Netflix India’s new original film in Hindi is all about having a goal and the perseverance to achieve it. Vijay 69 is not just about elderly citizens trying to find a purpose; it is also about them finding friends at a later stage in your life and having them around to support your plans. The lead character has set a plan for himself, and he is surrounded by all kinds of people, including his family and friends, who are honest with him and eventually support his goal to become the oldest person to complete a triathlon.
Vijay Mathew
Veteran actor Anupam Kher portrays the role of Vijay Mathew in Vijay 69, an elderly citizen who is about to become a septuagenarian and realizes he has not achieved anything in life. A swimmer by profession, Vijay Mathew was a national champion in his younger days, and now he feels the need to achieve something big before the inevitable happens. He plans to compete in the triathlon and wants to set a record by becoming the oldest person to do so. Even though Vijay is adamant about the goal he has set for himself, he has his friends and family who want him to be concerned for his age and failing health. Vijay, despite many aspects of his physiological condition not being in his favor, is sure his experience as a swimmer will help him.
Vijay, unfortunately, is known for his temper and overusing swear words way too much. His volatile nature forces people to dislike him. Vijay’s undying love to seek what he and his deceased wife had dreamt of is finally close to coming to fruition, and he does not appreciate being stopped just because age is not in his favor.
Fali Bathena
Chunky Pandey portrays the role of Fali Bathena, a physician who runs a cancer center in the city. Fali also happens to be one of Vijay’s closest friends. He tries to make him understand the drawbacks of taking up a monumental task that could affect his physical strength. Fali eventually comes around, understanding why Vijay is adamant about competing in the triathlon and achieving the target he has set for himself. Fali and Vijay are of the same age, and unlike his best friend, the former is not physically fit, but he somehow wants to enjoy Vijay’s victorious moments. Fali decides to stand by best friend’s side even though the world has decided to remind Vijay repeatedly that age is not on his side.
Aditya
Mihir Ahuja is Aditya, son of Vijay’s neighbor. Aditya is in his late teens and is competing to be the youngest person to complete a triathlon. Aditya is a sensitive kid who has an overbearing father. His father is fixated on victory and the glory that comes with it. Aditya struggles to be around his verbally abusive father, and that’s when he befriends Vijay Mathew.
Aditya and Vijay did not think highly of each other in the start, yet they became friends because of their common goal of completing the triathlon for their own sake. Aditya finds a fatherly figure in Vijay who encourages him to do the right thing and not get bogged down by the negative comments made by his father.
Deeksha
Sulagna Panigrahi is Deeksha, Vijay’s only daughter. Deeksha wants her father to keep in mind he is not young anymore. She is not in favor of his plan to become the oldest person to compete in and complete a triathlon. Right from the start, she is concerned about her father ignoring his health and strength. Right from the start, Deeksha is angry, because he’s been the only parent she has had, from a very young age. Her concern for his health and longevity comes from the love she harbors for him, as she was raised by him after her mother passed away due to cancer. Deeksha is trying hard to convince him to drop the idea, but her father’s not having it.
Mrs. Bakshi
Yesteryear actor Guddi Maruti is back as Mrs. Bakshi, an ex-nurse who is also concerned for neighbor/friend Vijay Mathew. She is also thrown off by Vijay’s plan to take part in the triathlon. Just like others in Vijay’s life, her concern is also his physical health and the issues he might develop because of the rigorous training. Mrs. Bakshi eventually comes around and supports Vijay in his endeavors as his training starts and he begins to feel confident to participate in the triathlon.
Abhilash
Ravish Desai, as Abhilash, is Vijay’s son-in-law. Married to Deeksha, he is his father-in-law’s biggest cheerleader right from the start. Unlike Deeksha, Abhilash supports Vijay’s plan to compete in the triathlon. His support does not mean he does not care about his father-in-law’s health. Abhilash somehow understands Vijay’s need to achieve a goal for once.
Anna
Ekavali Khanna, as Anna Mathew, is Vijay’s wife, who passed away many years ago after a long battle with cancer. Anna is seen in this film only in flashbacks where she supports Vijay, as someone who encouraged him to follow his dreams. Vijay had planned to become a gold medalist in the national championship. The training came to a halt due to Anna’s diagnosis, and nothing was the same after her death. Anna is around them in spirit, and he wants to complete this triathlon in her memory, as she always wanted him to succeed in his endeavors.
