National Award-winning actor Vikrant Massey has opened up about the industry prejudice he encountered when he moved from television to Hindi films, revealing that colleagues and insiders routinely questioned his competence simply because he came from a TV background. The actor shared his experience in a recent interview, reflecting on a journey spanning over two decades in Indian entertainment.

The Bias He Faced

Massey recalled being written off early in his film career by those who viewed television as a lesser proving ground. “When I came from television to films, many people used to say, ‘He is a TV actor, what will he do? He doesn’t know how to work,’” he said, recounting the dismissiveness he faced from parts of the industry.

The actor was quick to push back against that logic, arguing that professional origin and socio-economic background have no bearing on a person’s actual ability. “If you come from any socio-economic background, that can’t decide whether you are capable or not. It depends on your ability whether you are capable or not. So I don’t believe at all that where you come from or what your background is,” he said.

Two Decades of Gratitude

Looking back on a career that began with Disney Channel India’s Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, Massey expressed deep gratitude for the sustained audience support he has received. “I think my journey has been blessed. It’s been 20–22 years. I am really grateful that even after so many years, people are taking out their time to watch my old work,” he said.

He noted that it has been 18 years since his breakout role as Shyam Singh in the iconic television drama Balika Vadhu, yet viewers continue to revisit the show online. He credited that enduring audience connection as the motivation that pushes him to keep choosing meaningful projects. “This is the only thing that gives you the courage to go out there and give it back to people through your stories,” he added.

From TV Roles to National Award

Massey built his television reputation through memorable characters — Murli Laal in Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo and Ayaan Ahmed Khan in Qubool Hai — before making a measured shift to cinema. His film choices have consistently leaned toward content-driven narratives: A Death in the Gunj, Haseen Dillruba, Sector 36, and most notably 12th Fail, for which he was recently honoured with the National Award for Best Actor.

The trajectory stands as a direct rebuttal to the bias he described — a TV actor who became one of Hindi cinema’s most decorated performers of his generation.

What’s Next: Musafir Cafe on Netflix

Massey’s next project is the romantic drama series Musafir Cafe, directed by Ruchir Arun and written by Sharanya Rajgopal, adapted from Divya Prakash Dubey’s novel of the same name. He plays Chander Mohan Sharma, a man whose life is shaped by two defining relationships, alongside Vedika Pinto as Sudha and Mahima Makwana as Preeti. The ensemble also features Adil Hussain, Rajeev Siddhartha, Anubha Fatehpuria, Loveleen Mishra, and Sadiya Siddiqui. The series premieres on Netflix on 24 July.