Off Campus, based on Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book series, has been the talk of the town ever since it released on OTT last month. Netizens can’t get enough of the ice hockey rom com, the exceptionally attractive star cast, steamy chemistry, and the empathetic storytelling. Interestingly, the college soap also reminded several fans of Speedy Singhs (Breakaway), the 2011 Indo-Canadian sports-comedy which was produced by Akshay Kumar. Talking about the same, actor Vinay Virmani who played Rajveer Singh in the film, says, “India did it first”.
Sharing how he got many messages regarding the comparison between his film and the show, the 41-year-old says, “When you look at the current obsession with hockey-based stories Off Campus, Heated Rivalry and the popularity of sports romances, it’s hard not to smile and think that maybe we were a little early to the party,” says Vinay, adding, “Canada and India did it first, because Speedy Singhs was a true co-production that brought together incredible talent from both countries. Seeing people rediscover and love the film all these years later has been incredibly emotional!”
Believing that one creates his own destiny, Vinay wrote the script of Speedy Singhs for himself. The film ended up being a flop in India, but did well overseas, which drove Vinay to focus on opportunities in Canada. “I was always trying to balance my career here in Canada and also navigate opportunities out of India. The film had really worked in Canada, so I had many more opportunities here. But in Bollywood, I was still an outsider. I had certain friends in the industry, but no relatives, so I didn’t understand how to navigate Bollywood 15 years ago. It was intimidating,” shares Vinay. He was later seen in the 2014 rom com Dr. Cabbie alongside actor Kunal Nayyar, after which Vinay turned his focus to production. “After Dr. Cabbie, I had the opportunity to move more deeply into producing, and I embraced it wholeheartedly.”
Sharing what he’s up to now, Vinay says, “Since then, I’ve produced a number of successful films and award-winning documentaries while continuing to build my own content studio. One of the most exciting chapters of my life personally and professionally has been partnering with NBA super star LeBron James and his media company, Uninterrupted. LeBron has been an incredible mentor, and together we’ve created impactful sports content that empowers athletes and takes their stories on a global scale. Today, my focus remains on developing meaningful content and creating platforms that empower the next generation of storytellers.”
Asked if he would be interested in returning to acting with Bollywood, the actor says, “Of course. I grew up on Bollywood movies and Hindi cinema.”