The 12th Fail fame actor attends the launch of Rungta IAS Academy and shares insights on struggle, success, and the importance of strong coaching ecosystems in smaller cities.
BHILAI (India CSR): Bhilai witnessed a special moment when Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey, widely known for his role as a UPSC aspirant in the film 12th Fail, visited Rungta International Skills University. The actor attended the launch of the Rungta IAS Academy as the chief guest. During the event, Massey interacted with students and civil service aspirants and shared his experiences of portraying a UPSC candidate on screen.
He emphasized that if smaller cities develop the right ecosystem and quality coaching infrastructure, students may not need to travel to Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar or Old Rajendra Nagar for civil services preparation. “Delhi is no longer far away. Bhilai too can become a Mukherjee Nagar for IAS aspirants,” he remarked.
Vikrant Massey on Success, Struggle and Staying Grounded
During a fireside chat with Dr. Jawahar Surisetti, Vice Chancellor of Rungta International Skills University. Vikrant Massey spoke candidly about his journey in the entertainment industry. Responding to a question about fame and success, he said that struggles are part of everyone’s life.
Massey revealed that he started working at the age of 17 and comes from a middle-class family without major industry support. According to him, success and failure are both temporary phases. He stressed that success should never go to one’s head, and failures should not discourage anyone from continuing their efforts.
Facing Doubts as a Television Actor
The actor also shared a lesser-known moment from his career while discussing the making of 12th Fail. He recalled a conversation with filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who once told him that audiences might hesitate to watch a film starring a television actor.
This conversation took place nearly one and a half years before the film’s shooting began. At that time, Massey admitted that the concern seemed realistic because transitioning from television to cinema is often difficult. However, he dedicated months to preparing for the role, and the film’s success ultimately proved the effort worthwhile.
Preparing for the Role of a Civil Services Aspirant
Massey explained that portraying the character authentically required deep immersion in the world of civil services aspirants.
To understand the environment better, he traveled to Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar and Old Rajendra Nagar, two major hubs for UPSC preparation. He spent time observing students, interacting with aspirants, and experiencing their daily routines.
The actor shared that he would sometimes eat breakfast at roadside stalls to absorb the atmosphere of the area and better understand the lives and struggles of young candidates preparing for the UPSC examination.
Message for Students from Small Towns
During the conversation, Vikrant Massey also delivered a powerful message to students coming from smaller cities and towns. He advised them never to forget their roots.
According to him, many students feel intimidated when they move to big cities. However, he stressed that confidence in one’s background and value system is essential. Whether someone speaks fluent English or not should not define their abilities or potential.
He encouraged students to take pride in where they come from and to never feel ashamed of their origins, emphasizing that true success comes from self-confidence and integrity.
Can Smaller Cities Reduce the Need to Move to Delhi?
Responding to a question about whether good coaching in smaller cities could reduce the need for students to move to Delhi, Massey said that it is certainly possible.
He noted that Delhi became a hub for civil services preparation because it offers a strong ecosystem of coaching institutes and peer learning. However, if similar facilities are developed in smaller cities, students could receive the same quality of preparation closer to home.
With the launch of Rungta IAS Academy in Bhilai, he said, the foundation has been laid for such a transformation. Over time, Bhilai could potentially emerge as another major destination for civil services preparation.
Vikrant Massey on Bollywood vs South Indian Cinema Debate
The actor also commented on the ongoing discussions about Bollywood versus South Indian cinema. Massey believes the younger generation is less concerned with such divisions.
India has thousands of languages and dialects, he said, and every form of cinema deserves respect. Instead of categorizing films as Bollywood or South Indian cinema, he suggested that the industry should be collectively recognized as the Indian Film Industry.
Future Plans: Films for Children
Speaking about his future plans, Vikrant Massey shared that he has worked across television, films, and OTT platforms, including projects like Mirzapur and Sector 36.
However, he now wants to explore a new direction in storytelling. Inspired by his son, Massey expressed a desire to create films specifically for children.
He reminisced about the quality children’s television shows that existed during his childhood and observed that today many children are limited to cartoons and mobile screens. Through his upcoming projects, he hopes to revive meaningful entertainment for young audiences.
3-year B.A. programme integrated with IAS coaching
The newly launched Rungta IAS Academy aims to provide structured coaching and mentorship to civil services aspirants in Chhattisgarh. The academy plans to offer a 3-year B.A. programme integrated with IAS coaching, enabling students to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination while completing their graduation.
The institution has also announced a 10-month intensive IAS preparation programme designed to help students prepare effectively for the Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages of the examination.
Officials said the academy will provide mentorship from experienced Delhi faculties, bringing the quality of preparation usually available in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar and Old Rajendra Nagar closer to students in central India.
(India CSR)
