Growing up in a family where there are always fights, it can be hard to find your own voice. This struggle led an actor to leave his home. Now, he’s one of Bollywood’s top character actors, and many people love him for it. If you’re still unsure who this is, here’s a hint: he played a double role in the hit Prime Video series Mirzapur.
Yes, we’re talking about the rising star Vijay Varma. After his breakthrough role in the 2016 movie Pink, Vijay went on to star in several successful films like Middle-Class Abbayi (2017), Gully Boy (2019), and Baaghi 3 (2020). His career took a big leap when he signed up to play the Tyagi brothers in the popular show Mirzapur (2020–present).
For those who don’t know, Vijay started his acting career in theater in Hyderabad before moving to Pune to study acting at FTII. Soon after, he moved to Mumbai and landed a role in the acclaimed short film Shor, which won Best Short Film at New York’s MIAAC festival.
In an old interview with Film Companion, Vijay shared that he ran away from home because of tensions with his father. He was the youngest in the family and a bit spoiled. As he grew older, his thoughts clashed with his father’s expectations. Vijay’s father wanted him to join the family business, but Vijay wanted to do something different. This conflict went on for years until Vijay decided to leave home, thinking his father didn’t understand what was best for him.
In another interview with Galatta Plus, Vijay talked about how financial struggles forced him to take a role he didn’t want. At one point, he had only Rs 18 in his bank account when he got a call for a small part as a reporter for a one-day shoot, paying Rs 3000. Although he didn’t want to do it, he accepted the role because he needed the money. However, because his heart wasn’t in it, he made mistakes and was fired from the set. Vijay, who had already played a lead role in Monsoon Shootout by then, was so upset that he cried on his way back, promising himself he would never take a job just for the money.
Over the last few years, Vijay has starred in some of the best projects of his career, like Darlings, Lust Stories 2, Jaane Jaan, Murder Mubarak, Dahaad, and Kaalkoot. These roles have solidified his place in the industry, proving that his hard work and struggles have finally paid off.
