The performance of Vikrant Massey in 12th Fail has continued to resonate well beyond cinemas, even after earning him the National Award for Best Actor at the 71st National Film Awards. The actor, who portrayed UPSC aspirant Manoj Kumar Sharma in the Vidhu Vinod Chopra-directed film, recently shared an experience that highlighted the film’s real-world impact.

Vikrant Massey shares LBSNAA experience after National Award win for 12th Fail

During a visit to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Massey addressed over 300 officer trainees as part of an interaction that also included former officers, chief justices and civil servants. Recalling the experience, Massey described it as a significant moment in his journey.

“I spoke about my life. We spoke of 12th Fail, and I love sharing my life with people because this is such a privilege for me to be interacting with those students there, it is actually a dream run,” he said. The interaction took an unexpected emotional turn when several trainees approached him after the session. “And when I was walking back, there were more than 30 to 40 officer trainees who came up to me and told me – ‘we are here because of 12th Fail.’ Can you believe this? That’s the impact of storytelling,” Massey revealed.

12th Fail, based on the life of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, chronicles the struggles of a young man from a modest background navigating repeated failures while preparing for the UPSC examinations. The film’s grounded storytelling and focus on perseverance struck a chord with audiences, particularly students and aspirants preparing for competitive exams.

Massey’s portrayal was widely noted for its restraint and authenticity, contributing to the film’s strong word-of-mouth reception and its sustained relevance even months after release. The National Award recognition further underlined the impact of the performance and the film’s subject matter.

On the professional front, Vikrant Massey is set to appear next in White, an upcoming international biographical thriller. In the film, he will portray globally recognised spiritual leader and peace ambassador Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, marking a significant shift in genre and scale for the actor.

As 12th Fail continues to find new audiences and inspire conversations around resilience and education, Massey’s recent interaction at LBSNAA reflects how cinema rooted in real-life experiences can extend its influence far beyond the screen.

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