After helming some of Bollywood’s biggest commercial hits, director Siddharth Anand is shifting gears with White, a biopic based on the life of Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The film promises to explore lesser-known chapters of the guru’s journey, including his role in international peace efforts. Bringing the story to life is Vikrant Massey, who steps into the titular role. The actor, known for his nuanced performances, says portraying Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is both an honour and a responsibility.
“It’s a very important part of his life and world history. Unfortunately, not a lot of people, in India especially, know about his contribution towards peace and restoring world peace in Colombia. And he’s not just sort of contributed there, he’s done much, much more. Through this film, we actually want to talk about all the other things that he’s done, how he’s contributed (towards society). It’s an honour to play him. I have said this earlier that I can never be him. I can only attempt to be him. And I hope my attempt is as sincere as his attempts,” Massey said in a chat with India Today.
Vikrant Massey also shared his experience of meeting the spiritual leader at his ashram last year, a visit that left a lasting impression on him personally. “Every moment spent with him is going to be etched for the rest of my life. I am so glad I have that access, and I can be with him, around him. I start shooting for White in August,” he added.
While White is likely to be a milestone in Vikrant’s career, it’s far from the only major project on his plate. The actor is also set to appear in Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3 and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, both of which are scheduled to begin filming next year. But even with such a packed slate, Vikrant hasn’t been immune to public scrutiny. Earlier this year, the actor posted about taking a break from work, a move that sparked widespread speculation and was even labelled a publicity stunt by netizens. When asked if he still gets trolled for that post, he addressed the backlash with characteristic calm and clarity.
“Yeah, I keep reading that on every post, actually. But I have nothing to tell them. I had come out the very next day to clear it out. I mean, some of them are bullies and some of them really want to evoke a response, and I don’t care two hoots about that. I mean, people who care definitely knew what I meant and why I did what I did, and that’s about it,” he said with a chuckle.
