Vikrant Massey looks back at 12th Fail’s extraordinary journey and the emotional theatre moment that changed everything for him: “That’s when I knew everything had shifted”

December 9, 2025 - 3:07 PM IST

Vikrant Massey, who won the National Award for his performance in 12th Fail, continues to look back at the film with immense gratitude and emotion. The Vidhu Vinod Chopra directorial, released in late 2023, did not open with massive buzz, yet it slowly built a strong connection with audiences. Over the next several months, it grew steadily and went on to enjoy an extraordinary theatrical run of nearly ten months—something rarely seen in today’s fast-moving box-office landscape.

Vikrant Massey looks back at 12th Fail’s extraordinary journey and the emotional theatre moment that changed everything for him: “That’s when I knew everything had shifted”

Reflecting on the film’s journey, Vikrant said he still felt overwhelmed by the response. “I’m incredibly grateful. When 12th Fail was released, it slowly grew and carried its momentum into 2024. And you’re right, 2024 had so many big films—Shah Rukh sir had Pathaan, Jawan and Tiger 3, Sunny sir returned with Gadar 2, Animal made the kind of noise it did, and Vicky worked with Meghna Gulzar again on Sam Bahadur. For our film to run for almost ten months in theatres…it’s extraordinary. I often look back with a lot of gratitude.”

A rare moment that changed everything

Amid all the big releases, 12th Fail carved out its own emotional space. Vikrant shared that the team sensed something special within the very first week. Instead of peaking early like most films, it kept growing—day after day, show after show. “I was visiting theatres daily, especially during the pre-climax interview scene, because I wanted to see how people were reacting,” he said. “A week in, I told Vidhu Vinod Chopra sir, ‘We’ve made something special.’” But the true turning point for him came during one screening in Delhi.

A senior gentleman sat beside him, deeply engrossed in the film. During the result scene—one of the most emotional moments—he held Vikrant’s forearm tightly and began to cry, unaware that the person sitting next to him was the lead actor himself.

“When the lights came on and he recognised me, he hugged me and shared his own story of attempting the IAS exam. People around us gathered, and so many kept thanking me for the film. That’s when I realised something had truly shifted.”

A film that changed more than just numbers

For Vikrant Massey, 12th Fail was more than a critically acclaimed project or a commercial success. It became a personal milestone—one that reaffirmed his belief in sincere storytelling and strengthened his bond with the audience.

The film’s slow but powerful rise turned into one of Indian cinema’s most inspiring success stories, and it firmly established Vikrant as one of the most grounded, admired and emotionally resonant performers of his generation.

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