Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s cinematic masterpiece, “12th Fail,” starring the talented Vikrant Massey, vividly portrays the remarkable journey of Manoj Kumar Sharma as he aspires to become an IPS officer.
Vikrant Massey flawlessly embodies the real-life persona of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s “12th Fail.” Hailing from the Morena district in the once-infamous Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, Manoj Kumar Sharma was an ambitious IPS aspirant who tenaciously pursued his dreams.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film, “12th Fail,” is adapted from the eponymous novel penned by Anurag Pathak. The narrative delves into the lives of countless students who ardently appear for the UPSC examination year after year. These individuals, often struggling with meager resources and minimal encouragement, chase their formidable dreams. Manoj Sharma’s story, from failing Class XII to securing the 121st rank in the country’s most coveted examination, the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and ultimately becoming an IPS officer in the Maharashtra cadre, serves as a powerful source of inspiration.
Manoj Sharma’s Journey Towards Civil Service
Manoj Sharma, currently serving as a CISF officer, sailed through his academic journey until Class VIII. However, in the 9th and 10th grades, he faced difficulties in passing his exams, managing to scrape by. Unfortunately, he failed the Class XII board exams in his first attempt. Undeterred, he eventually cleared Class XII on his second try, pursued higher education, and succeeded in passing the UPSC examination on his fourth attempt.
Along this arduous journey, Manoj undertook a variety of odd jobs, including working as a tempo driver, spending nights alongside beggars on the streets, laboring in a library, and even moonlighting as a dog walker. These endeavors helped him cover the costs of coaching classes and purchase essential study materials to prepare for the UPSC examination. During these testing times, Manoj found love and unwavering support in Shraddha Joshi, who would later become his spouse and an IRS officer.
