Vikrant Massey: On His Own Terms (image: instagram.com/vikrantmassey)
In the recent interview with Baradwaj Rangan for Galatta Plus, Vikrant Massey says about his acting journey: “I think it”s been exactly the way I would have wanted it and I always wanted it this way. I know where I come from… I would also want to believe that I have this certain good quality of not being delusional . . . I know my reality.”
Vikrant Massey marks his ten years in cinema with recent release, 12th Fail. Helmed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the biographical drama is receiving revving reviews and lauds it as “role of a lifetime” for Massey. Was it an overnight success for the actor? No, definitely not. An aspiring actor who started his career early in television, and gaining a decade worth experience in mini screen, never considered movies as an easy route to fame nor as a stardom for which one should live and die for.
To those who astonish Massey”s capacity to shoulder a movie like 12th Fail single handedly, the actor”s body of works should be looked at first. Massey always left an influential presence in the movie he had been a part. Be it Dev Sharma in Lootera, or Amol Gupta in Chhapaak, or Arshad Sumbli in Lipstick Under My Burkha, Shailesh Pandey in Half Girlfriend, Massey left his undeniable mark. His portrayal of Shyamal Chatterjee aka Shutu in A Death in the Gunj, Konkona Sen Sharma”s debut directorial, is a performance to look out for. He aces the role of Shutu, a shy, sensitive, and a bit of loner in all emotional intricacies, and grabbed nomination for Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. On the other hand, his lead role in Vinil Mathew”s Haseen Dillruba is entirely different; in the intense shade of love stemming from the boy-next-door to nearly a psycho killer, Massey as Rishabh is efficiently carried out.
Similarly, he has received critical appreciation for his performances in the web shows Mirzapur, Broken But Beautiful, and Criminal Justice. The worth mention is his role as Nawab Khan in Made in Heaven – the calming presence he offers with subtle play of emotions. His versatility is visible even in the choice of small roles, and the lasting impression it leaves in audience”s mind comes from a place of pure acting.
Born in a middle-class family in Nagbhid, a small town in Maharashtra, his entry into stages at first was in the form of dances and theatre performances. His training in dancing lead to the show Dhoom Machaao Dhoom as a choreographer. Massey”s television career is marked by his likeable roles in Balika Vadhu, Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo, and Dharam Veer. Massey married actress Sheetal Thakur in February last year.
The passion for acting drives Massey, it breathes and sustains him. There was no Plan B for him; driven purely by conviction and belief in acting prowess he made his space in the film industry. The middle class aches and yearns not only helped to portray to his characters with utmost honesty but also instilled him a spirit of persistence, and patience as well. He is in a path of his own; approaching each character with horse blinkers, and always leaving the audience wanting more, he is staying real and charting new territories.
