Published By: Sayan Paul

Vikrant Massey's Birthday: Transformation for '12th Fail' - From Losing Weight to Burning Skin

While preparing for '12th Fail', Massey stayed in Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar to understand the spirit of the UPSC aspirants. 

The climax of '12th Fail' where Pritam grabs the camera and exclaims, “Breaking News! A 12th fail, a toilet sweeper, an atta chakki boy, areh my friend is an IPS topper!!!” is one of those rare cinematic moments that stays with you even long after the credits roll. This is - as Martin Scorsese put it - "absolute cinema", and that's not just because of it being a happy ending. At a time when cinema is reduced to flashy CGI or over-the-top action and a reel-like structure, this scene reminds us that the heart of a story lies in its emotions. And in that moment, Vikrant Massey becomes Manoj. All the pain, the struggle, the countless sleepless nights, and the sacrifice come to life in his eyes. You don't see Massey anywhere on the screen; you see Manoj, the underdog who finally makes it. It hits differently because it’s real - the emotion is raw and full of soul. That shows the actor's insane talent and ability to go deep into a character's psyche. 

Well, Vikrant Massey in '12th Fail' is a masterclass in acting. Today, as the celebrated actor turns 38, let's learn about how he prepared for the character. 

Reading the Source Material

Instead of relying solely on the script, Massey read the book '12th Fail' by Anurag Pathak which the film is based on. He made sure to grasp the depth of the world he was about to portray. Also, he met the real Manoj Kumar Sharma and spent quite some time with him. His primary goal was to understand Sharma's psyche, including everything from how he thinks to how he reacts. This real-world research helped him connect with the character's struggles and mindset, which translates directly into his grounded performance on screen.

Understanding the Spirit of the UPSC Aspirants

Massey's other step in preparing for his role was to understand the life of a UPSC aspirant. And he decided to experience it in person. He spent time in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, a hub for UPSC students, where he blended in with the locals to understand the challenges, struggles, and dreams of the students there. “I went incognito, just blending in with the people, trying to feel what they feel,” he shared in an interview. He even visited coaching centers and spent time in student apartments to get a real sense of their lives. "I was fortunate to spend time with them, hear their stories, understand their fears, and see how they lived,” he said.

Interestingly, many of the students who feature in the film aren’t actors (or 'extras' in the industry language) but actual students preparing for the exams. 

The authenticity he gained from this experience is evident in his performance. You can see it in the way his character, Manoj, deals with the struggles of studying for one of the toughest exams in India. 

The Physical Transformation: Tanning and Weight Loss

Massey had to go through an intense physical transformation to make his portrayal of Manoj believable - especially as someone from a village coming to the city and struggling to crack the UPSC exams. The actor lost weight to look younger, reflecting the hardships of a 19-year-old student even though he was in his mid-30s. But that was just the beginning.

He also had to change his skin tone to resemble that of a typical young man from rural India. He shared, “I went to Chambal for eight days as part of my preparation. I used mustard oil and sat on a terrace for hours to tan myself.” This method wasn’t obviously without its challenges. “My skin burned and I ended up with patches, but I knew it would pay off,” he recalled. Well, without an iota of doubt, his commitment to getting the right look speaks volumes about his dedication to his craft.

Perfecting the Chambal Dialect

This isn’t just about being in the right place or looking right, but also speaking the right way. To make his character as real as possible, he worked hard on mastering the Chambal dialect. This was crucial, especially since Manoj, hailing from a small town, would have a distinct accent and way of speaking from city people. Massey made sure that every word felt natural, bringing an extra layer of authenticity to the character.

He recalled, "I had to make sure that my dialect was spot-on. It was something I focused on a lot, and it also helped me get into the mindset of Manoj."

Embracing the Emotional Complexity of Manoj

Method acting has two distinct yet interconnected approaches: one starts by immersing in the character’s mind first and then working outward, while the other begins with physical transformation and works inward. In '12th Fail', Massey blends both paths, resulting in a performance that's as convincing on the inside as it's on the outside. 

While the physical preparation was intense, he also had to dig deep emotionally to understand the spirit of his character. Manoj’s journey isn’t just about academic struggle; it’s about dreams, confusion, disappointments, and moments of emotional vulnerability. The actor spent a lot of time reflecting on the emotional weight of his character, trying to match his own emotional state to that of a young man fighting against all odds.

Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra with IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma and actor Vikrant Massey

“I had to unlearn being an actor,” he said in an interview, adding “I needed to think like Manoj, feel his anxieties, his ambitions, his heartbreak. This role was about more than just acting; it was about truly understanding the psychology of someone who’s so driven yet so vulnerable.” And needless to say, his ability to convey this complexity is evident in several major moments in the film. 

(Credit: ANMOL JAMWAL)

Well, I wasn't really exaggerating when I said it's a masterclass in acting!