Vijay Varma's Journey: From Modelling Setbacks to Acting Success

A Defining Moment in Vijay Varma's Career

Vijay Varma recently shared how an unsettling experience with a model coordinator during his initial days in Hyderabad became a pivotal moment in his decision to fully commit to acting. In a conversation with Prakhar Gupta on his YouTube channel, he recounted, "I dabbled in modelling in Hyderabad, engaging in minor, amateur gigs. However, I encountered a rather inappropriate model coordinator who began to act inappropriately, attempting to get too familiar with me." He expressed his discomfort by saying, "I confronted him, asking, 'What are you doing?' This incident discouraged me right away."

Turning Point: Embracing Acting

This unsettling encounter motivated Varma to abandon other pursuits and concentrate solely on acting. His initial attempt to formalize this path was met with rejection. He reminisced about applying to the Sutradhar School of Acting in Hyderabad, where he was turned down with the feedback, "This requires commitment and dedication; it's not something you can dabble in for a couple of days and walk away from." A later application to the Film and Television Institute of India also ended in disappointment at the final stage, a lesson Varma took to heart, realizing that "your aspirations aren't entirely within your control."

Success at Last

Eventually, Varma succeeded in gaining admission to FTII's acting program on his second attempt, where he studied alongside notable actors like Rajkummar Rao and Jaideep Ahlawat. This led to a flourishing career in both films and web series, with notable works including Darlings, Jaane Jaan, and Gully Boy.

Upcoming Projects

His latest project is Vibhu Puri's Gustaakh Ishq, which also marks the directorial debut of costume designer Manish Malhotra. Looking ahead, Varma is set to feature in Netflix's corporate drama Family Business, created by Hansal Mehta and Niren Bhat, alongside the esteemed Anil Kapoor.