Actor Vikrant Massey has opened up about the abuse and threats he faced following The Sabarmati Report, revealing that his WhatsApp number and details of his car were leaked publicly during the controversy surrounding the film. Speaking to actor Shekhar Suman on his talk show Shekhar Tonite, Massey recalled how the backlash affected him personally, particularly because it came at a time when his son was only six months old.
The actor said he remained extremely proud of The Sabarmati Report despite sections of the audience and critics describing the film as "propaganda". The 2024 film was based on the burning of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra in Gujarat on February 27, 2002, in which 59 people were killed.
Massey said he faced considerable abuse over his association with the project and that the criticism went beyond reactions to his performance or the film itself.
"My WhatsApp number was leaked. My car number was leaked. People threatened me openly," he said while recounting the period.
Massey said the threats and public disclosure of his personal details initially had a significant emotional impact on him.
The timing made the experience particularly difficult. His son had recently been born and was around six months old when the controversy erupted. Massey acknowledged that the episode affected him heavily and said he had also spoken publicly about it at the time.
The actor, however, said his perspective gradually changed and he stopped allowing online attacks to determine how he felt about himself or his work.
He said he eventually realised that what mattered most was his responsibility towards the people close to him rather than what strangers said about him online.
Massey's latest remarks offer further details about the threats he had first spoken about around the film's release in 2024.
During the trailer launch of The Sabarmati Report in Mumbai in November 2024, Massey had confirmed that he had received threats over his involvement with the film. At the time, he maintained that artists tell stories and said the team would deal with the situation in the appropriate manner.
Directed by Dheeraj Sarna, The Sabarmati Report starred Massey alongside Raashii Khanna and Ridhi Dogra and was released theatrically on November 15, 2024.
The film revolves around the Godhra train burning and follows journalists investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and its portrayal by the media. Massey played journalist Samar Kumar, while Khanna portrayed Amrita Gill.
The subject generated considerable political and public debate even before the film reached cinemas.
While its supporters argued that the film presented a perspective on the Godhra incident that had not received adequate attention, some critics questioned its treatment of the politically sensitive subject and labelled it propaganda.
Massey has rejected that characterisation and, in his latest interview, reiterated that he remains proud of having made the film.
The movie also received political attention after its release. Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched it at the Parliament Library building along with members of his Cabinet and other parliamentarians.
Massey's latest disclosure also sheds light on the increasingly personal nature of online attacks faced by actors and other public figures when films become embroiled in political or ideological controversies.
For Massey, the experience extended beyond trolling and criticism on social media to the circulation of information that could potentially identify or contact him directly.
He said the episode had once taken a toll on his emotional and mental well-being, but he has since learned to distance himself from such attacks.
The actor said his priorities now lie with his family and the people to whom he considers himself accountable.
The comments come nearly two years after The Sabarmati Report became one of the most politically discussed Hindi films of 2024. Massey's account suggests that while the public controversy around the film eventually subsided, the personal consequences for those associated with it were considerably more intense than the debate visible on screen and social media.