In a candid reflection on his early days in Bollywood, Vineet Kumar Singh, the actor known for his powerful performances in films like Mukkabaaz and Gangs of Wasseypur, recently shared the struggles he faced to stay afloat in the industry. Singh, who has been part of the entertainment world for two decades, finally achieved significant recognition in 2025 with his roles in Chhaava and Superboys of Malegaon. This year marked a turning point, bringing him both commercial success and critical acclaim.

During an appearance on Yuvaa's All Star Roundtable, Singh recalled his time as an assistant director on the 2004 film Vaah Life Ho To Aisi, where Ishaan Khatter, also a panelist, was a child actor. He reminisced about bringing Khatter to the set, highlighting the stark contrast between his dream of acting and the reality of his circumstances. "It was my dream to work as an actor, but circumstances do not always allow you," Singh stated. He emphasized the importance of survival in challenging situations, noting that one's story can only continue if they persevere.

Singh openly discussed the difficult choices he had to make to make ends meet during his struggling years. He revealed that he had worked as a body double for Suniel Shetty and even played a dead body for Sanjay Dutt. "Suniel Shetty sahab ka duplicate bhi kiya hai, Sanju baba ke liye dead body bhi bana hoon," he said, underscoring the necessity of keeping one's inner flame alive and continuing to move forward.

Vineet Kumar Singh's journey in Bollywood began with a minor role in the 2002 film Pitaah, starring Sanjay Dutt. He then took on small roles in various films over the next decade. He gained recognition for his supporting role in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur in 2012 before landing the lead role in Kashyap's acclaimed film Mukkabaaz in 2018. Singh's career also includes appearances in series like Bard of Blood and Rangbaaz, eventually leading to his celebrated role as Kavi Kalash in Chhaava, one of 2025's highest-grossing films. He was recently seen in a supporting role in Tere Ishk Mein.

Before fully committing to acting, Singh earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in Ayurveda from Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur. He initially considered a medical career. He won the Superstars Talent Hunt, which led to a role in Pitaah, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. He also worked as an assistant director for Manjrekar in films like Viruddh and Deh.

Singh's breakthrough role in Mukkabaaz earned him the Critics' Choice Film Award for Best Actor. He received a nomination for Best Actor (Critics) at the 64th Filmfare Awards.