Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s new directorial 12th Fail has wrapped up its shoot. An adaptation of Anurag Pathak’s eponymous novel, 12th Fail is inspired by the real-life story of IPS Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma. Manoj, despite failing his 12th board examinations, succeeded in forging a career in the civil services amidst great hardships. He was supported in his journey by his partner Shraddha Joshi, who also cracked the CSE to become an IRS officer.

12th Fail stars Vikrant Massey in the lead. According to the makers, it's the first film to be shot in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, the hub of UPSC preparations in the national capital. 

The film was also shot in Chambal, Agra, Mussoorie and Mumbai. 

Talking about the shoot, Vikrant Massey says, “My experience on this film was phenomenal… probably the best experience I ever had. It is one of the most special stories that I am a part of… and also one of the most challenging parts that I had to play. I’m really, really excited.  Working with VVC was literally coming-of-age for me. Him, the actors, the whole crew… everyone was phenomenal. One thing that I want to say is that the entire journey of the character was very personal for me… in the last 2 months of filming I have lived 6 to 8 months of my life.” 

Vidhu Vinod Chopra said, “I have a feeling that this could be my best-performed film till date. When I started filming ‘12th Fail’, I had no idea I would end up enjoying it this much, that it would perhaps turn out to be one of my best films. Also, everyone in the crew was so young… I got to boss around kids half my age while making a film about students. What else do I want in life?”

Written, produced, and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail is scheduled for a 2023 Summer release.