He is usually the twist (and the ‘twisted’) in the tale. With his understated yet unnervingly realistic portrayal of psychotic characters like Anand Swarnakar in Dahaad, Hamza Shaikh in Darlings, Vijay Chauhan in Sex With Ex (Sujoy Ghosh’s segment in Lust Stories 2) the Tyagi twins in Mirzapur, and of course Sasya in She, he has created quite a niche for himself as an actor exploring different shades of ‘deranged’. But when he turns to be the ‘nice guy’, especially in a murder mystery, his recent dalliances with the dark as an actor ensures he remains the twist in the tale.
As I watched Murder Mubarak, having not read Anuja Chauhan’s 2021 crime caper Club You To Death, upon which the movie is based, I was half convinced from the get-go that his Akash ‘Kashi’ Dogra, a young lawyer, has evil intentions and I was waiting for the skeletons in his closet to eventually reveal themselves. But it was a carefully cultivated bluff devised by the maker to misdirect the audience of the murder mystery, and casting Vijay Varma as Kashi was a masterstroke—it serves as the perfect red herring in the taut thriller. This was the case even with his previous release, also a thriller, the Kareena Kapoor Khanstarrer, Jaane Jaan where he played an astute police inspector Karan Anand. But before that was his pitch-perfect act as a laidback cop who comes of age during the police procedural in the JioCinema series Kaalkoot. In fact, he stunned the audience with his range as an actor when he played two polar opposite characters — Dahaad’s charming but twisted antagonist Anand Swarnakar, and Kaalkoot’s honest cop Ravi Shankar Tripathi — with equal conviction and brilliance. The two shows dropped almost back-to-back on OTT last year.
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Man's World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Man's World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Rekha At 70 The Enduring Mystique
More than a generation after she was last seen on screen, the mystique that she successfully wrapped herself in continues to serve her well in the public imagination. Her fleeting public appearances in dazzling silk sarees and makeup continue to beguile the camera in the same manner it did at the peak of her career
iPhone Fatigue
Do we really need an annual Apple flagship release?
Men's Guide To Combat Premature Hair Loss
Male pattern baldness hit men at an early age, at times in late 30s and early 40s. We asked the experts the reason behind it, treatments that can help, and factors to take care of
SMRITI MANDHANA MAKES CRICKET LOOK EASY
In conversation with Man's World for Hyundai Drive Within campaign, the stylish Indian batter talks about her craft, evolution, and her thoughts on women's cricket
Pritam Hitting The High Note
A National Award for Brahmastra: Part One Shiva this year and songs that continue to clock millions of streams, Pritam Chakraborty proves why he's one of the most acclaimed Hindi Film music directors of our time
JEMIMAH RODRIGUES IS HAVING THE TIME OF HER LIFE
In conversation with Man's World as a part of Hyundai Drive Within campaign, Jemimah Rodrigues take us through the drive within her that inspires her to be the best in her business.
SHAFALI VERMA IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
In conversation with Man's World India as a part of the Hyundai Drive Within campaign, Shafali Verma opens up about her historic double century, her fearless brand of cricket, and more
Hands Onl Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver's Watch SPB455 100th Anniversary Edition
Seiko's 100th anniversary of the first watch to bear its name brought an exciting addition to its famed Prospex collection; a timepiece that pays homage to the brand's iconic history while embracing modern ideas of versatile wearability
WATCHES ON THE WILD SIDE ATYPICAL CASE DESIGNS
Horology isn't just about precision. It's also about understanding the rules of perception-and sometimes, taking a sledgehammer to them
Denim The Timeless Trendsetter
Crystal Henricksen, Head of Denim Design at GAP, shares with us what makes the fabric simple, versatile, and timeless