New Delhi: Vikrant Massey, whose film '12th Fail' became a blockbuster hit and one of the biggest box office succeeds of 2023, said that his grandfather was an actor who appeared in over 200 Hindi films.
Massey, who is one of the few who managed to make the move from television to films, probably got his acting gene from his grandfather. He has made the most of his skills, using them to his advantage to gain immense success in television as well as Hindi cinema.
Talking about his grandfather, Vikrant told YouTuber Samdish Bhatia, "Mere dada character, Ravikant Massey, artiste the. He was an actor himself. He was awarded gold medal twice in the All India Dramatic competition by the former President of India, Rajendra Prasad. He worked a lot in Gaiety theatre of Shimla, he worked in the capacity of an actor, director and a producer in theatre. He also worked a full-time job as a manager at a hotel in Shimla."
"He has worked in over 200 Hindi films, including 'Naya Daur' and 'Guide'. But, he played peripheral parts, lawyer ban gaye, doctor ban gaye. Aur us zamaane mein actors ko apne props aur costume khud le jana padte the set pe," the actor added.
In the same interview, Vikrant opened up why he quit the television industry at a time when he was earning Rs 35 lakhs per month.
Vikrant said, “I earned a lot in TV. I bought my first house at the age of 24. But all that regressive content on TV was happening simultaneously and I felt like coming out of the world and trying my luck in cinema. My parents were in shock when I told them I was going to restart in films. I was making a lot of money. At the age of 24, I was earning Rs 35 lakh per month, especially for someone who comes from a middle-class background. I quit TV at the time when I had a Rs 35 lakh per month contract in my hand. I decided to do good work and find peace. My savings got exhausted in a year and then my wife Sheetal (his girlfriend at the time) used to give me pocket money for auditions.”
Following an excellent run in television with hits like 'Balika Vadhu' and 'Qubool Hai', Vikrant Massey has been in several acclaimed films and web series.