Vikrant Massey The industry has come a long way from television to film. Although today, she has films like ‘Dwadash Fel’, ‘The Sabarmati Report’ and web-shows like ‘Mirzapur’ in her body of work, Macy’s journey has seen its share of struggles. The actor recently recalled his early days and revealed that he had a humble beginning cleaning coffee tables as a teenager in Mumbai. During the conversation, Vikrant spoke about how financial security became a priority from a young age and revealed that buying his first home fulfilled one of his mother’s lifelong wishes. “Stability was very important to us. I come from a very ordinary middle-class family. I started working at the age of 16, and no sane 16-year-old boy can actually earn money from the comfort of their home, or perhaps a job in a coffee shop or cleaning tables,” he said in an interview with FLO Bangalore Official. He continued, “There was a reason I did it, to support my own education, to support my family financially. And again, I’m glad, I’m very grateful that life took that course because, like I said, I couldn’t have been what I was. And when I bought my first tiny house at 24, I ticked off that one important thing, something that you want to happen on my mother’s list. A home to come back to.”The actor also shared how difficult it was to explain his responsibilities to friends while growing up. Instead of joining them on the playground, he headed off to work, often uncomfortable explaining why. “Whenever I would leave my house, I would see my friends playing in the field. And I had no explanation. They’ll be like, ‘Where are you going?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m going somewhere.’ And they would say, ‘Come on, let’s play cricket or football.‘ And you don’t really have an answer because, at that young age, you’re embarrassed to even tell your friends or the world that you’re actually going there to make money because you have to support your family.”Reflecting on those formative years, Vikrant said hardships shaped his personality and forced him to mature much earlier than most kids. “And at that young age, when you start building your defenses, your inhibitions, and a lot of pretense, right? It used to hurt. But, like I say, I wouldn’t change a moment or a day. Watching my friends play, watching them go out for movies or even celebrating Diwali, because Monday-Saturday was a big deal for us. There are days when you stay home for months, and there are days when you’re working, like I said, 35 days a month. But I think, yes, these are all character-building experiences.”Vikrant adds that life seems almost unbelievable today. After once struggling to afford his college expenses, he and his wife are now deciding which of the nation’s top schools will be best for their son. “I started working for my college fees, my train pass, my ID and other things. But today, my wife and I are looking for school brochures from probably some of the best schools in the country. And that is the journey. It feels kind of surreal. Shall we send him to Ambani or to Birla? That’s where we are today, and God has been kind.”For those who don’t know, Vikrant’s first earnings came when he was studying at St. Anthony’s High School in Versova. A health advisory board in New Zealand selected him to display a catalog and was paid Rs 200 for the assignment. A few years later, while still in Class 10, he joined Shiamak Davar’s dance troupe as a contemporary dancer during his summer vacation, marking his first regular paid job. At the same time, he also worked in a cafe in Versova.From cleaning tables in a coffee shop, Vikrant finally shared Best Actor National Award with Shah Rukh Khan. Vikrant won for ‘Dwadash Fel’, SRK won for ‘Jawaan’.
