Vijay Varma Says He ‘Secretly’ Applied To FTII: ‘I Ran Away From Home; Dad Was Strict’

Last Updated:May 17, 2025, 01:32 IST

Vijay was previously in a relationship with actress Tamannaah Bhatia. The two met and fell in love on the sets of Lust Stories 2.

Vijay Varma, known for his standout performances in Pink, Gully Boy and Darlings, has opened up about his journey into acting, revealing that he ran away from home to pursue his dream. In a conversation with filmmaker Farah Khan on her YouTube channel, Vijay shared that his path to becoming an actor started with a secret application to the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

“Yes, I came on my own. Actually, I ran away from home. I had a great plan in place before running away. Usually, people run away and then figure out what to do. But I had it all planned. I applied to FTII secretly. When I got selected, I collected money secretly from friends. And once I got the seat, I ran away from home,” he shared.

Farah asked if his parents were against his career choice, to which Vijay replied, “Yes, my father was very strict.” Despite the rocky start, things have now taken a positive turn. “Now they are very happy. In fact, my mom is coming to stay with me,” he added with a smile.

When Farah asked why he didn’t do more work in the South Indian film industry, given that he hails from Hyderabad, Vijay revealed he had, in fact, done a Telugu film. “I did a Telugu film after many years,” he said. When asked if he could speak the language, he responded with a smile, “A little bit.”

Vijay’s journey from secretly applying to FTII to making a mark in Bollywood is nothing short of inspiring. On the professional front, Vijay will next be seen in Gustakh Ishq and Matka King. The latter recently wrapped up its shoot and is expected to release soon.

Vijay was previously in a relationship with actress Tamannaah Bhatia. The two met and fell in love on the sets of Lust Stories 2, but reports suggest they have now gone their separate ways.

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