Some say the glamorous world of acting is not for everyone, especially for the ones whose looks don’t align with the mainstream actor traits. Vijay Varma took the challenge, fought the deep-rooted nepotism and emerged as a rising star making abode in the hearts of millions.
The Bollywood film breathes charming faces and macho personalities. While our heart inadvertently goes for the ones with pink roles we often tend to forget the versatility of the antagonists. One such star, who created his niche in the film industry with rival roles and swept millions off their feet with his stellar performances is the talented Vijay Varma. With more than 9 lakh followers on his social media accounts, Varma has risen as a supreme talent and a fashion icon. A down-to-earth person and a phenomenal actor, he has set new heights of glory in the acting industry. Behind a rough and tough personality, a deep and soulful person lies beneath the surface of the real Vijay Varma.
The Unknown Star
Born in 1986 to a Marwari family in Hyderabad, Varma is the youngest of three siblings. A rebellion at heart just like every other teenager is, Varma’s perception didn’t align with his father due to his unconventional career choices. Despite his father’s constant pressures on him to join the family business of handicrafts, Varma wanted to create a legacy of his own. Confused, conflicted and young, the actor decided to take things as they come.
He pursued commerce as his post-graduation course. Not knowing where his fate lies, he initially started his career doing many odd jobs like night shifts at the call centre, selling mobile plans and petrol cards until he discovered his ardent love for acting. In the quest of doing something creative, Varma realized his passion for acting. Without informing his parents, he joined a theatre group in Hyderabad and learnt acting for more than a year.
He moved to Pune against his father’s will to pursue acting. He got his formal education in acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune and honed his skills to become an outstanding performer. Varma left no stone unturned to nurture his skills, for preparations he used to lock himself up in a room and watch films. He closely observed the performances of the actors to learn acting traits and slip into them. Soon after recognizing his forte and polishing his skills, he shifted to the ‘City Of Dreams’, Mumbai to give wings to his holy grail.
His tryst with acting kickstarted when he bagged his first role in a short film ‘Shor’ in 2008 which was highly acclaimed at festivals and won the Best Short Film at the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival (MIAAC) Festival, New York. He then gave scintillating performances in ‘Chittagong’, ‘Rangrezz’ and ‘Gang of Ghosts’.
The Onset Of His Journey
Despite being an outsider with no blood ties to Bollywood, Varma paved his way in the film industry with sheer dedication and persistence. An actor who effortlessly blends with the unique roles of mainstream cinema and exceptionally demonstrates his acting nuances, Varma got his big break in the year 2016. He rose to prominence with his impeccable acting in the critically acclaimed film Pink. In the film, he shared the screen with esteemed patrons like Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu.
After rising to the spotlight, Varma flawlessly nailed his roles in many films like ‘Raag Desh’, ‘MCA’, ‘Manto’, ‘Super 30’, ‘Ghost Stories’, ‘Baaghi 3’, ‘Yaara’ and ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’. His prominent work includes ‘Monsoon Shootout’, ‘Gully Boy’, ‘Darlings’ and ‘Lust Stories 2’. Any platform he uses is simply a medium to express himself and he aces every platform exceptionally well. He has also done many web series like ‘Cheers-Friends, Reunion, Goa’, ‘A Suitable Boy’, ‘She’, ‘Mirzapur’, ‘OK Computer’ and ‘Dahaad’ which have slowly and surely made his way up the ladder.
His phenomenal performance in the OTT film ‘Darlings’ garnered him many awards and glorious recognition. Varma was sceptical of doing the film ‘Darlings’ at first because of the extremely dark role of the character. But when he got to know that the ‘Badshah’ of the film industry Shah Rukh Khan was interested in playing that part, he realized the versatility of the role and paid heed to playing the character of Humza.
Awards & Accolades
The talented actor has meticulously engraved his imprint in the industry with his stunning performances. His unwavering work ethic and top-notch acting skills have set new benchmarks for budding actors in the industry. The acclaim he has received for his breathtaking performance as Humza in ‘Darlings’ is a testament to his extraordinary talent and remarkable skills.
The dynamic actor won the award for ‘Bollywood Hungama Style Icons as Most Stylish Emerging Icon and ‘Bollywood Life Awards for Best Actor (Male) in 2023. He was also awarded the ‘IWM Digital Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Negative Role in a Digital Film, ‘The Lions Gold Awards’ for Best Performance In a Negative Role both in 2023 and ‘FOI Online Awards’ for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2022. Last but not least, he won ‘The Femina Beauty Awards’ for Rising Star of the Year. He was also nominated for ‘the 26th Screen Awards’ for Best Supporting Actor, ‘the 65th Filmfare Awards’ for Best Supporting Actor and ‘Bollywood Hungama Style Icons’ for Most Stylish Breakthrough Talent (Male).
Acting & Beloved
Varma has graced the cover of many high-end magazines such as Tabloid, Reverie and GQ. Eminent for his uber-cool styles, Varma has walked the runways for prestigious designers.
Varma’s broody looks and rough magnetism is captivating enough to make his fans drool over his social media posts. Taking a dig at the makers of the film ‘Darlings’ for not featuring him on the poster, Varma said, “You all have watched ‘Darlings’, haven’t you? It’s true. My face is not on the posters. Or it’s hidden somewhere. But in some scenes, this face becomes unforgettable. Many say that I am not a star. I am not a star. It is strange. They cast me in the films to get that extra star in the reviews. I am that star.” From competing with emerging stars to fighting off nepotism, Vijay Varma has come a long way and still aspires to achieve many lengths. Vijay Varma is a true blue artist and a gem of a person in the film industry. His unconventional choices and ever-charming personality make him a dynamic actor in the industry.
QUICK BITES
Guilty Pleasure: Dal bati churma with curry leaves
Favourite Actor: Ranbir Kapoor
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Favourite Film: Maqbool, Omkara and Haider
When Not Acting: Reading books and travelling
