Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film '12th Fail' is all set to hit the screens on October 27 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. From the posters to the songs to the trailer, everything about the film has already created excitement among the cinephiles. '12th Fail' stars Vikrant Massey and it's a special film for the actor as this is his first film where he is playing the 'leading man'.
In an interview with Outlook India, Vikrant expressed his joy of finally playing the lead, why he said 'yes' to the film, his working experience with Vidhu Vinod Chopra and a lot more. Here are the excerpts from the interview:
Vikrant, how does it feel to finally lead a film and be the leading man?
It's a wonderful feeling. I always wanted to be a leading man. Since childhood when I dreamt of becoming an actor, I always wanted to play the lead and work with good people. I am blessed to be working with Vidhu Vinod Chopra sir. We have been watching his films since childhood and his films have inspired and entertained us so much that getting a chance to work with him and also play the leading man was an opportunity which I consider myself very lucky.
It's surreal, isn't it?
It's really surreal especially to be a part of a film like 12th Fail. It is such an incredible story. It is not just one person's story. Yes, I am playing the character of Manoj Kumar Sharma but the story represents millions and millions of us...the struggles that all of us have gone through, the difficulties that we have faced and the courage that we all have shown at different points in life. So, it is reflective of all of us, of the world that we live in.
'12th Fail' is about the struggles and hard work to crack the UPSC. You have also gone through a lot of struggles in your career in the early phase. Was it relatable to your own struggles?
One of the reasons why I did the film is because of that and I think there is nothing unique in it. But I think all of us have gone through the same kind of struggles. The degrees may vary, and the situations may vary but I think all of us collectively have gone through this and talking about me, I definitely could derive a lot of personal anecdotes when I read the book and the script and I was really moved. In fact, initially when we started the prep for the film, every fifth and sixth page I would read and start crying. I would take a break and then read again and cry again and again would take a break.
But life has also been kind. Today, in hindsight when I look back, I am very happy with the way life has turned up. But at the same time, I also know that had those struggles and challenges not been there, I would have been a very different person today.
How was it working with Vidhu Vinod Chopra?
He is very meticulous. He has zero tolerance for compromise and he is a true blue avant-garde filmmaker. He has been making films for 45 years and he has made National award-winning films and multiple award-winning films. And he has made films which will be in the archive of our conscience for the next 100 years. When I was working with him, he was so meticulous and at at same time, he gave me my space to explore myself. The first take would always be mine. We always used to prep and go but the first shot always used to be mine. He gave me that dignity and space that he always gave me the first take. That is when I realised that he is the best collaboration that I have had in my life...the best professional collaboration in my life.
What did you learn from him?
I think sincerity. He is extremely sincere. We can keep talking about Vidhu Vinod Chopra non-stop. He still has the sincerity of a newcomer. He used to always sit from 11 am to 7 pm at his office to work on the script when we were prepping. Though he had assistants he would sit and do it himself. His sincerity is infectious but also at the same time his brutal honesty is infectious. He tells everything on the face and there are rare people like him. I would rather have one Vinod Chopra in my life and nobody else because I know he is always going to tell me the truth. I love him.
Did you say 'yes' instantly to it or take time?
It was instantly because at that time I realised that Vinod sir was going to direct it. So, it was an instant yes. Also because the story is so powerful and as I told you I could derive so many anecdotes from my own personal life. Here was an opportunity for me to speak through my work to speak about so many things that I believe in and why would I not do that. I immediately said yes. In fact, I said yes even before I read the script because I said yes after reading the book and I wanted to play this part.
