Vijay Varma appeared to be uncomfortable after content creator and actor Dolly Singh referred to him as the “nation’s biggest red flag” during an event at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026.
The exchange was held as Vijay was on stage to receive the Best Performance award for his role in Matka King. Dolly congratulated the actor and made a light joke about him, with his character being so hard and morally complex.
Dolly Singh calls Vijay Varma a ‘red flag’
While congratulating Vijay on his award, Dolly talked about how his presence in a film or series often makes audiences suspicious about what might happen next.
She said that whenever Vijay enters a show or movie, viewers may immediately wonder who is in trouble and what his character is about to do.
She then jokingly referred to him as the “nation’s biggest red flag,” a reference to the actor’s frequent portrayal of morally ambiguous and unpredictable characters.
The remark seemed to catch Vijay off guard.
Vijay Varma replies with a joke
Vijay responded to Dolly's comment with his own humorous comeback.
The actor said: “Just buy a piece of red cloth and keep it at home, and make as many flags as you want.”
Dolly later described his response as a “lame joke.”
Vijay followed with another remark: “Just as I let go of your terrible compliments aside.”
The exchange attracted attention quickly after a video of the interaction appeared on social media.
Internet reacts to the exchange
The interaction has been mixed online. Some social media users felt Dolly’s “red flag” comment was inappropriate, while others saw it as a joke between two public figures.
Some viewers described the moment as awkward, and one person wrote on social media that it was uncomfortable to watch. Vijay’s response was not only supported, but they also said he reacted with dignity and did not escalate the situation.
More recently, we began seeing comments on the video that the comment was light-hearted or crossed the line.
Vijay Varma wins Best Performance for Matka King
The exchange took place shortly after Vijay received the Best Performance award at IFFM 2026 for Matka King.
Matka King is a crime drama set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s matka gambling system in the 1960s and 1970s, directed by Nagraj Manjule.
Vijay plays Brij Bhatti, a man from a poor background who starts a gambling empire. Again, the role puts the actor into a morally complex world, and this is a style that has become an important part of his film career.
Vijay Varma's unconventional roles
Vijay has become a very talented actor in many ways in the past few years, and is very able to play different and unusual characters.
His roles in projects like Dahaad, Jaane Jaan, and Darlings have only solidified his reputation for playing layered characters who don’t always fit in the box of heroes or villains.
His ability to portray morally complicated personalities has also become part of his public image, which may have precipitated Dolly’s “red flag” joke at the Melbourne event.
Vijay’s response, however, seemed to suggest that he was not too happy with the compliment, even if it was funny.
What’s now a talking point online, adding another viral moment to IFFM 2026.
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