Vihaan Samat is more than just a new kid on the block

We’re in a tropical jungle setting, surrounded by an explosion of colours and patterns, at an upscale restaurant in the heart of Mumbai. The place is buzzing with people, thanks to an impromptu fire drill. And amid the near chaos is Vihaan Samat, at the ready with his wisecracks. “They’re here to see me,” quips the charming actor. Laidback and playful, at ease before the camera, Vihaan doesn’t come with the self-assured hubris one may expect from a star of three back-to-back hit series. You’ll remember him as the American accented Harsh in Mismatched, Bae’s ultra rich husband Agastya in Call Me Bae, and the lovable young prince Diggy in The Royals. CTRL, again with Ananya Panday, and the Netflix drama Eternally Confused and Eager for Love also earned him recognition as an up-and-comer to watch out for. That’s quite the repertoire for an actor relatively new in the industry — and he’s not done yet.

While Vihaan’s résumé already boasts names like Zoya Akhtar (she produced Eternally Confused…), Karan Johar (Call Me Bae), and Vikramaditya Motwane (CTRL), he has quite an ambitious wishlist. “I have a long wishlist of about 100 people, and I cannot wait to work with all of them!” says Vihaan, who hopes to, one day, work with stalwarts like Anurag Kashyap, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta, and Pan Nalin. “And from the newer generation, there’s Aditya Nimbalkar (Sector 36), Shakun Batra (Gehraiyaan and Kapoor & Sons) and Arjun Varain Singh (Kho Gaye Hum Kahan).” “It’d be interesting to collaborate with them…” adds Vihaan, who grew up watching the works of filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Denis Villeneuve, and David Fincher. “There’s also the Safdie brothers, who make some really gritty, edgy content. And Wes Anderson, of course… I recently began to appreciate some actors for their craft, including Deepak Dobriyal, Gulshan Devaiah, and some bona fide stars like Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjay Mishra.”

A DIRECTOR’S ACTOR

It’s clear: Vihaan appreciates quality cinema. And to him, the heart and soul of a project are the director and writers, and their outlook towards a fine film and performance. “Over time, you learn to tune your insights into telling you where you’re going right, or wrong. I’ve learned how to work with different directors and understand their vision. It’s key to really get into their minds. Even writers.” So much so that for Vihaan, much of the close bonds he develops with the cast and crew on sets is with his directors “because I love to understand the way they create things — though I’m equally close to all my co-actors, maybe some more than others.”

THE BTS OF BINGE WATCHES

It could be the direction he received, or his own charisma, but each of Vihaan’s characters have endeared him to fans. In The Royals, we rooted for Diggy to outshine all in the cooking competition. In Mismatched, some even stanned Harsh over the textbook perfect Rishi! And as it happens, much of both shows were shot in Jaipur.

“Mismatched was like a school field trip, with [director] Akarsh Khurana as the headmaster. We were all mostly newcomers who didn’t know how the show would perform. We were just happy to be shooting in Rajasthan, going around taking pictures, spending time with each other in hotel rooms, and just getting to know each other. It was a very innocent time of our lives.” “Then we had the craziest time shooting for The Royals. Ishaan [Khatter], Kavya [Trehan] and I would go riding at this giant polo ground in Jaipur… Within two months, we went from not being able to get on a horse to riding with polo gear!”

Sure, acting comes with its own set of challenges, but it’s undeniably a glamorous field. The travel, the red carpets, the couture… Vihaan’s “I can’t believe this is my job” moment arrived on the sets of The Royals, when they were shooting the crucial coronation scene at City Palace in Jaipur.“To my right were camels and elephants. To my left were background actors decked up in royal clothing. The sky was a perfect blue, and it was a breezy day. I remember thinking to myself how unreal it was that this was my job… The moment has stuck with me.”

THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Although Mismatched was his breakthrough role, unbeknownst to many, Vihaan made his debut with a Hollywood production titled Worth, also starring Michael Keaton. His well-set foundation — laid at the acclaimed Tisch School of the Arts at New York University — shines in his nuanced, relatable performances, and diverse choice of roles, all of which brought his talent to notice — on top of his consecutive successes.

“I know there are a lot of stories about how the industry can really shut you off. Yes, it’s easier for some to get a foot in the door, but that’s life. You have to earn your right to a place in that room. I don’t see a problem with it.”“I’m grateful to have been cast in the shows I have, but the real challenge would be to carry the load of an entire project on my shoulders. I’ve yet to explore that. Hopefully, the industry will be as welcoming to me then as it has been, so far,” he says, fingers crossed.

Always drawn towards drama (“these really deep, dark movies, thrillers, murder-mysteries…”), Vihaan is keen to take on such projects. Next, however, he’s most interested in starring in leading roles.“The kind of roles I’ve been cast in, so far, have all involved a layer of humour. I do have a natural gift for timing and comedy — touchwood! Perhaps in the future, I can explore something more serious… I’m looking to do either a biopic or something in the sci-fi horror space.”

‘EFFORTLESS IS WHAT I AIM FOR’

On screen, Vihaan pulled off being a royal with panache. And just as effortless, off screen, is his sense of personal style. We catch a glimpse of his sartorial interest as he checks out his shots on the monitor and observes his outfits being put together.

“Effortless is what I aim for. A lot of great fashion takes constructed outfits and makes them seem effortless. But I don’t necessarily have a go-to outfit.”For a personal touch in his ensembles, Vihaan turns to his own collection of rings to jazz up his look for an event or red carpet appearance.

“I collected these rings from destinations like Cambodia, the United States, Europe, Bali… These pieces of jewellery are more local in their aesthetic. So, with these, I like to add a little twist to what I’m wearing.” Although, more recently, it’s his interest in watches that’s piqued quite a bit.“I discounted watches as a fashion accessory in the past, but I’m enjoying them more and more as I grow older.”

THE CRAFT & BEYOND

Enacting a scene doesn’t just entail reciting memorised lines from a sheet. An actor infuses a part of themselves into the role they’re portraying — or imbibes some of their character’s traits instead. Be it the anxiety-stricken young man in Eternally Confused… or the prince with a gastronomic inclination in The Royals, there’s a bit of ‘Vihaan’ in each of his dramatis personae.

“I approach each character differently by understanding where they come from, what their outlook towards the world is like, their beliefs, thoughts… A person is defined by such things… But I live for when people say they couldn’t recognise me [as a character]. That gives me a thrill,” he smiles.

A bit of a gym rat and fan of weight training, calisthenics, and Pilates, Vihaan’s interests beyond the screen are diverse. From racing and go-karting, to being a tournament-level chess player, video gamer and pickleballer, he does it all. “I’m a cinephile, too. I love to watch every single movie that’s released. And since shooting for The Royals, I’ve become really enthusiastic about horse riding,” he adds to the list.

So where does Vihaan see himself five years from now? Can he visualise his future? “I’d rather have life give me whatever it wants to — sometimes, that’s been more than what I’ve asked for. But I’ll say this: I want to feel happy, fulfilled, and healthy. I hope to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and am deemed trustworthy, honest, and capable,” says Vihaan, smiling.

This story has been lifted from the June-July 2025 issue of HELLO! Magazine. 

Photographed by Sarang Gupta, Creative Direction by Avantikka Kilachand Raju, Styled by Anushree Sardesai