Long before Vikrant Massey became a familiar face after 12th Fail, survival came first. As a teenager, Massey was not chasing fame or auditions. He was chasing stability. At just 16, with money tight at
home, he took on multiple jobs, worked exhausting hours, and lived on the bare minimum so he could stay in school. Today, as he prepares for his next film, a biopic on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the actor has spoken candidly about the years that shaped him, years marked by financial pressure, long local train journeys, and work that left little room for rest. Working to stay in school In an interview to Republic, Vikrant looked back at how early responsibility came into his life. He explained that his journey in front of the camera had nothing to do with ambition at the time, and everything to do with necessity. “I’ve been very fortunate as the audiences have been so generous, even after 21 years of professional work. I started off with TV and did nearly a decade of television before acting in cinema. The love and support have only grown. And I say this with all humility because I’m 38 and audiences are still out there supporting me,” he said. The actor recalled that he first faced the camera at 16, while juggling more than one job to fund his education. “I was 16 when I faced the camera for the first time; I still remember the date, it was December 19, 2024. Prior to that, I was working as a barista. I did that job because I had to support my own education. I am not going to get into that sob story or my struggle. I used to also work as an assistant instructor in Shiamak Davar’s troupe and at that restaurant in Mumbai,” Vikrant recalled. Living on the bare minimum Those years were physically and emotionally demanding. Vikrant shared how his routine involved constant travel, long shifts, and making do with almost nothing. “I was just 16 when I was changing four local trains everyday, working 16-hour days and often living off only Parle-G and water to survive. No one does it of their own accord, definitely not a young boy. I did because I had to,” Vikrant said. He later drew from this lived experience while playing his character in 12th Fail, saying the emotional weight of struggle was something he knew intimately.
