A MASSEY AFFAIR

ANALITA SETH CHATS WITH VIKRANT MASSEY, A MAN OF MANY MOODS AND GENRES

ANALITA SETH

After being a part of primetime television, Vikrant Massey started a gradual ascent at the movies. From doing small roles in films like Lootera and Dil Dhadakne Do, he slowly graduated to playing complex characters and impressed us with the shelled up Shutu in A Death In The Gunj, the hopeful Amol in Chhapaak, the morally bankrupt Pradeep in Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare and the bright and shiny Sunny in Ginny Weds Sunny, his first commercial venture. Despite his art cinema credentials, Vikrant has the ability to walk onto any set and make every role his own. He may not be a hunk but has been called the thinking woman’s sex symbol. We caught up with the actor who is slowly earning the sobriquet of Mr Dependable with each of his releases...

YOUR LAST VENTURE, GINNY WEDS SUNNY WAS AN OUTRIGHT COMMERCIAL FILM, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY NEW GENRE FOR YOU. WHAT MADE YOU PICK THE FILM?

Yes, it’s fairly new for the audience to see me acting like a typical hero. It was a conscious decision on my part. As an actor, you want to tap into the diet of the massy audience at least once in your life. It felt like the right time because I’ve already done a lot of intense stuff. I needed a breather from that. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Yami Gautam. The entire cast and crew were like a family because we were together for nearly two months. A strong sense of camaraderie existed on the sets. I think it also reflected in the feedback we got for the film. It’s a nice and happy film, especially in times like these when our minds have turned negative.

DID YOU EVER FEEL OUT OF PLACE WHILE SHOOTING FOR GINNY WEDS SUNNY?

I was looking for something spontaneous and this came along. But yes, now that I think about it, I did miss my staple diet which is drama and alternate cinema. I’m really looking forward to starting filming again and getting back into my space with Haseen Dilruba.

HOW WAS IT DANCING IN A FILM? YOU’VE NEVER DONE IT AT THIS SCALE BEFORE.

I used to dance professionally on stage but had never done it in front of the camera before. I was blessed with a great team. The choreographer was so supportive, as was Yami, who shook a leg with me. Dancing has always been a very close part of my life. So I just went out there to enjoy myself. I will always cherish the days I spent dancing in front of the camera.

IT’S SURPRISING THAT YOU SHOULD GO TOWARDS MASALA ENTERTAINER WHEN THERE’S A SHIFT HAPPENING TOWARDS CONTENT-DRIVEN CINEMA? WHAT WAS THE TRANSITION LIKE AND WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SHIFT?