Fail’ reach you?
Actually director Rajkumar Hirani had recommended my name to Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Both of them have worked together on some of the finest movies. They have done ‘3 Idiots’ together, which was based on our education system and the movie was a great hit. It’s a coincidence that the producer of that movie has directed ‘12th Fail’ which too is based on the education system of our country. And another coincidence is that the director of that film recommended my name. But both the films are different.

‘12th Fail’ focuses on the middle and lower middle class youth’s aspirations. Those students do not get enough opportunities despite hunger for studies. They have to struggle a lot to get the education they desire and many a times it’s negated by the financial pressures. Everyone wants a secure Government job and for that clearing UPSC exam is mandatory. In ‘12th Fail’ it has been showcased in detail and the struggles one has to go through to clear the coveted exam. The movie highlights the spirit of a student from an economically backward family who with sheer hard work clears the Civil service UPSC exams. But the hardship he has to go through has been shown in an inspiring manner.

Actually Keju is the world’s most difficult civil service test which takes place in China. The second toughest Civil service exam in the world is India’s UPSC. The protagonist in ‘12th Fail’ represents crores of students from moderate background who aspire to become a Government officer. All of them may not be sound economically, but they have the tenacity to achieve their goal. The movie represents students from socio economically challenged background. Most of them have ‘Never Give Up’ attitude and ‘12th Fail’ is a salutation to all of them. Good content plus good performance is equal to a good film.

How did you prepare yourself for the role?
The film is based on a real life person, Manoj Kumar Sharma. It’s a true story and an inspiring one too. ‘12th Fail’ is inspired by the life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and his wife IRS officer Shraddha Joshi. I have spent quite some time with Manoj sir and tried to gauge his personality, mentality and physicality. I used to visit his house mainly on Sundays and used to spend a lot of time with him so as to understand his psyche as well as thought process. He has inspired me in personal life too. Both Manoj ji and Shraddha ji are fabulous persons and now Manoj ji is like an elder brother to me.

I had to lose 8 to 9 kilos before the start of the shoot. I had to tan myself for the role. I used to go to the terrace of the house in Chambal, apply mustard oil on body and sit in the scorching 40° centigrade sunlight. On the very first day, the skin started to peel off. But it was worth it. Vinod Chopra believes in authenticity and wouldn’t have allowed me to use body make up to look tanned. I had to tan my body. He gives so much importance to detail that when he wanted a bomb blast scene in Mission Kashmir he actually blasted a bomb while shooting. I have no regrets.

I have done ‘zadu-pochha-bartan’ in the film. And mind you I actually have done it. Maybe I was preparing for this role since childhood (laughs)…. because we all brothers used to distribute the housework. I have washed clothes, cleaned utensils and have cleaned the washroom when I was small. We used to stay in a one bedroom hall house. Couple of us used to sleep on the bed and others used to sleep on the ground and we used to take turns to do household chores. My mother used to get up at 4 in the morning to cook as she used to supply corporate tiffins. In the afternoon she used to take tuitions. So everybody in the family used to contribute something or the other for betterment of life.

Like said earlier I had started working when I was in the 11th Std. Friends used to call me to play but I needed to work, for whatever reason prevailed that time. I used to feel like joining them to play but used to tell them that I am going to work. Though I regretted that time but now I have no complaints.

After spending a decade in the film industry, how do you look at your career?
I have completed 10 years in the film industry and before that I was doing television for 10 years. Every television actor has a dream to do a film. When I started out in films, people used to be skeptical about my abilities saying, “I am a television actor”. But I had self belief which paved way in the industry. Also I believe that there’s someone up there who likes me. And he must be in the guise of the audience because, because of their love I am where I am today. I really am grateful for the life I have. I want to represent the common man. I want to be the voice of the voices. I always believed in myself. I knew the path won’t be easy but I never took a short cut. I always wanted to be a part of this industry for a longer time and give long-lasting performances.

Who are your inspirations?
I can say Irrfan Khan. He struggled a lot and was accepted in his forties. He did, theatre, television then films. He always had talent but the recognition came very late. In the sports field, Rahul Dravid has inspired me. I admire the consistency quality in him. Then the poetry of Atal Bihari Vajpayee has inspired me. The life of APJ Abdul Kalam inspires me a lot. I admire Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Manmohan Singh. For me they are not politicians but I admire their personal qualities. Aamir Khan too inspires me a lot. I want to do cinema which he has been doing so far.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra too inspires me. He too had a modest background. In Srinagar, there used to be only one theatre. Knowing his fondness for cinema, the theatre owner used to allow him to watch films for free. He has spent 40-45 years in the film industry. There was VVC movie festival and it was held in Srinagar’s that particular theatre too. I admire his body of work.

Do you remember your first day of shoot?
Of course I remember. 19.12.2004. I celebrate that day every year. I remember the location and other details too. I remember my first film too. For that matter I celebrate little milestones in my life. But I always believed in myself and had faith in my abilities. I had been strict with myself and that’s the reason there’s discipline in life. I know success is temporary. I do not get overwhelmed. I do not let my focus shift.

You were paired with Deepika Padukone in Chhapaak. Any memories?
Of course. Chhapaak is a special film in my filmography. I was on cloud nine when I got to know that I was doing a film with Deepika. In fact I have all the cuttings featured in magazines and newspapers. I have laminated them. Even my house people have collected photographs from the nook and corner of the country and they have been kept in an album. I enjoyed this for a couple of days and later I started focusing on my role. Working with Deepika was mesmerising. It was great to collaborate with Meghna Gulzar. The time spent with Gulzar Saab is unforgettable. These are the memories which one would like to tell their grand children.

Deepika’s hard work and dedication is tremendous. For an 8 O’clock shift she used to come at 4. She was given a special chair. While the prosthetics were being done she used to catch 40 winks.

Vikrant Massey has a tremendous following on social media and he’ll next be seen in ‘Yaar Jigri’, ‘Sector 36’, and ‘Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba’.

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