Vikrant Massey on earning ₹300 from Vidhu Vinod Chopra on 12th Fail set
Synopsis
Vikrant Massey's reveal about earning ₹300 in on-set cash rewards from Vidhu Vinod Chopra is a small detail with a big story behind it — one of rare creative access, a blunt first meeting, and a director who turned a 'TV actor' dismissal into a career-defining collaboration on 12th Fail.
Key Takeaways
Vikrant Massey earned around ₹300 on the set of 12th Fail through Vidhu Vinod Chopra's practice of rewarding good takes with ₹10–₹20 in cash.
Massey was recommended to Chopra by filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani , who had seen his work in A Death in the Gunj and Mirzapur .
At their first meeting, Chopra bluntly questioned why audiences would pay to watch a 'TV actor' in theatres — feedback Massey accepted as constructive.
Massey's audition posture spontaneously became the opening shot of 12th Fail , prompting Chopra to immediately commit to casting him.
Massey was involved in the film's script development — a rare opportunity he credits as central to his performance.
Massey described Chopra as a 'father figure' in the industry, noting he was never scolded during the actual shoot.
Actor Vikrant Massey has revealed that filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra used to reward good takes on the set of 12th Fail with small cash amounts — and that Massey personally accumulated around ₹300 over the course of the shoot. The actor shared the anecdote during a candid appearance on Shekhar Tonite, hosted by Shekhar Suman on YouTube.
How Massey First Met Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Massey recalled that his entry into 12th Fail came through a recommendation by filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who suggested his name to Chopra. At their first meeting, Chopra had already watched Massey's film A Death in the Gunj and the web series Mirzapur.
Chopra was candid about his reservations. 'He told me that he liked my work, but he also said that Mirzapur was not a show he could watch beyond one episode. He then asked me, 'Why should I work with you? You are a TV actor. People watch you for free at home, so why would they come to a theatre to watch you?'' Massey recounted, adding that he took the feedback 'very sportingly' because he sensed 'truth and constructive criticism' in it.
The Audition That Sealed the Role
During the audition, Massey instinctively sat in a position that would later become the opening shot of 12th Fail. 'When Vinod sir saw me in that position, he got up and said that I wanted to direct this boy,' Massey said. The moment, he noted, was unscripted and spontaneous.
Rare Access to the Filmmaking Process
What distinguished this project for Massey was the unusual degree of involvement Chopra extended to him. 'Usually, actors come onto a film just a few months before the shoot, but I got to see the entire process of how 12th Fail was developed,' he said. Chopra brought Massey into the script development stage — asking for his input throughout — something the actor described as a first in his career.
'It was the first time someone had given me that kind of access and asked me, 'What do you think?' I really enjoyed being part of that process, and I believe it was one of the most important reasons I was able to do what I did in the film,' Massey said.
₹300 in On-Set Cash and What It Meant
Chopra, known for his exacting standards, had a distinctive way of acknowledging strong performances on set: he would hand actors ₹10 or ₹20 in cash for a good take. Over the full shoot of 12th Fail, Massey said he accumulated around ₹300 through these micro-rewards.
'For me, that appreciation was the real wealth. That relationship and that experience are something I will always value,' he said. Despite Chopra's reputation as a strict director — Massey noted he was 'scolded a little before the shoot' — the filmmaker did not reprimand him once during actual filming. Massey described Chopra as having become 'like a father figure' to him in the industry.
About Shekhar Tonite
Shekhar Tonite, hosted by veteran actor Shekhar Suman, airs on YouTube and features long-form conversations with prominent figures from Indian cinema and entertainment.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is Chopra's question: 'Why would they come to a theatre to watch you?' That challenge — and Massey's willingness to absorb it rather than deflect it — arguably shaped the performance that followed. 12th Fail's success was not incidental; it was built on an unusually collaborative process that most commercial productions don't allow. The industry would do well to note that giving actors creative access before the shoot, not just during it, can change what ends up on screen.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Vikrant Massey earn ₹300 from Vidhu Vinod Chopra?
Vidhu Vinod Chopra had a practice of handing actors ₹10 or ₹20 in cash whenever they delivered a good take on set. Over the full shoot of 12th Fail, Vikrant Massey accumulated around ₹300 through these on-set rewards.
How did Vikrant Massey get cast in 12th Fail?
Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani recommended Massey's name to Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who had already seen his film A Death in the Gunj and the web series Mirzapur. A spontaneous audition posture that Massey struck — which later became the film's opening shot — convinced Chopra to cast him immediately.
What did Vidhu Vinod Chopra say to Vikrant Massey at their first meeting?
Chopra told Massey he liked his work but questioned why audiences would pay theatre tickets to watch a 'TV actor' they could see for free at home. Massey said he accepted the remark as honest and constructive criticism.
What made 12th Fail a special experience for Vikrant Massey?
Massey was involved in the film's script development from an early stage — something he described as a first in his career. He credited this unusual access as a key reason he was able to deliver the performance he did in the film.
Where can viewers watch the Vikrant Massey interview on Shekhar Tonite?
Shekhar Tonite, hosted by Shekhar Suman, is available on YouTube. The episode featuring Vikrant Massey covers his journey with Vidhu Vinod Chopra and the making of 12th Fail.
