Actor Vijay Varma opened up about the pervasive issue of online trolling and its detrimental effects on individuals in the film industry. In a recent interview with The Indian Express, He emphasised the need to address the troubling trend of paid trolls that can distort public perception and harm innocent actors.
Varma expressed concern over the authenticity of negative comments circulating on social media, stating, “What hurts me the most is that innocent people might think these comments are real. Some of it is so motivated and paid for, which has been the biggest shock.”
Vijay Varma pointed out that in the past, discussions around films were more organic, with friends engaging in debates without the influence of a digital platform. “We didn’t have a platform to voice our opinions back then. But now, we live in a time when there is a platform and people say whatever they want to say, and we can’t do anything about that,” he noted. Varma called for an urgent need to curb trolling that has financial backing, stressing the importance of protecting public discourse from such manipulations.
Work-Front
Vijay Varma, known for his versatile performances, made his feature film debut in Chittagong (2012) and has since appeared in acclaimed films such as Pink (2016), Gully Boy (2019), and Darlings (2022). His recent work includes IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, a crime-thriller series directed by Anubhav Sinha, featuring a stellar cast including Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur.
Looking ahead, Varma is set to star in the upcoming Tamil film Suriya 43, directed by Sudha Kongara, known for her critically acclaimed film Soorarai Pottru. The film also stars Suriya, alongside notable actors Dulquer Salmaan and Nazriya Fahadh in pivotal roles.
As the conversation around mental health and social media accountability grows, Varma’s insights contribute to a broader understanding of the pressures faced by public figures in the digital age. His plea for an end to monetized trolling underscores a significant issue that affects not just actors, but the integrity of online discourse as a whole.