Vikrant Massey recently opened up about his decision to take a break from acting, revealing the emotional reasons behind his choice. In December 2024, Massey announced on Instagram that he would be stepping away from films to prioritize his personal life. In a recent interview, the actor shared that his demanding work schedule had kept him away from his family for extended periods, leading him to miss significant milestones in his son Vardaan's life.
Massey, who became a father in February 2024, expressed his heartbreak at not being present for his son's firsts. "The last few years have been phenomenal, but I've been away from my family, shooting non-stop," Massey shared. He revealed that he missed his son's first tooth and the first time he said "Papa". "His memories of me are from videos. His first tooth came in, but I wasn't there. He said 'Papa' for the first time in my absence," he said. Massey added that his first memory of his son saying "Papa" was through a video, which he saved in a folder, highlighting the emotional toll of his absence.
The actor clarified that his decision was not a retirement announcement but a necessary pause to address burnout, spend time with family, and reassess his journey as an artist. "Acting is all I can do. And it has given me everything I have. My physical and mental health have taken a hit. I just want to take some time off to better my craft. I feel a sense of monotony at the moment," Massey explained. He emphasized the importance of self-improvement and spending quality time with his family.
Massey also acknowledged the impact of social media pressure on his decision to share the news publicly. He admitted to being naturally introverted and would prefer to use social media selectively. However, he felt it was important to communicate his decision to his audience.
During his break, Massey focused on spending time with his son and wife, Sheetal Thakur. He also used the time to revisit his previous performances and identify areas for improvement. "I've seen all my films multiple times and have made notes on things that don't work anymore... The idea was to better myself as an actor," Massey said.
Massey expressed his gratitude to his wife, Sheetal, for giving him the honor of becoming a father. He also shared details about their relationship, revealing that Sheetal had foreseen him as the father of her children early on. "When we met again, she told me something that actually turned out to be true. She said, 'The moment I saw you, I saw the father of my kids.' It might sound creepy, but today, we're parents to a wonderful boy. It's crazy how life turns out," Massey recalled.
Now, Massey is back to work and promoting his upcoming film, "Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan", which also marks the acting debut of Shanaya Kapoor. He feels refreshed and has more clarity about his priorities. "My break is over. I took it for six months. I've far more clarity in everything, not just in my profession but in my personal life as well," Massey said. He also stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. "I can't be shooting for 10 months a year; that's unfair to them (family). The idea is to have that work-life balance, not just read about it or hear other people talk about it, but implement it myself," he added.
