Vijay Varma

Vijay Varma is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Hindi films and series. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, before finding recognition with the crime drama film Pink (2016). This was followed by supporting roles in Middle Class Abbayi (2017), Gully Boy (2019) and Baaghi 3 (2020). He has since starred in several streaming projects, including Mirzapur (2020–present), Darlings (2022), Dahaad (2023), Kaalkoot (2023) and Jaane Jaan (2023).

Early life and education
Varma was born on 29 March 1986 in a Marwari Hindu family settled in Hyderabad, Telangana. He studied at the FTII.

Career
Varma started his acting journey as a theatre artist in his hometown Hyderabad. He worked in numerous plays before he decided to move to Pune for two years to get a formal education in acting at FTII. After finishing his postgraduate course, he shifted his base to Mumbai in search of acting work. His first acting job was in Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK's short film titled Shor which was highly acclaimed at festivals and won the Best Short Film at the MIAAC festival, in New York that year. He also worked in the critically acclaimed movie Pink.

Media image and artistry
Varma is known for his critically acclaimed roles and while he has successfully portrayed the bad guy on screen many times, he is known for his versatility, with Karan Johar saying, "Vijay Varma's versatility can take him to all kinds of places in the world".

Jitesh Pillai of Filmfare noted, "Vijay is a method actor who somehow fits seamlessly into commercial films." He further praised his "self-deprecating humour". Tatsam Mukherjee of Film Companion stated, "There's something compelling about the way he brings out the dark, repulsive shades of the roles he plays." Prateek Sur of Outlook India praises that actor for his "versatility" and "impactful performances". Praising his "flawless" acting, Akshat Sundrani of India TV News added, "Varma's passion for his craft and outstanding ability to express emotions solidify him as one of the most accomplished performers in the film industry." Bangalore Mirror termed him one of Bollywood’s "most enigmatic and skilled actors". His performance in Gully Boy is regarded as one of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion.

Films

 * All films are in Hindi unless otherwise noted.