'Nepotism exists but talent is needed for survival': Vikrant Massey

At a time when 'outsiders versus insiders' debate is at an all-time high, actor Vikrant Massey says it feels "incredible" when filmmakers write a part keeping him in mind. In wake of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, many from film industry have opened up about struggle of surviving in Bollywood.

Massey, who has become a go-to performer for debutant directors like Seema Pahwa and Arati Kadav, started his journey from small screen in early 2000s and has built an impressive filmography over years across mediums in television, films and web. On TV, he is perhaps most recognised as progressive Shyam in hit TV show "Balika Vadhu". His credits on small screen include "Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo" and "Qubool Hai".

Seven years ago, Massey got his Bollywood break in Vikramaditya Motwane's lyrical romance "Lootera" in which he played Devdas, voice of reason to Ranveer Singh's con man Nandu.  actor, who has also worked in films like "Half Girlfriend", "Dil Dhadakne Do" and "Lipstick Under My Burkha", said he had figured out in his early days that movie industry tends to favour its own.

"While doing television, I had seen this thing and a lot of people had made me aware about it. I knew it would take ten to 11 years for me to re-establish myself in film. I was willing to do it because I kw I possess something which is unique and it is being recognised. It is a paradoxical situation today, nepotism is re but ultimately, survival is because of talent," Massey told PTI in an interview.

33-year-old actor was at pinnacle of his career when he switched from TV to films, a move he describes as a "well-thought-out" one.

"I was doing TV from of 17... compromised on my college attendance, did distant education, reason for all of it was money. After working in TV for 10 years I felt I had earned a lot of money... it was a big decision to quit TV," he said.

He may have started off by playing roles easy to be branded as 'supporting characters' in films, but actor had his shining moments as vulnerable Shutu in Konkona Sen Sharma's directorial debut "A Death in Gunj", reluctant gangster Bablu in web series "Mirzapur" and murder accused Aditya in "Criminal Justice", ar web series. Massey said an insider may get "head start", but eventually talent is driving force.

"How much ever influential a person or whoever's son or nephew one may be, you will survive only if you deliver. Because of this entire structure, my focus has always been on delivering my best performance," actor added.

All in all, being an outsider doesn't feel like a disadvant to him.

"I am happy that re are first-time directors who want to work with me. First-time directors like Konkana Sen Sharma, Arati Kadav or Seema Pahwa, y want to work with me and that is such an incredible feeling. It feels good when someone says I have written this script for you and I want to work with you, so maybe I am doing something right. I do t regret that I am t an insider," Massey said.

year 2020 also started on a good te for actor with Meghna Gulzar-directed "Chhapaak", for which he earned rave reviews in role of a harrowed but well-meaning activist Amol.

" kind of films I am getting, I feel good. But even today, I feel I haven't even started doing kind of work I want to do... I want to consistently deliver good performances and build trust in my writer," he added.

Massey has a bunch of films including Pahwa's family drama "Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi", Kadav's sci-fi film "Cargo", comedy satire "Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare", which reunites him with director Alankrita Shrivastava after "Lipstick...", up for release this year. He is also set to star in "Ginny Weds Sunny" and "Haseen Dillruba".