Vikrant Massey: Now, Karan Johar knows my name

Vikrant Massey. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

I have never had a problem with any medium, be it TV or the big screen. The aim is to do good work," says actor Vikrant Massey as we talk over chai at his Versova home. Perhaps it's this industrious attitude that has finally led to his career taking a big-ticket turn, but he has also been at it for almost a decade . Bombay boy Massey, who started off as a dancer in Shiamak Davar's troupe, did his first TV show, Dharamveer, on NDTV Imagine in 2007. He followed it up with major roles like Balika Vadhu, Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo and Qubool Hai. Then, movies came calling with 2013's Lootera. "I knew that I had to work with Vikramaditya Motwane. I don't think my being on TV made me less desirable. People said, I would get over exposed, but it's all about getting noticed for your work. I actually did Qubool Hai after Lootera, and then Zoya (Akhtar) called for Dil Dhadkane Do. So, it all worked out."

It sure has. Massey had an important role in Half-Girlfriend (some reviews said he was the only good thing about the movie) and is now raking in critical acclaim for Konkana Sen-Sharma's directorial debut, A Death In The Gunj. His next release is the controversial Lipstick Under My Burkha, which will release under the ALT Balaji banner in July. He's everywhere, to put it bluntly. As he says, acting is the only thing he ever wanted to do, even when he was seven. "I grew up in Versova. I used to see Pankaj and Shahid Kapoor, and also Naseer Saheb, around, and I knew I wanted to be like them. My grandfather was a theatre actor in Shimla, where I come from, and though it skipped a generation, the acting gene remained," he smiles.

He comes across as a calm and sorted young man, who talks softly in a mix of English and suave Hindi. He says 'aap' a lot, and is endearing in his appeal. "I did TV because in the beginning, I wanted to make money through acting. But it ended up getting me so much love. Now that I am doing movies, I want to do movies that mean something. We can't live in the world that we do, and not have social responsibility. I am so glad Lipstick… is releasing. We need to know that some women are not able to ever get out of the kitchen."

He is also appreciative of the industry that he says has given him these opportunities. Ask him about the struggle and competition and he grins, "Of course, that's there. If it wasn't, what's the fun? But, I wouldn't want to crib and say there is nepotism, because I haven't faced it. If you do your work, and are decent at it, things will happen for you. Or else, there are 50,000 people standing behind you to take over. The industry is very encouraging. I never thought Karan Johar will know my name. Today, he is patting my back."

Right now though, he is busy enjoying the acclaim that has come with Death in the Gunj. "Konkana is a humanist, and a very real person. She gives you the benefit of doubt, believing that you are as intelligent as her." He is also working on churning out work under this home banner, Homemade. "We want to make movies that are relatable to every person watching." With Lipstick's release around the corner, he seems to be in an enviable place. "Yes, it's been a good, good week."