Bollywood is all about drama and larger-than-life portrayals, but every once in a while, we need something that’s subtle but still leaves us in awe. And Vikrant Massey has been that something. Always. He didn’t need over-the-top action sequences, glittering item numbers, or extravagant marketing campaigns to grab our attention. He simply showed up on screen and made us feel something real. And now, as Vikrant Massey announces his retirement from Bollywood, we can’t help but feel like we’re losing a little piece of cinema’s heart.

Massey is not the kind of hero we usually imagine, he is neither flashy nor has six-pack abs and yet we love him. Why? Because he makes us feel like he is one of us. He makes us feel seen, heard and recognised. He is the guy who could walk into a room and feel like someone you already know – a college friend, a neighbour or maybe even a quieter version of yourself. Massey brings a sense of familiarity to every role, whether it was the supportive Amol in Chhapaak or the sensitive Shutu in A Death in the Gunj. Maybe these kinds of characters don’t bring ₹100 crore revenues but they definitely stick with us long after the credits roll. Vikrant Massey made us believe his characters weren’t just people in movies; they were us.

In a film industry that is often accused of glamourising every ordinary thing, Massey was refreshingly real, telling us it’s okay to be ordinary.

Why does Massey’s goodbye feel like losing a friend?

We’ll miss him not just because he never chased mass appeal and chose meaningful stories but also for keeping it real. For never losing his essence. For always staying the-guy-next-door. For always making us see ourselves in him. There’s always a boundary between the hero and the audience, and Massey erased it. Watching him always felt like cheering for a friend making it big in life. Even though he is at the peak of his career, it still feels like he is one of us, maybe because we saw him climbing those steps or simply because he chose to leave a part of himself with us. Whatever it is, Vikrant Massey, you’re a real gem, the kind we will always cherish.

Vikrant Massey, your retirement from Bollywood feels bittersweet. We understand it, respect it, but wow, it stings a little. You’ve given us so much through your work, and selfishly, we want more. More of your quiet brilliance. More of your understated magic. More characters who feel like they’re sitting on the couch next to us, sharing chai and conversations. Your absence leaves a void that will be hard to fill. It’s not just about the characters you played; it’s about the promise you held as an actor to make even the mundane feel magical.

But hey, we get it. Sometimes you need to step back, breathe, and find joy elsewhere. And knowing you, you’ll probably shine just as brightly wherever you go next.

Not a goodbye, just a ‘see you later’

So, here’s to you, Vikrant Massey. Thank you for being the actor who made us feel seen. Thank you for choosing roles that mattered, for showing us that subtlety can be just as powerful as grandeur. You might be stepping away from Bollywood, but you’ll always have a place in our hearts (and our streaming watchlists). This isn’t goodbye, it’s just a “see you later.” And when you come back (we’re holding onto hope), we’ll be right here, ready to cheer you on all over again.

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