Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 4, 2019)

Since his debut film Vicky Donor (2012), Ayushmann Khurrana has chosen scripts that are unconventional or pathbreaking. So much so that, he has become the go-to actor for subjects that are out of the box. With his last release, Article 15, the 34-year-old has delivered five back-to-back hits, starting with Shubh Mangal Savdhaan as well as Bareilly Ki Barfi in 2017 apart from AndhaDhun and Badhaai Ho last year. And, of the 12-odd films that have released so far, four of them have won National Awards! These include Vicky Donor, Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2016), Badhaai Ho and AndhaDhun. The latter also fetched him the Best Actor Award. Ayushmann says, “I am a seeker of good stories. Stories that move us, entertain us and spark a conversation. I love stories that people can relate to, are inspiring and makes us ponder. I have actively sought such amazing scripts and have been fortunate enough to find some of these brilliant gems in my career so far. I consider myself extremely lucky that four of my films have won National Awards and I have also bagged a National Award for Best Actor.”

The actor adds that the National Awards are a huge validation for his script sense because he only chooses films that he would love to see in theatres. “I look for stories that are unique and are essentially about the incredible common man. As an actor, I invest deeply in choosing the right script because, today, the story and the choice of films are all that matter. I think I’m at a stage in life where I could do the best projects because audiences expect good cinema from me. I won’t be able to give them and myself any less.”

Ayushmann’s upcoming films are in line with his quirky sensibilities. There’s Dream Girl in which he will be seen as someone with a special ability of talking in female voice, Bala in which he will be shown as a guy dealing with premature balding, Gulabo Sitabo where he shares screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in a unique tenant-landlord relationship, and last but not least, Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan, which deals with the sensitive issue of gay relationship. He will essay a homosexual character in this sequel of Shubh Mangal Savdhaan.