Vijay Varma is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Hindi films and series. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, before finding recognition with the notable crime drama Pink (2016). This was followed by supporting roles in Middle Class Abbayi (2017), Gully Boy (2019) and Baaghi 3 (2020). He has since garnered critical acclaim for featuring in several streaming projects like Mirzapur (2020–present), Darlings (2022), Dahaad (2023), Kaalkoot (2023) and Jaane Jaan (2023).

Vijay Varma
Varma in 2023
Born (1986-03-29) 29 March 1986 (age 38)
Alma materFilm and Television Institute of India
OccupationActor
Years active2008–present

Early life and education edit

Varma was born on 29 March 1986 in a Marwari Hindu family settled in Hyderabad, Telangana.[1] He studied at the FTII.[2]

Career edit

Varma started his acting journey as a theatre artist in his hometown Hyderabad. He worked in numerous plays before he decided to move to Pune for two years to get a formal education in acting at FTII. After finishing his postgraduate course, he shifted his base to Mumbai in search of acting work. His first acting job was in Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK's short film titled Shor which was highly acclaimed at festivals and won the Best Short Film at the MIAAC festival, in New York that year. He also worked in the critically acclaimed movie Pink.[3]

Media image and artistry edit

"The only criteria is the script, the role and then the director. I added one more after working for a few years and that was ‘I can’t repeat myself’. I’m trying to kind of mix it up. I’m just very happy that I have a medium, an audience. As long as I have an audience, I want to keep doing good work."

— Varma explaining his approach to film acting[4]

Varma is known for his critically acclaimed roles and for portraying the bad guy on screen.[5] Jitesh Pillai of Filmfare noted, "Vijay is a method actor who somehow fits seamlessly into commercial films." He further praised his "self-deprecating humour".[6] Tatsam Mukherjee of Film Companion stated, "There's something compelling about the way he brings out the dark, repulsive shades of the roles he plays."[7] Prateek Sur of Outlook India praises that actor for his "versatility" and "impactful performances".[8] Praising his "flawless" acting, Akshat Sundrani of India TV News added, "Varma's passion for his craft and outstanding ability to express emotions solidify him as one of the most accomplished performers in the film industry."[9] Bangalore Mirror termed him one of Bollywood’s "most enigmatic and skilled actors".[10] His performance in Gully Boy is regarded as one of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion.[11]

Filmography edit

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Films edit

  • All films are in Hindi unless otherwise noted.
YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2008ShorRameshShort film
2012ChittagongJhunku (Subodh Roy)
2013RangrezzPakkya
2014Gang of GhostsRobin Hoodda
2016PinkAnkit Malhotra
2017Monsoon ShootoutAditya "Adi"
Raag DeshJamal Kidwai
MCASiva ShaktiTelugu film
2018MantoAnsaar Shabnam Dil
2019Gully BoyMoeen Arif
Super 30Fugga KumarSpecial appearance
2020Ghost StoriesGudduZoya Akhtar's segment
Baaghi 3Akhtar Lahori
BamfaadJigar Fareedi
YaaraRizwan Sheikh
2022HurdangLoha Singh
DarlingsHamza Shaikh
2023Lust Stories 2Vijay ChauhanSegment: "Sex With Ex "
Jaane JaanInspector Karan Anand
2024Murder MubarakAakash Dogra[12][13]
Suriya43TBATamil film[14]
Ul Jalool IshqTBAFilming[15]

Television edit

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2018Cheers-Friends, Reunion, GoaCiggy
2020A Suitable BoyRasheed[16]
SheSasya
2020–presentMirzapurBharat Tyagi / Shatrughan TyagiSeason 2
2021OK Computer Saajan Kund
2023DahaadAnand Swarnakar[17]
KaalkootSI Ravi Shankar Tripathi[18]

Awards and nominations edit

List of award nominations and awards won by Vijay Varma
YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef.
201926th Screen AwardsBest Supporting ActorGully BoyNominated
202065th Filmfare AwardsBest Supporting ActorNominated[19]
2023Bollywood Hungama Style IconsMost Stylish Emerging IconWon[20]
Most Stylish Breakthrough Talent (Male)Nominated
Filmfare OTT AwardsBest Actor in a Series (Critics) DramaDahaadWon[21]
Best Actor in a Drama seriesNominated
Best Actor (Web Original Film)DarlingsNominated

References edit

  1. ^ "After Gully Boy, Vijay Varma talks about spending a decade in the background". The Indian Express. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Vijay Varma -Actor Biography". Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Pink is a social thriller: Amitabh Bachchan". 11 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Vijay Varma says he 'won't repeat' himself, reveals criterion for choosing projects". Indian Express. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  5. ^ "GQ Hype: The Rise of Vijay Varma". GQ India. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  6. ^ "I am very easy to be with. I like and enjoy doing simple things: Vijay Varma". Filmfare. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ "The Rough Magnetism of Vijay Varma". Film Companion. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  8. ^ "5 towering performances of Vijay Varma that prove his range as an actor". Outlook India. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Reign of Vijay Varma: Bollywood's 'Darling' who continues to captivate audiences with his acting". India TV News. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  10. ^ "It Gets Intense - Vijay Varma". Bangalore Mirror. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  11. ^ "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Vijay Varma wraps up the dubbing for 'Murder Mubarak' with a punch of 'mad energy'". The Times of India. 15 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Murder Mubarak: Vijay Varma, Sara Ali Khan & Karishma Kapoor starrer 'Murder Mubarak' directly to release on Netflix skipping theatrical release". BruTimes.
  14. ^ "Suriya, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma to unite for Sudha Kongara's next Suriya43". Hindustan Times. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh starrer Ul Jalool Ishq to go on floors in Amritsar: Report". Bollywood Hungama. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  16. ^ "BBC - Cast announced for BBC One's A Suitable Boy, the first screen adaptation of Vikram Seth's classic novel - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Dahaad teaser: Cop Sonakshi Sinha pursues a serial killer who has murdered 27 women. Watch". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Kaalkoot Teaser: Vijay Varma plays police officer set to catch acid attackers; Tamannaah Bhatia REACTS". Pinkvilla. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Nominations for 65th Amazon Filmfair Awards 2020". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Check out the complete list of winners of the Bollywood Hungama Style Icon Awards". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Winners Of The Filmfare OTT Awards 2023: Full List Out". filmfare.com. Retrieved 27 November 2023.

External links edit