Vikrant Massey has spent years with the tag of an ‘underrated actor’. Loved by his fans, constantly lauded by critics, and yet always an ‘up-and-coming’ star.
Whether you first remember him as Shyam in Balika Vadhu or Aamir in Doom Machao Doom, it should quickly remind you that he’s been slogging it out for more than a decade.
Even featuring in Bollywood films such as Lootera, Dil Dhadakne Do and A Death in the Gunj didn’t quite do for him what a flurry of hit web series have done.
The stigma that big stars and talented actors are necessarily different breeds is rapidly changing and it would be safe to say that Massey is at the forefront.
Here are five web series starring Vikrant Massey that prove his ‘stardom’ is far more than blind following or box-office numbers.
Broken But Beautiful
Available on: ALTBalaji
The web series revolves around two “broken” individuals: Sameera (played by Harleen Sethi), who’s unable to move on from her ex-boyfriend, and Veer (played by Massey), who takes on an insensitive personality after the death of his wife in a car accident. While he hasn’t starred in many romantic films or web series, Broken But Beautiful is proof that this genre still comes to him with ease.
Criminal Justice
Available on: Disney+ Hotstar
In a complex role, Massey portrays Aditya Sharma, a college student who finds himself embroiled as the prime suspect in the murder case of a girl named Sanaya Rath. Though both were together during the night of the murder, Sharma claims to have no memory of the incident. Criminal Justice also stars Pankaj Tripathi and Jackie Shroff.
Made in Heaven
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
While Massey isn’t a part of the main cast for this one, his cameo appearance is more than enough for the actor to leave a lasting impression. Few actors would be bold enough to do an intimate scene as a homosexual character in the Indian entertainment industry, and both he and Arjun Mathur (who are paired together) show absolutely no inhibition in a landmark scenario which just wasn’t appreciated enough.
Mirzapur
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Mirzapur hardly needs an introduction. The web series that has fans demanding for season two boasted of some stellar performances. It’s not easy to hold your own with actors such as Pankaj Tripathi, and not to mention Divyenndu being in the form of his life and delivering a career-best performance. However, Massey’s character Bablu Pandit still comes out as one of the highlights as he portrays the ‘the brain to all the brawn’.
Rise
Available on: YouTube
One of his lesser-known web series, Rise shows Massey as an IT professional who ends up getting laid off his job. Knocked down by life, he attempts to bounce back and live his life. Just as he decides to go on a road trip, his companion doesn’t really turn out to be who he expected. A lighter offering compared to the other, Rise manages to capture a glimpse of his versatility.
Massey now has a firm grip even on Bollywood. After essaying the lead role opposite Deepika Padukone in Chhapaak, he’s all set to star opposite Yami Gautam in Ginny Weds Sunny, which has been slated for digital release due to the pandemic.