Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey has revealed that he and his family have been repeatedly targeted by cybercriminals. The actor shared that his social media accounts were hacked multiple times, and money was fraudulently withdrawn from his wife's bank account on two separate occasions. He made these disclosures during the trailer launch event of the upcoming JioHotstar series 'Pritam And Pedro', a show that delves into the world of cybercrime and its profound impact on individuals.
Vikrant Massey Recalls Cybercrime Attacks on His Family
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, Massey spoke candidly about his personal experiences with cybercrime. When asked if he had ever been a victim, he said, “This has happened to me 3-4 times. My Instagram handle was hacked twice. My Facebook account was hacked once. Money has been fraudulently deducted from my wife’s account twice.” The actor also revealed that his sister-in-law’s father was recently scammed, prompting him to seek help from cybersecurity expert Amit Dubey.
“We all saw here that he’s a pro. So, he helped us out,” Massey added, acknowledging Dubey’s expertise. During the event, Dubey demonstrated how easily scammers can access personal devices by hacking a journalist’s phone, highlighting the vulnerabilities many face. The launch took place at a five-star hotel in Mumbai.
Co-star Arshad Warsi responded to Massey’s account with a humorous quip, saying, “Lekin maine toh ek hi baar kiya tha! (But I did it only once!),” drawing laughter from the audience.
‘Pritam And Pedro’ Cast, Story, and Release Date
Massey emphasized that the series addresses a subject that affects almost everyone, directly or indirectly. “It’s based on cybercrime and hence, it’s a relevant topic. Directly or indirectly, we have been targeted by it,” he said. He noted that the show blends entertainment with the human side of cybercrime, making it both engaging and thought-provoking.
The actor plays a character named Martin, whom he described as an unconventional antagonist. He praised Rajkumar Hirani’s storytelling, noting that even antiheroes in his narratives have a purpose and avoid clichés. Massey called working with Hirani a major opportunity and joked that he was tired of playing “gaav ka gareeb (a poor villager) or a boy-next-door” and wanted to try something different.
The launch event was attended by Rajkumar Hirani, Arshad Warsi, Vir Hirani, Mona Singh, Shantanu Moitra, Swanand Kirkire, director Avinash Arun, and Alok Jain. Singer Shreya Ghoshal made a special appearance and performed the song ‘Piya Piya Piya’.
‘Pritam And Pedro’ will begin streaming on JioHotstar from July 3.
