Cinema VinesVijay Varma, the actor known for his roles in Matka King and Gully Boy, has publicly denied claims that he posted a controversial Instagram Story about reservation and privilege. The screenshot, which surfaced on social media on Saturday, was widely shared and sparked debate across platforms. In the image, Varma supposedly stated that his father bought a Maruti 800 at his birth, later a Honda Civic for his college years, while a friend from a Marwari family rode a 12‑year‑old Hero Honda. The story went on to claim that the friend had scored well in a government exam but did not secure a seat, whereas Varma did not need a reservation. The screenshot concluded with a line that read, “It was his right. If not, then at least a fair chance was his right.”
Varma took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday to clarify that the post was not his. He reposted the screenshot and wrote, “I never posted this. This is all false,” and reiterated the statement a second time, adding, “This is not my story.” His comments came as the image continued to circulate, with many users assuming it was authentic. The actor’s response aimed to quell speculation and prevent misinformation from spreading further.
In addition to addressing the screenshot, Varma has been vocal about student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged NEET paper leaks and exam irregularities. He also reacted to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which was tied to the protests. Following Pradhan’s resignation announcement, Varma posted an Instagram image accompanied by a lyric from the song “Channa Mereya” from the film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Varma’s career began after graduating from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He appeared in minor roles in films such as Pink, Raag Desh, Manto, and Middle Class Abbayi, before gaining wider recognition with a small but notable role in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy. More recently, he has earned praise for performances in Darlings, Dahaad, and the popular series Mirzapur. His latest work includes the 1960s Mumbai drama Matka King, which follows an ambitious cotton trader who introduces the gambling game “Matka” to the city, transforming a business once limited to the wealthy. The series received positive reviews from both critics and audiences and featured actors such as Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Siddharth Jadhav, Bhupendra Jadawat, and Gulshan Grover.
