Forest Officer Gets Memories from ’12th Fail’ UPSC Interview Scene: “Three Times There”

Many people are praising and loving Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s most recent film, “12th Fail,” which stars Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankr. Some have even dubbed it the greatest movie of 2023. Interestingly, Manoj Kumar Sharma, an IPS officer, and his wife Shraddha Joshi, an IRS official, are the inspirations for the film. The suspenseful and nerve-wracking moment just before a candidate enters the UPSC building for the final interview is captured in a three-minute clip from the movie that Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan recently released.

Mr. Kaswan felt sentimental after seeing the scenario and thought back to his own three interview experiences. Critics praised the sequence as well, praising how “such a real depiction of what happens in the UPSC building during the interview” was.

What a warm, fuzzy sensation. And such an accurate portrayal of the interview that takes place at the UPSC building. “Have been there three times in this same manner,” he commented beside the video. Manoj Sharma, played by Vikrant Massey, is seen in the scene entering the UPSC building to go to his interview.

The officer said in another tweet that there is a queue of applicants at the door and that they must wait outside the board room for a little while before the interview board invites them in.

In response to his tweet, a user said, “And the interview happens in a similar setting, with a round table arrangement.” Someone another commented, “The Longest Wait! You can still clearly recall your heart pounding. Amazingly, your anxiety disappears as soon as you go onto the interview board.

A third said, “Up until you walk onto the interview board, there is a significant amount of mental strain and restlessness.” Particularly when you wait for your turn outside the chamber by yourself. There’s just one peon there, and she gives occasional comfort.

Based on true events, the movie takes inspiration from the real-life hardships faced by millions of students attempting to pass the UPSC entrance test. On October 27, the movie debuted in theaters, and on December 29, Disney+ Hotstar hosted its internet premiere. Additionally, it has been submitted as an independent nominee for the 2024 Oscars.

Anant V Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sanjay Bishnoi, and Priyanshu Chatterjee are also featured in “12th Fail.”