Suvinder Vicky: Went to last page to see if my character is killed

Kohrra

Until a few weeks ago, Suvinder Vicky would feel anxious about his career, worried that it wasn't moving in the right direction. But that has changed dramatically since Kohrra dropped online over 10 days ago. "Maybe this is what fame feels like. My phone hasn't stopped ringing," laughs the actor, talking to us over a call from his Chandigarh house.

With Netflix's gripping investigative crime thriller emerging as a sleeper hit, the Hindi film industry and the audience have found a new breakout talent in Vicky, who plays a Punjab cop investigating a murder case. The actor, 50, points out that his success is not overnight; instead, it's the culmination of a 20-year journey. To him, Bollywood was always the destination, but he was too scared to pack his bags and move to Mumbai. "I come from a humble background. My parents weren't keen on sending me to Mumbai because it felt unsafe. You keep hearing stories of outsiders, struggling to find work and pay bills. I could never muster the courage to follow my Bollywood dreams. So, I kept honing my craft, working in Punjabi films," he says.

But Bollywood often knocked at his door, even if with smaller opportunities. The actor featured in Hansal Mehta's Shahid (2013), and Abhishek Chaubey's Udta Punjab (2016). Unknown to Vicky, it was during the making of Udta Punjab that Kohrra creator Sudip Sharma spotted him. Sharma, who wrote the Shahid Kapoor-Alia Bhatt crime drama, was so impressed by Vicky that he decided he would cast him in a bigger role whenever the opportunity arose. Sudip sir then cast me in Paatal Lok [2020], where I just had a few days' shoot. So, I found it unbelievable when he rang me up and asked if I would do Kohhra," the actor shares.

Even though he played a significant role in CAT (2022), headlining a Hindi show was beyond Vicky's imagination. He candidly shares, "I read the first few pages of the script, and then went directly to the last page to see if they have killed my character." There was no denying that the story - exploring the dark side of love, father-son bond and familial violence - was powerful. But more than that, it was Sharma's unflinching faith in him that made Vicky come on board. "The script was complex. I was so scared if I would be able to do it. But when the show's creator says, ‘I won't make the show if you don't do it,' then that becomes your guiding light."

Now, Vicky feels emotionally prepared to visit Mumbai and explore more opportunities. "I have done many credible films, where I'd be mentioned as a scene-stealer, but it's the first time, every praise mentions me as the leading man. It's such a different feeling, especially when directors like Karan Johar, Hansal Mehta and Deepa Mehta specifically mention your name," the actor smiles.