Mumbai : Actor Vijay Varma recently addressed his skin condition, vitiligo, at a college event in Mumbai. Vitiligo, characterized by the loss of pigment that creates lighter patches on the skin, has been a part of Varma’s life, but he has largely chosen to be open about it.
During the event, Varma shared that he has never felt the need to hide his vitiligo in his everyday life. “See, I didn’t make a big deal out of it,” he stated, adding, “It is just a cosmetic thing, and it is not really anything that can change the course of your life. We make it a big deal because it is something which is out there, but I have never really made a big deal out of it.”
Varma, known for his role in the upcoming Netflix film ‘IC 814’, reflected on whether his skin condition had ever posed a challenge in his career. He admitted that during his earlier years, he had concerns about how it might affect his work. “It used to worry me when I was an out-of-work actor. I would wonder if this would become an obstacle. But ever since I have been working and seeing a lot of success, it hasn’t bothered me.”
The actor revealed that he opts to conceal his vitiligo in films to ensure that it does not distract from his performance. “I have covered it up for my movies because it just distracts, and I don’t want my audience to look at anything else except for what I want to show them,” he explained. However, he noted that for public appearances and day-to-day life, he has always chosen to embrace his natural appearance.
Varma praised contemporary attitudes towards such conditions, expressing confidence in today’s generation. “People these days are very intelligent, and I feel that today’s generation has an innate sense of responsibility. I have never been spoken about loosely for my skin condition,” he said. He suggested that if he had been in the public eye during a different era, his vitiligo might have attracted more attention, but the current climate has been supportive.
Vijay Varma’s latest project, ‘IC 814’, is a Netflix film that recounts the 1999 hijacking of an Indian aircraft by five Pakistani militants. His performance in this film is highly anticipated and represents a significant role in his acting career.