Vijay Varma Reflects on Early Career Struggles After Cannes Breakthrough

Actor Vijay Varma, known for his layered performances in projects like Darlings, Dahaad, and IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, has opened up about the difficult early years of his career despite an impressive international start.

Speaking in a recent interview, Varma recalled attending the Cannes Film Festival with his film Monsoon Shootout—a milestone many actors aspire to. However, the recognition did not immediately translate into opportunities.

“The first festival that I went to was Cannes with my film Monsoon Shootout, before anything had been released. I could not have done a bigger dhamaka (blast) than this, but after this, I was sitting idle for many years,” he said.

Despite being a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Varma struggled to find consistent work in the years that followed.

Typecasting and Limited Roles in Early Years

Following his Cannes appearance, Varma took on smaller roles in films such as Pink, Raag Desh, and Manto. However, he found himself repeatedly cast in limited parts.

“From not having any work to doing smaller roles and then being restricted to them, it was hard to break out and do anything that is not a small part or not a friend who is giving a high five to the hero,” he said.

The actor added that even when offered a significant antagonist role, he resisted being confined to a single image.

“They offered me a big villain, and they put me in that bracket very strongly. I’m like, ‘I’m bigger than this, I can do more…’”

Varma emphasized his determination to push beyond such labels, noting, “Every time somebody tries to put me in any kind of a cage or a mould, my tendency is to just break it open.”

Breakthrough Moment With ‘Gully Boy’

A turning point in Varma’s career came with Gully Boy, directed by Zoya Akhtar. His supporting role in the film, headlined by Ranveer Singh, earned him critical recognition and wider visibility.

Varma described the film as a “significant moment” that helped open doors in the industry. He also recalled how the success of Gully Boy brought newfound attention, with audiences recognizing both him and co-actor Siddhant Chaturvedi.

Since then, he has built a diverse body of work across films and streaming platforms, taking on complex and unconventional characters.

‘Matka King’: A New Chapter

Varma is now set to headline the upcoming Prime Video series Matka King, directed by Nagraj Manjule. The series premieres on April 17 and features Varma as Brij Bhatti, a cotton trader in 1960s Mumbai who reinvents the gambling ecosystem.

Describing the character, Varma said one of his key goals was to build trust with the audience early on. “I had to establish that Brij is trustworthy and honest about what he is doing.”

Manjule summed up the character’s core trait succinctly: “His only superpower is honesty.”

The show explores the evolution of matka gambling alongside broader social and economic shifts of the time. The ensemble cast includes Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Gulshan Grover, and Siddharth Jadhav, among others.

A Career Defined by Highs, Lows and Persistence

Looking back, Varma described his journey as one of extremes—ranging from attending prestigious festivals to experiencing long periods without work.

“I came here with nothing, with just a dream and undying fire in my belly,” he said, reflecting on his early days in Mumbai.

These experiences, he added, reshaped his perspective on success and failure. “It took away the power of failure, the power of pain, and the power of defeat… I don’t feel defeated even when something doesn’t work because I’ve seen enough.”