Vijay Varma, known for his portrayal of villains, recently shared how these negative roles have impacted his real-life interactions, particularly with women. During the launch of SCREEN in Mumbai, he recounted an experience where singer Sunidhi Chauhan expressed fear after watching him in the film Pink.
Varma noted, “Lots of pretty girls and their mothers have told me they are scared of me, and it did bother me. The introduction of extremely diabolical men that I played started with Pink.” His characters, often involved in serious crimes against women, have left a lasting impression, leading to women feeling uneasy around him in real life.
He recalled a poignant moment from an all-female screening of Pink, where even Sunidhi Chauhan was in tears. “I tried to console Sunidhi Chauhan, but she told me, ‘Don’t come near me. I’m very scared of you.’ I was like, ‘Oh my god, what just happened?’” Despite being surprised by her reaction, he received praise from the film’s director for his performance.
To shift public perception, Varma is now focusing on more positive and diverse roles, including that of Captain Devi Sharan in the upcoming film IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. He will also appear in Ul Jalool Ishq alongside Naseeruddin Shah and is currently filming Matka King with Kritika Kamra.