After years of quietly hustling behind the scenes, Vineet Kumar Singh is finally enjoying the kind of recognition that once felt distant. With 2025 turning out to be a breakthrough year thanks to Chhaava
and Superboys of Malegaon, the actor has been opening up about the long, difficult journey that led him here — one marked by compromises, survival jobs and unwavering belief.
Speaking at Yuvaa’s All Star Roundtable, Vineet reflected on his early days in the industry, when acting opportunities were scarce and he had to take on whatever work came his way to stay afloat. Recalling his time as an assistant director on the 2004 film Vaah Life Ho To Aisi, he shared an anecdote involving fellow panellist Ishaan Khatter, who was a child artist back then. “Ishaan is sitting here. In 2004, he was a kid, and I used to bring him to set in my lap, when I was the assistant director on Waah Life Ho To Aisi. Mera sapna tha ki as an actor kaam karoon, par paristhitiyaan aisi thi ki woh mauka tha hi nahi. Life me aisa hota hai ki aap aisi situation me hain ki survival zaroori hai. Aap bachoge toh aapki kahaani aage jayegi. Aap shaheed ho gaye to bacha kya. Koi aapke baare me baat nahi karna chahega.”
The actor also spoke candidly about the tough professional choices he had to make during those years, admitting that dignity often took a backseat to necessity. “Suniel Shetty sahab ka duplicate bhi kiya hai, Sanju baba ke liye dead body bhi bana hoon. Ek hi cheez hai ki apne andar ka diya jalaate rahiye aur badhte rahiye. (I have played Suniel Shetty’s duplicate, and even a dead body for Sanjay Dutt. Just keep the flame alive in you and keep moving forward. That is important.)”
Vineet’s acting journey began with a small role in the 2002 Sanjay Dutt-starrer Pitaah, followed by a string of minor appearances over the next decade. He gained wider recognition with Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur in 2012, before stepping into the spotlight as a lead actor with Mukkabaaz in 2018. His popularity grew further through OTT projects such as Bard of Blood and Rangbaaz.
This year marked a turning point, with Vineet earning both commercial success and critical acclaim for his portrayal of Kavi Kalash in Chhaava, one of 2025’s highest-grossing films. He was most recently seen in a supporting role in Tere Ishk Mein.
