16-hour shifts, severe burnout: Vikrant Massey on temporary hiatus from work

Vikrant Massey has clarified that his 2024 announcement was not a retirement but a much-needed break caused by severe burnout and personal regrets about missing time with his family.

Actor Vikrant Massey has finally addressed the confusion surrounding his December 2024 announcement about stepping away from films. The post had sparked rumours of an early retirement, especially after the massive success of 12th Fail. However, in an recent interview, the actor clarified that he had only intended to take a break, driven by emotional exhaustion and personal realisations.

Addressing the viral social media post that led to the misunderstanding, Vikrant admitted that the limited format of the platform contributed to the confusion. In a conversation with Times Now, the actor said, “X pe jitney bhi limited shabd aapko milte hain, usme mene sari imformation bharne ki koshish ki and now we know ki sari information pahochi nahi. (On X, you only get a limited number of words, and I tried to fit all the information into that. But now we know that the complete information didn’t reach people.) A lot of it was misconstrued. I just wanted to take a break. I was facing a severe burnout at that time."

Massey also spoke about the emotional demands of acting, noting that the industry often overlooks the mental effort required to portray intense characters. His reactions came amid the film industry debate on long working hours after Deepika Padukone's exit from Sandeep Vanga Reddy's Spirit. Along with working 16-hour shifts, he faced the psychological strain of playing layered roles in four films within a year, including 12th Fail and The Sabarmati Report. Realising his performances were beginning to feel repetitive, the actor decided to “go back to the drawing board” to grow further in his craft.

The actor turned candid while reflecting on fatherhood. His son, Vardaan, was born during a particularly hectic phase, and Vikrant admitted to feeling ashamed about missing important milestones. He remembered watching his child’s first words and first steps through videos sent by his wife, Sheetal Thakur.

“What’s the point of success if you can’t enjoy the moments you’re working for?" he questioned, recalling the pain of missing the moment his son said “Papa" for the first time. The experience became a wake-up call, reminding him that while professional achievements are temporary, the early years of his child’s life are irreplaceable. During his seven-month hiatus, he chose to focus on being a husband and father, believing that work could wait but family could not.

Despite the pause, Vikrant’s professional slate remains busy. He will next be seen in Vishal Bhardwaj’s romantic thriller O’Romeo, set to release on February 13, 2026. He is also stepping into production with the Netflix series Musafir Cafe, a project he describes as a “new phase" in his journey.