Vikrant Massey credits son Vardaan for National Award win for '12th Fail'
Synopsis
Vikrant Massey says his son Vardaan didn't just change his personal life — he credits the baby's arrival with bringing the fortune that led to his National Film Award for Best Actor. It's a rare moment where an actor ties a career peak directly to a private turning point, and it adds a deeply human layer to one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated performances in recent years.
Key Takeaways
Vikrant Massey won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in '12th Fail' (2023).
He credits his son Vardaan , born in February 2024 to him and wife Sheetal Thakur , for bringing good fortune into his life.
In '12th Fail' , Massey portrayed real-life IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma , directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra .
The film is based on Anurag Pathak 's bestselling book and depicts Sharma's rise from poverty to clearing India's toughest competitive exam.
The supporting cast includes Medha Shankr , Anshumaan Pushkar , and Priyanshu Chatterjee , among others.
Actor Vikrant Massey has credited his infant son Vardaan for ushering in a wave of good fortune, saying fatherhood has profoundly transformed his life — a reflection that comes on the heels of winning the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the biographical drama '12th Fail'. The actor spoke candidly about the intersection of personal joy and professional triumph in a recent conversation.
What Vikrant Massey Said
Reflecting on how his son's arrival has reshaped his outlook, Massey said he firmly believes every child comes bearing their own destiny. 'I completely believe in it. Because in our family, it is said that every child brings his fate. And I also believe in that. A lot of things have changed since he came. And I couldn't have asked for anything more. I am really, really grateful,' he said.
Massey and his wife, actor Sheetal Thakur, welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Vardaan, in February 2024. The National Award win followed months later, marking what Massey describes as a period of sweeping personal and professional change.
The Role That Won Him the Award
Massey received the Best Actor honour for portraying real-life IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma in filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's critically acclaimed film '12th Fail', released in 2023. The film is based on Anurag Pathak's bestselling book of the same name and chronicles Sharma's journey from poverty and repeated academic failure to clearing one of India's most competitive examinations.
The performance was widely regarded as a career-defining turn for Massey, who has steadily built a reputation for choosing content-driven, character-rich roles over mainstream commercial fare.
About the Film
'12th Fail' also featured Medha Shankr as Shraddha Joshi, alongside Anant V Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Geeta Agrawal Sharma, and Harish Khanna in pivotal roles. The film earned widespread critical praise for its unflinching portrayal of systemic barriers faced by aspirants from underprivileged backgrounds.
A Career Defined by Choices
Over the past several years, Massey has carved a distinct space in Hindi cinema by consistently backing unconventional, story-first projects. His National Award win underlines the industry's recognition of that approach. With fatherhood adding a new dimension to his personal life, Massey appears to be entering what he himself describes as an era of deep gratitude — both on and off screen.
Point of View
Content-led film with no marquee action or spectacle, and its awards sweep challenges the long-held assumption that box-office scale drives institutional recognition. That Massey frames his peak career moment through the lens of fatherhood rather than craft strategy says something about how grounded his public persona remains — a contrast worth noting in an industry where awards often come packaged with calculated PR narratives.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Vikrant Massey win the National Film Award for Best Actor?
Vikrant Massey won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in '12th Fail' (2023), in which he played real-life IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma. The film, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, was widely praised for its authentic portrayal of Sharma's journey from poverty to cracking one of India's toughest examinations.
Who is Vikrant Massey's son Vardaan?
Vardaan is the first child of Vikrant Massey and his wife, actor Sheetal Thakur, born in February 2024. Massey has publicly credited Vardaan's arrival with bringing positive change and good fortune into his life, including his National Award win.
What is '12th Fail' about?
'12th Fail' is a 2023 biographical drama directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, based on Anurag Pathak's bestselling book of the same name. It chronicles the true story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, who overcame poverty and repeated academic setbacks to clear the UPSC civil services examination.
Who else stars in '12th Fail'?
Apart from Vikrant Massey, the film features Medha Shankr as Shraddha Joshi, alongside Anant V Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Geeta Agrawal Sharma, and Harish Khanna in key roles.
How has fatherhood changed Vikrant Massey?
Massey has said that 'a lot of things have changed' since his son Vardaan was born, describing himself as 'really, really grateful.' He believes every child arrives with their own destiny and blessings, and attributes much of the good in his recent life to his son's arrival.
