Today, Vikrant Massey has carved a niche for himself in Bollywood and also established himself as one of the most sought-after actors for films that prioritise good content and powerful storytelling. However, the ‘12th Fail’ star’s road to success was anything but smooth. Long before his Bollywood breakout, he had to work full-time as a 16 year old to support his family. In a chat with FLO Bangalore official, the actor said he once worked as a waiter for a living. “Stability was something that was very important to us. I come from a very regular middle-class family. I started working at the age of 16, and no sane 16-year-old boy would actually venture out of the comfort of their home and make money, or probably take up a job or clean tables at a coffee shop,” he said. He also reminisced how he fulfilled his mother’s biggest dream by buying a house at the age of 24. “When I bought my first small little house at 24, I ticked that one important box in my mother’s wish list that, ‘No matter what happens, at least you have a home to come back to,” he said. Massey said that he often felt alienated among peers as he had to go into the workforce from a very young age. He recalled how, every time he stepped out of his house, he would see children from the neighborhood enjoying games on the playground. They would naturally invite him to join them for a match of cricket or football and ask where he was headed. Instead of revealing the truth, he would give vague replies because he felt uncomfortable admitting that he was on his way to earn a living.At such a young age, he carried a responsibility that most of his friends could not relate to. While they were free to enjoy their childhood, Vikrant had to leave behind those carefree moments and head to work. He struggled to put his circumstances into words, not because he wanted to hide them, but because he felt self-conscious about being different. Telling his friends that he was working to earn money for his family was something he found emotionally difficult.Looking back, Vikrant acknowledged that those moments were filled with quiet embarrassment and inner conflict. Although he longed to spend time playing like every other teenager, financial realities forced him to grow up much earlier than his peers.As per a GQ report, Massey’s net worth is over Rs 26 crore.