How Neven Tomic Found a New Chapter in Vertical Dramas

Known for playing powerful CEOs, mafia bosses, and unforgettable villains, Neven Tomic has become a fixture in vertical dramas. The actor's growing success follows a career that stretches back well before his first vertical role.

Neven Tomic had already spent years working in film and television before audiences in the vertical drama space began recognizing his face. In recent years, however, the actor has become a familiar presence across platforms such as ReelShort, DramaBox, and ShortTV, playing everyone from mafia bosses and billionaires to protective fathers and romantic leads.

His growing body of work has also earned attention from fans, including a nomination for Villain of the Year at the 2025 Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards for his role in "Shh... We're a Secret."

A Career That Started Long Before Verticals

According to IMDb, Tomic's screen career stretches back to at least 2007, with credits that predate the rise of short-form vertical dramas. Over the years, he appeared in projects including "Revolver," "A Foreign Exchange Love," and "Blonde Squad," while also earning a writing credit and a production department credit along the way.

While many viewers may know him primarily from his recent vertical drama work, his filmography shows that he spent years building experience before entering the genre that would introduce him to a wider audience.

Taking the Leap Into Vertical Dramas

In an October 2025 Instagram post, Tomic reflected on what he described as his first vertical drama, "Fated Love," which filmed in the summer of 2024. The project also marked his first leading-man role in the format.

Looking back on the experience, he described it as both exciting and challenging. After working on projects that required less dialogue, he admitted that adjusting to the fast pace of vertical productions and the amount of memorization required took time. He recalled repeatedly reviewing scenes, waking up early to practice lines, and working through moments when the material did not immediately stick.

Despite the challenge, Tomic called the experience one he would not forget and described "Fated Love" as one of his favorite vertical projects.

Becoming a Familiar Face Across Platforms

Following "Fated Love," Tomic quickly became a regular presence across multiple vertical drama platforms.

In a March 2025 Instagram post, he shared a running list of his vertical projects, which included titles such as "Fated Love with My Fiancé's Uncle," "The Devil Wears Desire," "Whirlwind Marriage, Secret Twins," "My Triple Life with My Billionaire Crush," "The Reunion Genius Baby," "Cherished by My Sweet Zaddy," "Submitting to My Ex's Dad," and "Shh... We're a Secret."

That list has continued to grow. Recent credits include "The Mafia King Wants Me," "Seducing Mr. Larsen," "I Killed My Stepfather with a Kiss," "Punished by His Love," "The God of Speed: The Legend Returns," and numerous other titles released throughout 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Many of these projects cast him in authoritative roles, including CEOs, billionaires, mafia leaders, and powerful father figures. He is frequently chosen for characters who project confidence, charisma, and a commanding presence, traits that have become recurring features of his on-screen work.

Finding His Own Approach to the Craft

Tomic's social media also offers occasional glimpses into how he prepares for roles.

In one Instagram post from 2024, he shared that he sometimes studies scripts while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to remote locations away from distractions. He described mountain and desert settings as places where he can focus on character work, experiment with dialogue, and connect more deeply with a role.

The post offers a rare look behind the scenes at an actor who otherwise keeps much of his personal life private.

Outside of acting, his Instagram features a mix of professional photos, modeling work, and occasional glimpses of interests such as motorcycle riding. One post highlights a Harley-Davidson motorcycle he has owned for nearly two decades.

Embracing Persistence

Another theme that appears throughout Tomic's social media is persistence.

The message offered insight into the mindset behind a career that has spanned nearly two decades and multiple corners of the entertainment industry.

A Growing Presence in the Vertical Drama Space

Although Tomic had already established a career before entering the vertical drama world, the format appears to have opened a new chapter for him. Since making his first vertical in 2024, he has accumulated an extensive list of credits across several platforms and genres, from romance and hidden-identity stories to mafia dramas and family sagas.

Whether playing a billionaire, a mafia king, a protective father, or a memorable antagonist, Tomic has become one of the increasingly familiar faces helping shape the growing world of vertical dramas.