Special Ops 2 changed the game for me: Vikkas Manaktala on breaking his TV image - Exclusive

Vikas Manaktala in a still from Special Ops 2

After years of playing emotionally intense and varied roles on Hindi television, Vikkas Manaktala has found a fresh new footing on OTT.

As Abhay Singh in Special Ops 2: The Himmat Story, Vikkas is being hailed as the brooding, silent warrior who lets his actions do the talking. But behind that lean, fierce figure lies, a journey of long struggle, discipline, and a wait for the right opportunity.

In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, Vikkas spoke about his transition from television to OTT and the reason for breaking away from television, where he has delivered many hit shows.

Vikkas also revealed why he took a conscious decision to break away from the TV actor label even when it came at the cost of financial and emotional struggles.

TV gave me stability, but I needed growth

Vikkas first made a mark in the TV space with Left Right Left and went on to do layered characters in shows like Main Na Bhoolungi, Ghulaam, and Jhansi Ki Rani. But after a point, the similar kind of roles came his way and that made him rethink his decision of doing TV.

“In television, when people like your portrayal of a character, they keep offering you the same thing. I had already played characters like Sameer and Veer—negative, angsty, and aggressive. But repeating it never gave me a sense of challenge or excitement. I was looking for growth—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally,” he says.

Vikkas says even as offers came pouring in, he began refusing them, turning down high-paying TV roles during financially tough times.

“Saying no to TV when you are emotionally and financially struggling is not easy. But I didn’t want to settle for what I had already done. I wanted to start over with makers who could push me to grow. That took time, and it wasn’t easy,” Vikkas says.

Getting Special Ops 2 was a dream come true

When the call for Special Ops 2 came, Vikkas saw it as the moment he had been waiting for.

“This opportunity of working with Neeraj Pandey sir and learning from him has been a dream come true. I’m extremely grateful. I feel so fortunate,” he says.

He played the role of a RAW agent, Abhay Singh, in Special Ops 2 and was seen with industry stalwarts like Kay Kay Menon, Parmeet Sethi and others. He said the role wasn’t just about delivering lines; it was a physical and mental transformation.

“I trained for weeks to build the body for Abhay. He doesn’t speak much; his actions show his strength. That required agility, stamina, and understanding the mindset of someone like him. I gained 8-9 kilos of muscle and had to balance that with flexibility for the stunts,” he explains.

In TV, people show up, do their job, and leave. OTT is different

When asked about the biggest difference between working in television and OTT, Vikkas says that there is collaborative energy on OTT sets, which is lacking in TV.

“In TV, everyone is doing their job individually. But in Special Ops 2, from Neeraj sir to the action team, DOP, writers, and spot boys—everyone was in sync. That kind of alignment creates magic. That’s what I felt was missing in television—the passion of filmmaking," he said.

This synergy helped make even difficult stunt scenes look effortless.

“There’s a huge difference between doing stunts with coordination versus just acting them out. But here, everyone knew what they were doing. That made it easy to perform,” he adds.

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OTT changed how the industry sees TV actors

Vikkas said he is aware of the baggage that TV actors carry when they try to shift to OTT or films.

"People still say, ‘Oh, he's a TV face’. But OTT has helped change that perception. Today, good actors, regardless of their background, are finally getting opportunities. That’s a big win,” he says.

Vikkas also said he was touched with the overwhelming response to his character Abhay Singh in Special Ops 2. "I’m flooded with DMs, memes, and reels; people are loving Abhay Singh. That love means everything. As an actor, that’s the biggest reward,” he said with a smile.

The fight isn’t over but I’m finally where I want to be

Despite the hurdles, Vikkas is finally enjoying the high of creative satisfaction.

“The fame, the name, and the money—they’re all great. But I want to keep learning. I want to work with people who push me. That’s my true high,” he concluded the chat.

With Special Ops 2, Vikkas Manaktala isn’t just breaking stereotypes; he’s breaking through them.

Special Ops 2 is streaming on Jio Hotstar. It stars Kay Kay Menon, Karan Tacker, Vinay Pathak, Vipul Gupta, Arif Zakaria, Tahir Raj Bhasin, and others.

The 7-episode series is directed by Neeraj Pandey.