Abhay Verma shifted to Mumbai in 2018 to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Starting off as a junior artiste in Super 30, today he has finally arrived. There is no denying the fact that if there is one actor who can be called the breakthrough star of 2024, it is this 27-year-old. He played the lead in Maddock Films’ horror comedy Munjya, which opened to a box office collection of approximately Rs 4 crore on its first day and eventually became the first mid-budget Bollywood movie of 2024 to reach the Rs 100 crore net mark. Although Abhay had made a rather gutsy film debut in 2023 as a transgender in Safed and made quite an impression with his portrayal of Kalyan, a grey character, in the Manoj Bajpayee-led 2021 webseries, The Family Man 2, Munjya’s success has made him a star overnight, quite literally. “Every day, I would put some malai face pack that my mom makes and go downstairs to get vegetables. The morning after Munjya hit the theatres, I did the same. Only this time, two girls passing by actually stopped and did a double-take. Then a guy stopped me and asked for a selfie—jab aap selfie dene lag jate ho toh samajh lo aap famous ho chuke ho!” quips Abhay as we sit down for a tete-a-tete. The actor, known for his signature mop of curly hair, has had a trim recently and is looking even younger, if a bit less Abhay Vermaish.

According to him, he was not a ‘filmy bachcha’ spouting Bollywood dialogues, standing in front of the mirror while growing up, “I was a very naughty guy throughout, now I have toned down a bit as the world needs more sophistication from me than I would want. But yeah, I was that kid who would be pushed to dance or perform at family gatherings. My sister once dressed me in a frock! I was a nautanki, perfect timepass material,” grins Abhay.

However, his relationship with cinema started at a rather young age and it was much more than just a simple fascination for fiction. “I was going through a very rough patch—I was 14 years old and had lost my father. I was grappling with the situation, and it was also impacting my studies. I wasn’t keeping well either. One day I decided to go for a movie in an attempt to cheer myself up a bit. It was the first time I was watching a movie alone, and the movie was Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. What was unfolding on the screen absolutely fascinated me. It is a great take on Romeo and Juliet. It really moved me. I got sucked into that world right from the first scene and was completely immersed in that world till the last frame, I was feeling every emotion intensely. After the movie got over, as the crowd started leaving, I still couldn’t snap out of it.”

That day he truly felt the magic of cinema—he realised how cinema can create emotions in you and transport you to a different world. And it impacted the way he viewed the world both off and on screen. “A seed germinated that day. I started viewing movies from a different lens. In fact, I started viewing real life through a different lens as well, where everything started to seem like scenes unfolding and I was recording those with my camera—I would laugh while my mother was scolding me which would make her scold me more. It was a complicated relationship, to put it mildly,” guffaws the actor.

Indeed. In fact, movies unknowingly might have become a part of his defence mechanism. “When facing a complex situation, I often find myself wondering how a character like Maqbool from Maqbool, or Ved from Tamasha, or Ram from Ram-Leela would react to it and start reacting like that… which mostly lands me in more trouble because that’s not me (chuckles) aur mein aur peetta hun mummy se! But yes, movies have had a deep influence. Maybe it is my defence mechanism,” admits Abhay. Not many are aware that he is not the first member of his family to join this industry. His brother, Abhishek Verma is a household name—he played the Aditya ‘Adi’ Bhalla in the immensely popular TV show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein.

“The only advantage I got from that was that I had a house to live in when I arrived in Mumbai—which was actually a huge deal, a true luxury…when my brother had relocated to the city to become an actor, he didn’t have a roof over his head for the first few days, he slept on a park bench for four nights,” he says, adding that his brother has always refrained from recommending him or getting him auditions: “He wanted my journey to be mine, and not influenced by his.” And it seems that the gameplan has actually worked out—today Abhay’s journey is one that can influence others.

Q&A with Abhay Verma:

Q. How did you land Munjya?

Abhay Verma: Through a beautiful process called auditioning!Most people these days don’t realise the power of an introduction, meeting or an audition, but I enjoy those. I consider auditions as the gateway—you need to pass through it and find the right boat to navigate what lies beyond.

Q. One thing that has changed in your life after the success of Munjya?

AV: Paparazzi is a new addition to my life. It feels great when they call out my name at events, but it has also made me conscious—now before going out, I check my outfit properly (chuckles). There was an instance where one leg of my trouser had gone inside my sock and boot, and it was caught by the paps and it became a ‘fashion faux pas’. When you dream, it is all very exciting, but when it starts to come true, it becomes scary—you are never really prepared for success.

Q. What were your thoughts on Bollywood while growing up?

AV: I was a huge fan of Govinda and would find it very confusing when he would die in a movie and then again appear in another movie, alive, after that. That would leave me flabbergasted. I also used to think that there must be some wire inside Hrithik sir (Hrithik Roshan) that makes him so flexible while dancing. Basically, I had very unreal expectations from Bollywood as a kid (guffaws)! Then there was the aspirational aspect of Yash Raj movies, but that came much later.

Q. And your favourite actors back then?

AV: I would say Shah (Shah Rukh Khan) sir and Hrithik Roshan. But also, Govinda when it comes to the craft of it—he was crazy versatile. Him and Akshay (Akshay Kumar) sir are kings of comedy.

Q. Three things that most people don’t know about you:

AV: That I was a national-level cricketer. That I hail from Panipat, Haryana. And that I am capable of becoming really angry... people just assume I am always nice and sweet!

