Actor Vijay Varma has firmly established himself over the past few years, frequently portraying characters with complex, morally ambiguous shades. From Darlings to Dahaad, he has delivered standout performances in several antagonistic roles. At the recently concluded Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026, he received the Best Performance award for his work in Matka King and took to the stage to accept the honour. Yet, it was his exchange with actor and content creator Dolly Singh that particularly drew widespread attention on social media.
What happened on stage?
In a video from the ceremony, host Dolly Singh pointed out that Vijay frequently portrays morally ambiguous characters, earning him the label of the ‘biggest red flag’ on screen. She remarked that whenever Vijay appears in a show or film, audiences immediately start wondering who is in danger and what his character might do next. “You are a walking, talking red flag for us, but we also know you are one of the kindest people to work with—everyone says that. So what’s the secret? How do you manage it?” she asked.
Vijay responded, "Just buy a piece of red cloth, keep it at home, and make as many flags as you like," he said. Dolly promptly dismissed his remark as a "lame joke." Vijay then fired back with another quip, saying, "Just like I ignore your awful compliments." His comeback had the entire audience bursting into laughter.
Many people in the comments section felt the remark was directed only at his on-screen persona and was simply a light-hearted moment. "It was playful banter and she clearly said it twice on screen," one comment read. "This was so awkward to watch," another viewer noted. "He usually portrays negative characters, which is why she made that remark. I’m not sure how he felt about it, but she definitely didn’t mean any harm," a second user added.
Vijay Varma's films
Professionally, Vijay Varma most recently appeared in Vibhu Puri’s film Gustaakh Ishq. The movie also featured Naseeruddin Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sharib Hashmi, and marked fashion designer Manish Malhotra’s debut as a film producer.
Most recently, Vijay appeared in the web series Matka King, which follows the journey of a modest, ambitious cotton trader who rises to become a formidable gambling kingpin after inventing a new betting game called Matka.