Vivaan Shah, son of Naseeruddin Shah, opens up about how his youthful appearance often limited the roles he was offered. He says ‘Ikkis’, where he plays an army officer, has been a major turning point in his career.
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For years, Vivaan Shah has heard the same quiet whisper follow him around Bollywood: ‘too young-looking, too soft, too sweet’. Being the son of legendary actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah didn’t protect him from being boxed into “boyish” roles either. But now, with mud on his boots and courage in his eyes, Vivaan is finally rewriting that story. His new film ‘Ikkis’ has arrived like a loud drumbeat. And it’s changing how people see him.
Vivaan recently opened up about how ‘Ikkis’ has become one of the most important films of his life.
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The actor admitted that his youthful appearance often stopped filmmakers from seeing him as a tough character. Army officers, police inspectors, or men of authority rarely came his way.
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This is exactly why ‘Ikkis’ mattered so much.
Playing an army officer was very unfamiliar territory for Vivaan. He had earlier played a role in Farah Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’ alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan and more. He shared that the role pushed him out of his comfort zone and demanded complete transformation both physically and mentally.
For the first time, he felt that he had broken free from being typecast.
Vivaan honestly spoke about how appearances can quietly decide an actor’s fate. He said he doesn’t naturally fit the image of a “tough guy,” which often limits the kind of roles he’s offered.
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The response to film ‘Ikkis’ has been emotional and overwhelming for Vivaan. He shared his happiness and gratitude saying he feels deeply thankful that audiences all over are connecting with the film.
Knowing that the story has touched so many hearts has made every challenge worth it. For Vivaan, this love feels like a quiet win after years of waiting.
Directed by Sriram Raghavan, ‘Ikkis’ is a powerful war biopic based on Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra.
The cast includes Agastya Nanda, Jaideep Ahlawat, Suhasini Mulay, Sikander Kher, Rahul Dev. It released on January 1, 2026.
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