In a landscape where silver screen heroes were traditionally all-white characters, Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey is forging new paths. Renowned for his role in Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba, Massey is now selecting roles that consciously distance him from the quintessential ‘boy-next-door’ image. His recent performances stand as testimony to this concerted effort to shatter preconceived notions.
Bollywood has long typecast its actors, constructing almost impenetrable barriers around their images. Vikrant Massey, however, seeks to dismantle those fences. In his recent ventures, including his grey-shaded role in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, the actor exhibits a keen desire to embrace complexity and moral ambiguity. According to Massey, the shift in audience and cinematic expectations have made this the perfect era for playing multifaceted characters. “When we humanise characters that tread into grey zones, we make them relatable. In the last decade, storytelling has welcomed unconventional characters into the mainstream because people resonate with them,” Massey explains.
Massey’s journey from the romantic thriller realm of Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba to tackling the 2006 Nithari case in Netflix’s upcoming thriller, Sector 36, highlights his pursuit of unpredictability. He is on a mission to uproot the established perceptions associated with his previous roles, particularly after starring in 12th Fail (2023). He notes, “There is an expectation post 12th Fail to stick to a certain kind of film. But even before that movie, I was boxed in as this poor, malnourished, simple boy-next-door. Fortunately, a few writers and producers saw potential well beyond my outward appearance. The second half of Haseen Dillruba was a revelation for those who typecast me as simply a boy-next-door. My choices for next year aim to discard that perception; they are meant to surprise.”
This intentional deviation from his entrenched image isn’t just a battle against typecasting. Massey also sees repetition as a one-way ticket to monotony in his career. Citing Jimmy Sheirgill’s wisdom, Massey articulates the importance of diversifying one’s roles. “You can’t keep doing the same thing. Some roles are intense and you take them home; others demand light-heartedness,” he elaborates.
. The essence of staving off boredom for Massey lies in the unexpected. “A perception about you is created, and you can’t fight it. The best way out is to take on roles that no one expects you to.”
The trajectory of Massey’s career thus far reveals a thoughtful curation of roles aimed at breaking stereotypes. Initially, Massey was slotted into struggling, underdog roles—a trend he’s determined to end. His portrayal in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba underscores his capability to navigate complex characters in morally ambiguous worlds. As he transitions into Sector 36, tackling a narrative as grave as the Nithari case, the shift is not only monumental but also deliberate.
The actor further underscores the significance of this diversification, touching upon how it affects his artistry. Repetition, according to Massey, is the death knell for creativity. By interpreting characters as varied as a morally grey lover in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba and delving into the grim depths of Sector 36, he aims to keep both himself and his audience engaged. It’s a balancing act of intensity and levity, complexity and simplicity.
Not merely content with changing the kinds of characters he portrays, Massey also approaches his work with a profound understanding of audience expectations. His ability to make even the most morally ambiguous characters relatable speaks volumes of his skill. “Humanising even an out-and-out antagonist makes them relatable, and that’s where the magic happens,” he observes. As Hindi cinema broadens its horizons to include more layered, complex narratives, actors like Massey stand at the forefront of this evolution.
His conscious departure from typecasting is a refreshing narrative in Bollywood, a testimony to the changing tastes and evolving sophistication of audiences. The new landscape no longer confines actors to predetermined molds; instead, it celebrates their ability to adapt, transform, and surprise.
With Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba behind him and Sector 36 on the horizon, Vikrant Massey is not just reshaping his own career but also contributing to a cinematic reformation. By delving into the intricacies of morally ambiguous and unconventional characters, Massey remains a key player in this exciting era of storytelling. His journey reflects an ongoing battle against monotony and typecasting, fueled by a relentless desire to challenge expectations and explore the unexplored realms of human character.
