In a recent episode of Unfiltered by Samdish, Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey offered insights into his diverse family dynamics, including a Sikh mother, a Christian father, and a brother who converted to Islam at 17.
Sharing his family's open-minded approach, Vikrant highlighted the acceptance of his brother's decision to change his religion.
Vikrant Massey, whose wife Sheetal Thakur recently gave birth to their first child, expressed their goal as a couple to instil "rationalism" in their baby boy. Reflecting on his upbringing, Vikrant mentioned witnessing numerous arguments related to religion and spirituality within his family.
Discussing his brother's conversion, Vikrant shared, "My brother's name is Moeen, I am called Vikrant. You'd wonder why the name Moeen? He converted to Islam; my family let him change his religion. They said, 'Beta, if you find satisfaction in this, then go ahead.' He converted at the age of 17; it is a big step."
Vikrant emphasised that his father, a church-going Christian, faced questions from extended relatives about allowing his son's conversion. However, his father asserted that it was not their business, stating, "He is my son, he is only answerable to me and has all the rights to choose what he wants."
Reflecting on his own journey, Vikrant expressed a quest to understand the nature of religion, concluding that it is man-made. Despite diverse backgrounds within his family, Vikrant acknowledged the beauty of their coexistence and mutual respect for each other's beliefs.
As a new parent, Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur aim to teach their child rationalism while respecting certain authentically Indian cultural practices. Vikrant clarified that his participation in cultural events like Diwali is rooted in childhood memories and cultural affiliation rather than strict religious beliefs.
"Especially in the Hindu culture, I do believe in them. It is only because of my cultural affiliation; it doesn’t need to be religious. This is the culture of the majority of people in my country. I don’t believe that if I do Laxmi Puja then I will be blessed with wealth. I do it because I grew up witnessing it, and it is now my lifestyle. My father would do it. He goes to church twice a week, but he also does puja with my mother and my wife. So, it is a beautiful house," said the actor.
Vikrant Massey's latest film, "12th Fail," directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, gained acclaim as a sleeper hit of 2023, earning recognition as one of the best films of the year.