Over the years, actor Vikrant Massey has been a part of, or rather the topic of, several discourses. The TV star-turned-film actor has been in the news both for his impeccable acting chops as well as his takes on various issues. This time, he is in the news for his latest take on “actor’s struggle” and what people normally misunderstand about them. In a podcast on Youtube, while promoting his latest film with Shanaya Kapoor, they were asked about what people get wrong about actors in general.
Massey answered quickly that people think actors “have it easy”. “People see the glamour, the fame and think it’s all about looking good, fixing your hair and collecting paycheques. But that’s far from the truth.”
Drawing from personal experience, Massey further explained that while actors may enjoy certain privileges, their lives are far from effortless. “This isn’t a 9-to-5 job where you come home to your family every evening. Sometimes, you’re away for months. On paper, we have 12-hour shifts, but those often stretch to 14-15 hours. It takes a toll — physically, mentally and emotionally.”
The ’12th Fail’ actor stressed that the struggle isn’t just about long hours, but the personal sacrifices involved. “Setting up a story for the audience requires immense effort. The fame and perks are real but they come after years of hard work,” Massey went on.
He added, “Try living a day like Anil Kapoor or Shah Rukh Khan. They have been doing this for 30–35 years. Then you’ll understand the real grind behind the glamour.” Massey concluded with a ‘Nayak’ comparison, saying he wished people with misconceptions could switch roles for a day to truly understand what actors go through.
Not all of us agree with Massey
Straight on, not many people agree with Massey over this statement. While it is understandable that actors work hard to earn a living, comparing it with someone working 9 to 5 to put across a point that that is nothing, feels demeaning to be honest. The clip of the podcast was shared on Reddit and users expressed their displeasure with the actor.
One wrote, “Yeah but you also make more money than most people make in their whole lives with a few movies. You’re free to retire and spend the rest of your life with your family. Your career is a choice.” Another user commented that maybe “Vikrant bhai doesn’t know how toxic a 9-5 can be”. “How most 9-5ers stay away from their hometowns and make 1/4th of the money actors do with just half an endorsement,” the user further wrote.
One user raised the recent time-off Massey took from acting to be able to spend time with his family. “The apparent temporary break he took from movies wouldn’t have been possible if he was doing a 9-5 job to concentrate on spending time with his son. He would get a max of 7 days of paternity leave,” the user commented.
