Vikrant Massey and director Aditya Nimbalkar on Monday, September 2 showed two intriguing scenes from their upcoming film, Sector 36 to select members of the media. This was followed by a discussion on the film’s content and a lot more.
Sector 36 trailer preview: “On my deathbed, if I realize that I was able to make a positive impact on even 4 people through my work, I’ll die peacefully” – Vikrant Massey
Vikrant plays a killer in this Netflix release. When asked why Aditya Nimbalkar chose an actor with a soft face to play this role, the director smiled and replied, “That is the reason – he has a soft face! That is the idea of the film. Murderers don’t look like one. They walk amongst us. We have even given him (Vikrant) a moustache so that he looks like an average Indian male.”
He was also asked if the film was based on any real incident. The director clarified, “It is inspired by multiple events.”
Vikrant Massey explained, “It pains me when I say that Sector 36 is inspired by multiple events. It won’t be right to say that we have based our film on a single incident.”
Talking about his prep, Vikrant revealed, “I had one reference. There’s a book which speaks of real-life serial killers. I get easily influenced by audio-visual medium. I even get bored by it! Hence, I prefer references on paper or case studies. But no matter how much you research, you feel you have fallen short because no matter how unfit they are, they are still a part of the society.”
He added, “We have also spoken about mental health. And let me make it very clear that at no point, do we want to glorify the mindset or childhood traumas (of the killer). It is an attempt to understand why this happens and how society is indirectly responsible for it.”
Effects of playing a killer
Essaying such a role took a toll on Vikrant. He stated, “While shooting, there were times when I was disturbed. I haven’t slept for some nights. I have reported for a 7:00 am shoot without sleeping a wink the whole night. At times, I took sleeping pills.”
Playing such a dark character is not something many lead actors would prefer, especially after delivering a hit like 12th Fail (2023). Vikrant Massey confessed, “I have been told by many people not to take up this film. They told me, ‘Now you are a commercial actor’! And I replied, ‘This is all the more reason for me to do it because if I can reach out to the people today, this is the story I’d like to tell them’.
He continued, “During Covid, I know so many people who stopped newspaper subscriptions. They reasoned, ‘Duniya mein bahut negativity hai. Hum subah uthkar buri khabarein nahin dekhna chahte’. But for how long would you brush things under the carpet? Someday, you’ll have to lift the carpet to get rid of the odour.”
He further said, “I have not done such a role before. This is Adi’s (Aditya Nimbalkar) first film. I’d be proud that when people look at his filmography after many years, they’ll see that his debut venture was with me!”
He exulted, “Today, I am aware that if I say something, then 2 out of 10 people would listen to me and take me seriously. I want to utilize this opportunity. I want to be the voice of the voiceless and want to represent the common man. And this is that film. When I’m on my deathbed, if I realize that I was able to make a positive impact on even 4 people through my work, I’ll die peacefully.”
A global audience for dark films and shows
Vikrant Massey also made it clear that such dark films have an audience and that’s also one of the reasons why Sector 36 was made, “Globally, there’s a trend of watching dark content. This is happening for the last 10-15 years. But today, we have the data. We are also in the business of filmmaking. If we satisfy our conscience and do business as well, usme koi buri baat nahin hai.”
When a journalist remarked that crime TV shows have a dedicated audience, he said, “All of us collectively enjoy voyeuristic pleasure. Why are reality shows doing so well? If you get a chance to peep inside someone’s house, you won’t let go of the opportunity. Jab do log sadak pe ladte hai, aap kyun rukte hai? This quality was prevalent in humans even 500 years ago. And that’s why ‘CID’ and ‘Saavdhaan India’ (work so well).”
The topic again veered towards 12th Fail and whether the industry looks differently at him now. He humbly said, “There has been a change. But that’s how the world works. Without being cynical, there were people who had not seen any of my work until 12th Fail. Now, they want to work with me and talk to me. It feels good. I have just begun. Mera career abhi shuru hi hua hai!”
Sector 36 releases on Netflix on September 13.
Also Read: Vikrant Massey talks about how fatherhood has changed him: “Sector 36 now has a different impact because of my son Vardaan; my wife asked me, ‘Do you think there are certain things that you’ll not do now?’”
More Pages: Sector 36 Box Office Collection
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