Q. If not an actor, you would be:

AV: I have never really given any other career option a serious thought, but we have a family jewelry business. Ours is the oldest jewellery shop in Panipat, so I might have gotten into that. But to be honest, even if Munjya had not happened or it wasn’t such a success, I would still be in the profession I am currently in. If I had not gotten a break, I would have kept auditioning till I got one. Acting is something I really love.

Q. One underrated performance by an actor that has stayed with you:

AV: Abhay Deol in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and Dev D. I think he is underrated and a genius—he is completely organic and honest in front of the camera.

Q. First Bollywood movie that had a lasting impacting on you:

AV: 3 Idiots. I remember going to the theatre to watch it in Rohtak as a 10/11-year-old. In fact, after watching it I decided to become a scientist. It was later as I grew up that I realised how difficult it is to actually become one. But then as an actor, I can play the role of one someday, hopefully! (chuckles)

Q. Three dating red flags

AV: Constantly checking your phone. Not believing what the other person has to say but saying that you do. And being someone you are not.

Q. Your advice to youngsters for dating through an app?

AV: First is… you should not be on a dating app! If you are, try to be as genuine as possible and be clear about your intentions.

Q. Are you on one?

AV: I have downloaded and tried some a few times just to see how those things work. But I felt really bad swiping left or right, rejecting/accepting people just based on some pictures. I had even spoken to a few women I had matched with, but the conversations were very vague, and I lost interest, and eventually deleted the apps.

Q. And what is your take on polyamorous relationships?

AV: Yaar, Haryana mein nehi hota hai yeh sab! When I am in love with someone, when I am in a relationship, my mind, body, and soul is dedicated to that one person. Everything else becomes platonic to me. Then I am just friends with other people—it doesn’t matter if the person is a boy or a girl.

Q. And what about situationships?

AV: Yes, I am aware of this term, unlike the previous one (laughs). But not for me, I guess.

Q. So, are you currently in a relationship?

AV: No, work has taken over my entire life, I can’t afford to be in a relationship right now. Where is the time? At this point, I feel it will be a distraction for me. I think as I become more matured, I will learn how to handle my work life better and give spare time for my partner, but today is not that day!

Q. No marriage on the cards in near future then?

AV: Kya aap 26-year ke ladke se shaadi ki baat pooch rahe ho (laughs)… actually Haryana mein ho jata hai. Karta hu kuchh fir!

Q. Three relationship pet peeves:

AV: Jealousy, possessiveness and insecurity.

Q. The wildest DM you have had from a fan:

AV: One fan said that she wanted to tattoo my name on her forearm! I totally dissuaded her from doing so…what if tomorrow my movies don’t do well? Then she will be cursing me twice over—one for the movie and the other for the tattoo! (laughs)

Q. Essentials you always carry with you on shoots:

AV: My makeup kit, my iPad, my tiffin, a book, and a notebook.

Q. And what’s usually in your dabba?

AV: Indian food—roti and sabzi. My mummy makes my dabba. I love bhindi…anything with bhindi in it and I am happy; life is sorted!

Q. Mid-shoot snack:

AV: Tikki chaat, you get some good stuff in Chembur!

Q. Your three-course cheat meal

AV: Spring rolls for starters, I love junk food. Then poori-sabzi for main course. And I would like to finish it off with some rasmalai.

Q. The best and worst part of your daily workout:

AV: Waking up! I wake up at 5AM, so essentially when I wake up, it is still dark. I have to really drag myself out of the bed. But that’s also my favourite thing because it makes me feel that for a few hours, I am ahead of the world. Even if I sleep at 2 am, I am up at 5 am sharp. I have an alarm set inside my body (laughs). I start my workout at 6 am.

Q. What is the most expensive item in your wardrobe and the priceless one?

AV: My cupboard has a lot of my fan mails and images they have sent stuck on the inside of the door, so whenever I open my cupboard, those are the first things I see…and those are priceless! And the most expensive one would be
my Versace watch. I love watches.

Q. If you could hang out with one sportsperson, who would that be?
 

AV: MS Dhoni. Just the mentality he has on field and the way he keeps himself rooted off it.

Q. Your favourite song to dance to:

AV: Right now, it is "Dil Le Gaye Le Gaye" from Dil Toh Pagal Hai and also "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from Dil Se—that's an all-time favourite. These are all childhood songs that I still love dancing to!

Q. A song that you are sick of hearing on reels:

AV: Currently, it is Khalasi. I am just petrified of that song! I scroll as fast as I can whenever it pops up.

Q. One party memory you want to erase from your mind
 

AV: So, I don't drink or smoke, but at every party there would be someone coercing me to drink. It has become almost like a ritual. I get tired of telling people that I don’t need alcohol to make me interesting, I am already high on life! I just want to get rid of that part of all parties—that will save a lot of my time and I would be able to enjoy the party more. (chuckles)

Q. So, what about playing a drunk person on screen? We often hear of
actors having a few drinks before such a scene...

AV: That's exactly why I don't drink. My whole acting process is about observing and presenting what you have observed. And I can observe people better if I am not drunk. It is called acting for a reason! You need to ‘act’ like a drunk person, and not be drunk yourself!

Shoot Credits:

Editor: Shivangi Lolayekar 

Writer: Ananya Ghosh 

Photographer: Dinesh Ahuja

Senior Art Director: Hemali Limbachiya 

Creative Producer & Stylist: Suprit Parulkar 

Hair & Makeup Artist: Ananya Bajaj 

PR: Keerat Publicity