IPS Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma reveals reasons behind not accepting payment for Vikrant Massey starrer 12th Fail; says, “School students are sending me letters and saying that they want to be like me”

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

February 29, 2024 - 3:43 PM IST

Vikrant Massey's 12th Fail has emerged as one of the surprise successes of the past year, captivating audiences with its compelling narrative. Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the movie offers a cinematic glimpse into the life of IPS Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma. Despite its commercial success, Sharma has revealed an unconventional approach to compensation and life values.

IPS Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma reveals reasons behind not accepting payment for Vikrant Massey starrer 12th Fail; says, “School students are sending me letters and saying that they want to be like me”

Speaking at ABP's Idea of India summit, Sharma candidly disclosed that he didn't accept any payment for his story, which served as the inspiration behind the film. He expressed, “If you ask me what I got personally, then I didn't get anything, because I don't take money from anyone or go in expecting any monetary benefits from people. I am a visapt imaandaar (totally honest) person. I am as I was at the time of selection. My wife is also like that.”

Sharma elaborated on his family's principle of refraining from material indulgence, highlighting their avoidance of luxury items like jewellery. He said, “At the time when my wife (Shraddha Joshi Sharma) and I were preparing for the exams, we had decided that we'd not wear diamonds and pieces of jewellery. She still doesn't wear it, so we don't have that expense. We don't even have a gift system; we don't give each other gifts on anniversaries and birthdays. In our family, if we want to gift something to each other then we write letters. So, we don't need to go shopping.”

The IPS officer emphasized that the true reward for him lies in the impact his story has had on viewers, especially among school students. He shared, “The only benefit that I have got is that the things that I wanted to tell the people of our country have come out through the film and the book, and if you want to take something from it then you can. What makes me happy is that school students are sending me letters and saying that they want to be like me, and to be honest, that is my reward. There was a guy who said that his father used to tell him about his struggles, but he never understood what his father meant. But after watching the movie, he went and hugged his father. This is what I have gained.”

Speaking of the film, 12th Fail was released in October 2023 in theatres. Later, the film made its OTT debut on December 29 on Disney+ Hotstar. Despite its OTT release, the film continued to run in theatres. Besides Vikrant, the film also stars Medha Shankar, Anant V Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Priyanshu Chatterjee. It won five awards at the 69th Filmfare Awards, including Best Actor (Critics).

Also Read: 12th Fail world television premiere: When, where to watch Vikrant Massey starrer on TV