How Vicky Kaushal builds trust through acting

Shruti Thacker
Feb 03, 2026, 06:46 AM

Quantity > Quality

Since the start of his career, Kaushal has ditched quantity for quality. Audiences don’t escape into his stardom. Instead, he disappears into characters.

Giving into roles—physically and mentally

Whether it’s Masaan (2015) or Sam Bahadur (2023), his performance is a deliberate calibration of bone and muscle.

The chase for consistency

“My job as an actor between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is always going to be the same,” says Kaushal.

How versatility became a strong suit

His career has spanned various genres, from "Masaan" to "Uri: The Surgical Strike" and "Sam Bahadur," highlighting his versatility In 2025, "Chhaava" became his biggest theatrical opening, testing his ability to balance scale and credibility.

On the importance of believability

“My job is to make people believe that I am the guy they’re seeing in that story,” says Kaushal.

On winning viewers' trust

By choosing roles that offer unfamiliar ground, he has built a rare commodity: audience trust. Whether he is playing a soldier or a historical king, he ensures his stardom feels earned not forced.

On retaining viewers' trust

Breaking stereotypes is exciting for him. “When people start to believe they can connect with me in a particular zone, I want to explore another one and see if that resonates as well.”

On the way forward

Ultimately, Kaushal’s work isn't about fitting into an archetype, it’s about building a human being.