ACTOR Vikrant Massey has shared his views on the forever debate around shorter work weeks and work life balance especially in the entertainment industry. Talking about the decade, the actor stated that a four-day work week may work in other countries, but is not yet possible in India as the nation still has a long way to go in its growth journey. Drawing a comparison with countries in Northern Europe, where four-day work weeks have gained traction, the actor said India is not yet in a position to adopt a similar model. "If you talk about life or working like some countries, especially in Northern Europe, where four-day work weeks are followed, I don't think we can do that here. We are still a developing economy. We are a very young democracy. We have to achieve a lot as a country, not just for ourselves, but for the next generation as well," Vikrant said. He further stressed that sustained hard work would be essential if India wants to realise its full potential over the coming decades. "I believe that if we really want to see India grow and realise its true potential, then as a young country, for at least the next 30, 40 or even 50 years, we have to work really hard," he added. Talking about the working hours in the entertainment industry,Vikrant said, "If I talk specifically about the industry, it is such a cost-heavy industry. It costs a lot of money. Even if we have a 12-hour shift, we don't actually shoot for 12 hours. We probably shoot for only four or five hours.

 

Sometimes we have to shoot for 16-17 hours because there are budgets and practical realities," he said. Vikrant Massey also opened up about his approach to acting and revealed how his personal experiences of love, heartbreak, and life’s emotions help him bring authenticity to his performances. Speaking to IANS, the 12th Fail actor said that, like everyone else, he too has experienced various emotions and phases in life. Vikrant shared that an actor cannot completely separate their real self while stepping into a character. Since he is not a formally trained actor, he often relies on his own memories and personal experiences to add depth to his roles. He stated, “I've had a lot of experiences. Like everyone else, I've had a normal life. I have had my fair share of butterflies in my stomach. I had my fair share of falling in love and heartbreaks. Obviously, as an actor, you cannot entirely disassociate yourself from your real self when you're playing any part.” Vikrant added, “And because I'm not a trained actor, I derive a lot of things from my real life and my personal life in my roles. Some things are memorable. You don't even have to try to remember them. I had my fair share of experiences. When you read a book, watch a film, or read a script, or when you're an actor, you're naturally drawn to those experiences in life, which you try remembering to enhance your performance. It's a very normal thing.” On the work front, Vikrant is upbeat about release of his Netflix's romantic drama series Musafir Cafe. The show explores themes of love, heartbreak and self-discovery, with the actor playing Chander.