Kamal Ghorui
Dhurandhar actor Vivek Sinha recently spoke about the overwhelming response to his performance, his unconventional journey, and the life lessons that shaped him. From going viral for his intense role to receiving love—even from across the border—the actor didn’t hold back.
‘I even got love from Pakistan ’
Talking about the reactions pouring in on social media, Vivek shared how audiences are both furious at his character and impressed by his performance.“Instagram has almost 2,000 comments. I’m actually enjoying it… everyone is saying that watching me makes them so angry they feel like jumping into the screen and hitting me. But at the same time, they’re saying my acting is very good… that I made it feel very real,” he told Zee News.He added that while many comments praise his work, some can get extreme. “Some people are even writing that they’ll come to Pakistan and hit me… so I had to clarify, ‘Brother, I’m not Pakistani—I’m Indian. I’m from Bijnor, from Dhampur.’”Interestingly, Vivek revealed that he has also been receiving appreciation from Pakistan.“I’ve received a lot of messages from Pakistan saying, ‘Sir, I love you from Pakistan.’ I told them, wait… we’ll talk later,” he said with a laugh, adding that audiences everywhere are connecting with his performance.
A tough childhood and a single mother’s strength
Opening up about his personal life, Vivek spoke emotionally about losing his father at a young age.“My luck was such… I was just six years old when my father passed away. My mother raised me as a single parent… and I never felt a lack of anything in life,” he said.He credited his confidence and positivity to his mother’s upbringing. “The confidence and happiness I have in life today… it’s all because of her.”
From Bijnor to theatre to films
Vivek’s journey into acting wasn’t planned. Coming from a small town in Bijnor, he followed a conventional path before discovering theatre.“My life was completely normal… I studied, got a job… then someone suggested I try acting. I didn’t even know what theatre was,” he recalled.His first experience in theatre was far from glamorous. “I got a role called ‘the fourth villager.’ I had just one line in the entire script—‘Sir, the wells have dried up.’ I got bored in three days,” he laughed.But things changed when he landed a better role and began performing on stage. “The first time I performed on stage, people appreciated me… that’s where my journey really began.”
The big break and Dhurandhar moment
After years in theatre and smaller roles—including a brief appearance in PK—Vivek says Dhurandhar changed everything.“My life changed completely… it went far beyond what I had ever expected,” he said.He also shared how even a short appearance in the trailer made a huge impact. “Those 14 seconds of footage made me feel like a star… people’s blood was boiling after watching it,” he added.Talking about performing the hijacking scene, Vivek said, “My character is based on a real-life hijacker—provoking, confident, and dangerous. We studied references deeply. The idea was to show how terrifying the situation was. When people didn’t respond to “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” it showed fear—that’s what we wanted to portray.”Sharing his experience of working with the Dhurandhar team, he added, “Incredible. No ego at all. Everyone—from the director to actors like R Madhavan—was extremely supportive. Madhavan even suggested I perform with “snake-like eyes” for one scene. That became the final take.”
‘I never stressed about work’
Despite the ups and downs, Vivek maintains he never chased work desperately.“I never stressed about getting work. I only chose what felt right. Even if there was a six-month gap, I never felt anxious,” he said.“I never felt even 1% depressed. I stayed positive… and maybe this is the result of that.”
On controversy and cinema reflecting reality
Addressing debates around films like PK and Dhurandhar, Vivek said cinema often mirrors society.“Films are a reflection of society. We show what is happening around us. Some people get hurt, but many people connect with it deeply,” he explained.
