When Vikrant Massey announced in December 2024 that he was “returning home” and stepping away from work for a while, it left many surprised. The move quickly fueled speculation, with discussions touching
upon industry pressures and the ongoing nepotism debate. However, the actor later revealed that the reason behind his decision was deeply personal, his newborn son, Vardaan, and what he described as “dad guilt.” In a talk show, Vikrant, along with his wife Sheetal Thakur, spoke about their parenthood journey. Vikrant even spoke about the “dad built.”
Vikrant Massey talks about ‘dad guilt’
Recently, Vikrant Massey graced Parineeti Chopra’s show Mom Talks, which streams on ZEE5. He spoke about his state of mind when he announced his break from acting. He shared that he never imagined his decision to take a break from work for his son would become national news. He revealed that around the time Vardaan was born, he was extremely busy, and the first reason he chose to step back was due to physical and mental exhaustion.
He further added, “You know how much we give of ourselves emotionally, physically, mentally. As a first-time father, my attention was always at home. I didn’t even question what or why I was doing. I just wanted to wrap up my commitments and spend as much time as possible with Vardaan and Sheetal Thakur. I have said this before—I was feeling a little lonely. There was a void.” Echoing his feelings, his wife Sheetal Thakur added, “He has this dad guilt.”
Vikrant recalled that he still remembers the moment when his son tried to say “papa” for the first time while visiting his grandmother, even though he couldn’t quite pronounce it and simply blew air. He said, “That’s when it struck me—it was time to go back home. Two months later, I made the announcement. This has become the biggest earning of my life—I have received more than I ever wanted.”
Reflecting on fatherhood, Vikrant shared that, compared to mothers, fathers often do far less, yet they, too, experience a deep emotional shift after a child’s birth. He added, “But just like new mothers, new fathers also feel strange stepping out, leaving their baby behind. There’s a conditioning that men must be the providers—that’s what pushes us out of the house. It’s natural to envy the one who gets to stay back. We end up calling every 30 minutes just to see the baby’s face. I just want to tell new fathers—it’s okay to feel vulnerable and want to go back home.”
Vikrant and Sheetal welcomed their little bundle of joy, Vardaan, in February 2024.
