Vijay Varma reveals why he rejected multiple serial killer roles post-Dahaad
After his acclaimed turn in Dahaad, Vijay Varma chose to avoid serial killer roles to prevent repetition and explore diverse characters. Speaking to us, he shared he wanted to break free from dark characters.
Actor Vijay Varma earned widespread recognition for his chilling turn as an antagonist in the Prime Video series Dahaad. The critically acclaimed role continues to define a key phase in his career, but the actor has now revealed why he chose to steer clear of similar serial killer characters after the show.
Varma, who will next be seen in Matka King, recently spoke about his approach to selecting roles, explaining how he consciously draws the line with darker parts while also reflecting on why flawed characters continue to strike a chord with audiences.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Varma revealed that he consciously moved away from playing serial killers after his performance in Dahaad. “I got a bunch of serial killer roles after Dahaad, which I turned down because I had done one, and I just felt like I was good. So, I didn’t want to repeat," he said.
The actor emphasised that his decision stemmed from a desire to avoid repetition and explore a wider range of roles, even if it meant stepping away from characters that had previously earned him acclaim.
The 40-year-old actor added, "Also, I feel like I wanted to take a break from very dark characters. Hence, then I did Jaane Jaan, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, and other projects. But yeah, I didn’t even engage with it enough to know if it was too dark to turn it down. I just heard ‘serial killer’ and said I don’t want to do it. I’ve already done it.”
When asked whether audiences today have become more forgiving towards flawed characters, Varma dismissed the notion, asserting that such complexity has always been central to storytelling.
He said, “Not today, it’s always been the case. If you look at Devdas, it’s a deeply flawed character. Look at Deewar, it’s a deeply flawed antagonist, not really a protagonist. Literature is filled with people who are flawed. The whole idea of drama comes from human flaws; otherwise, where is the drama? It’s always been the draw, from William Shakespeare to the Mahabharata. It’s the flaws in human beings that we connect with, it’s the light that enters through that crack.”
Varma's next, Matka King, is set to premiere on Prime Video on April 17. The actor was last seen in Gustaakh Ishq. Directed by Vibhu Puri, the film features Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh exploring an unhurried love.