From an 800-rupee daily wage to a Forbes 30 Under 30 list
In short: Abhay Verma’s rise in Hindi cinema is a study in persistence over pedigree. After failing his science exams three times and abandoning a BBA degree, he moved to Mumbai to transform from a junior artist earning a pittance into a breakout lead in one of 2024's biggest commercial hits.
Abhay Verma's trajectory in the Indian film industry began with a period of significant academic and professional friction. Born in Panipat, Haryana, in 1998, Verma faced three consecutive failures in his science studies before deciding to pivot toward acting. This transition involved moving to Mumbai with his parents, a move that eventually led him to work as a junior artist on the set of the film Super 30. During this formative period, he earned a daily wage of ₹800, using the time to observe the dynamics of a large production crew of 200 people to sharpen his craft.
His professional breakthrough was not immediate. Verma initially appeared in minor parts, particularly during the second season of the thriller Little Things and The Family Man (2021). In these early projects, including the series Marzi, he balanced acting with television commercials. Critics noted that while his early work in the 2023 independent film Safed showed an honest effort despite a lack of experience, it was his performance in the 2024 comedy horror film Munjya that solidified his status as a leading talent.
Ranking as the eighth highest-grossing Hindi movie of 2024, Munjya acted as a commercial milestone as the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe's fourth entry. In it, Verma portrayed an earnest, bewildered young man facing a monster inspired by Indian folklore. This success propelled him to the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list in 2026. His upcoming portfolio includes a role in the action thriller King alongside Shah Rukh Khan and a portrayal of a young Narendra Modi in the unreleased film Mann Bairagi.
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