Vikrant with wife Sheetal Thakur and their son Vardaan. (image-Instagram/vikrantmassey)
Actor Vikrant Massey, known for his nuanced performances and candid personality, has once again sparked thoughtful conversation. This time about parenting and religious identity. In a recent appearance on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast, Massey shared that he and his wife Sheetal Thakur chose to leave the religion column blank on their son Vardaan’s birth certificate.
Massey, who welcomed his first child in February 2024, explained that religion is a deeply personal and complex subject for him. While he identifies as a spiritual person who visits temples, gurdwaras, and dargahs, he clarified that he does not subscribe to one particular faith. “I think religion is a personal choice… For me, it’s a way of life. I think everyone has the right to choose their religion, he said.
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Elaborating on the decision, he said, “On the birth certificate of my baby boy, we left the space for religion blank. So when his birth certificate came from the government, there was no religion stated on it. It’s not like the government forces you to write it, it depends on you.”
The 12th Fail actor said that he wants to raise his son free from the divisiveness that religion or caste-based identity can sometimes bring. “I will be so heartbroken if I realise my son is treating anyone on the basis of the practices they follow. I am not raising my son that way,” he added firmly.
The actor also addressed the backlash he received online for speaking about his views on faith in the past. He admitted that although it did bother him, he maintained his belief that no one should be questioned for choosing a spiritual path that brings them peace.
Vikrant comes from a richly diverse family background. His father is Christian, his mother is Sikh, his brother embraced Islam at 17, and his wife Sheetal comes from a Rajput Thakur family. While Massey doesn’t identify with any specific religion himself, he believes in God and spirituality. The couple also held a traditional namkaran (naming) ceremony for Vardaan.
Married in 2022, Vikrant and Sheetal welcomed Vardaan after two years of marriage. Soon after his son’s birth, the actor announced a brief break from films to spend more time with his growing family.
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He will be back in the upcoming Ankhon Ki Gustakhiyan starring alongside debutant Shanaya Kapoor. In the romantic drama, Massey plays the role of a blind musician who encounters a passionate theatre artist (Kapoor). Directed by Mansi Bagla, the film is reportedly inspired by Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It. The film will release on July 11.
Vikrant’s other upcoming projects include a biopic on spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Farhan Akhtar’s much anticipated Don 3 with Ranveer Singh, and reportedly an upcoming web series by Rajkumar Hirani.
