The real reason why Vikrant Massey is not doing Ajay Devgn’s biopic on Baba Ramdev

They say success often turns one’s head. And often we find an actor actress getting success and walking out a film or TV serial because they feel they are getting something better.

Vikrant Massey has walked out of Ajay Devgn and Abhinav Shukla’s biopic, titled Swami Baba Ramdev: The Untold Story, a TV series, on yoga guru Baba Ramdev Ramdev leaving the producers in a quandary. Vikrant was to play the yoga guru but post his getting critical acclaim in Konkona Sen’s A Death In The Gunj, he has decided to opt out.

Says an insider, “Vikrant was on the radar and the team was keen to take him on board and he had even started prepping for his role by growing his beard and hair. It was a sudden decision to opt out and happened after the release of A Death In The Gunj. Not only has the film, but also Vikrant’s performance in it also, has been appreciated by all. The actor now doesn’t want to get bogged down by his role in the Baba Ramdev series as he’s been getting many film offers and his well-wishers advised him against taking up a TV series at this stage in his career. But Abhinav and the production team are upset as Vikrant forgot to inform them first when he decided to opt out. Abhinav and Ajay’s team were unaware about Vikrant’s decision to opt out, as he had not informed them officially and they had to read about it in the media. Now they are scouting for an actor and should be able to find someone suitable soon.”

However the source is clear that Vikrant’s opting out has not delayed the project. “There is no delay. We are exactly on our time line. Any which ways, the main Baba Ramdev (which Vikrant was to do) doesn’t come into the picture till after the first 20 episodes so there is time to cast someone. They are showing Baba Ramdev’s childhood first. We were supposed to start last week but because of some creative changes in some episodes, the show will go on floor end of the month or early first week of July. It is not a docu-drama but a complete biopic where it is dramatised and yet inspired by tyhe yoga guru’s real-life stories. The script is being written by in-house team Pranjal, Abhishek and Nishikant and they are also co-producing the show.”

Abhinav and Vikrant have not spoken to each other but the actor has been calling and requesting a meeting since Monday. “He wants to come and meet but Abhinav doesn’t know why – all he wants to know from Vikrant is whether he wants to do the show or not. If he’s not interested at all then we will move on with someone else. But now the team is definitely looking for an alternative now as they can’t bank on him.”

Abhinav Shukla says, “I cannot comment on this right now.”

Vikrant Massey says, “Nobody is in a fix. It’s unfair to say that I have done that. I opted out of the show about five days ago but it’s probably coming out now. I have worked with these guys in television eight years ago and I know them since then. Everything has been professionally, mutually, cordially and amicably resolved. Yes, I was on board but I opted out it last week and informed them about it. We had a telephonic conversation. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t work on this together but aaj nahi toh kal hum kaam karenge saath mein.”

Was there any reason that he opted out? “I don’t want to mention the reason why I walked out of the show.”