Vikrant Messi From television to movies, the industry has come a long way. Today, Messi’s credits include movies like “12”, “The Sabarmati Report” and online shows like “Mirzapur”, but Messi’s journey has also been fraught with struggles. The actor recently recalled his early years and revealed that he came from humble beginnings, cleaning coffee tables in Mumbai as a teenager. During the interaction, Vikrant spoke about how financial security has been a priority since childhood and revealed that buying his first home fulfilled his mother’s lifelong wish. “Stability is very important to us. I come from a very ordinary middle-class family. I started working at the age of 16 and no sane 16-year-old boy would really risk leaving the comfort of his home to earn money or maybe get a job in a coffee shop or clear tables,” he said in an interview with FLO Bangaloreficial. He continued, “One of the reasons I had to do this was to support my education, to support my family financially. Again, I’m happy and I’m grateful that life has taken this trajectory because, like I said, I wouldn’t have been where I am now. When I bought my first tiny house at 24, I checked an important box on my mother’s wish list, which was you can come back, ‘whatever you can come back to.”The actor also shared how difficult it was to explain his responsibilities to his friends while growing up. Instead of going to the playground with them, he would go to work, often feeling uncomfortable saying why. “When I walk out of the house, I see my friends playing on the ground. I don’t have any explanation. They would ask, “Where are you going?” I would say, “I am going somewhere.” They would say, “Come on, let’s go play cricket or football.”You actually don’t have the answer, because at such a young age, you are embarrassed to tell your friends or the world that you are actually out to make money because you have to support your family. “Looking back on those formative years, Vikrant said the hardships shaped his character and forced him to mature earlier than most children. “That’s when, at such a young age, you start building up your defense mechanisms, your barriers, and a lot of pretense, right? It used to be painful at the time. But, like I said, I wouldn’t change a moment or a day. Watching my friends play, seeing them go out to watch movies, even celebrating Diwali used to be a very important thing for me because we didn’t have a Monday to Saturday job. Some days you stay home for months, some days you work, like I said, 35 days a month. But I think, yes, they are all character-building experiences. “Vikrant added that life today feels almost unbelievable. He and his wife, who once struggled to afford college, are now deciding which of the nation’s top schools is best for their son. “I started working to pay for my college tuition, train tickets, ID and a few other things. But today, my wife and I are probably sifting through school brochures from some of the best schools in the country. This is the journey. It feels a bit surreal. Should we send him to Ambani or Birla? This is where we are today and God has been merciful. “For those who are unaware, Vikrant earned his first earnings while he was still studying at St. Anthony’s High School in Versova. He was selected as a member of the Directory by the New Zealand Health Advisory Council and received a remuneration of Rs. A few years later, in 10th grade, he joined Shiamak Davar’s dance company during the summer as a contemporary dancer, his first regular-wage job. Around the same time, he also worked in a café in Versova.Vikrant starts off clearing tables in a coffee shop and ends up sharing the Best Actor award National Award and Shah Rukh Khan. Vikrant won the award for “12th Failure” while SRK bagged it for “Jawan”.
