Vicky Kaushal shares why he didn’t pursue a life abroad after postgraduate degree

Actor Vicky Kaushal has achieved stardom in his Bollywood career, a far cry from his early days of living in a one-bedroom apartment in Mumbai. In college, he envisioned a stable life abroad, pursuing a postgraduate degree and climbing the corporate ladder. However, everything changed during an industrial visit to a multinational company.
In a recent interaction with Harper’s Bazaar India, the 36-year-old actor recalled why he didn’t settle abroad with a corporate job and instead became an actor.
“In college, I thought I’d follow the conventional route, maybe settle abroad after my postgraduate degree. But everything changed during an industrial visit to a multinational company. The moment I stepped into that office, I knew it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t see myself stuck in a cubicle; I would be so unhappy,” Vicky shared.
The experience prompted the Uri actor to ask himself: What did he truly want? “I realised I needed to confront what I truly wanted. I’d always enjoyed being on stage and participating in dances and skits, but I never considered acting as a career. I was shy and uncomfortable with the idea of being in the limelight,” he added.
With each performance, a flicker of passion ignited within him. “If I could channel that joy into a career, I wouldn’t experience the dreaded ‘Monday blues’. It took time for me to accept that acting could be my path. I had to convince myself, and later, my family, that this was what truly made me happy,” he said.
It took time to accept this new path, not just for himself but also for his family. Gradually, he shared his dreams and found support from them.
Today, Kaushal is a celebrated actor in Hindi cinema. He is currently preparing for the shoot of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Love and War, which will also star Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in lead roles.