We need to choose scripts that are massier, says Ayushmann
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; December 12, 2023)

In a conversation with us, Ayushmann Khurrana talked about the need for family entertainers and massy films, the characters he would like to play on screen and shares his views about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the creative space.

‘A theatrical film has to be a family entertainer’
Ayushmann’s last release, Dream Girl 2, met with success at the box office. However, the actor, who is known for his hatke roles in socially relevant subjects, also wants to do something grand and spectacular on the big screen. He says, “At this point, I think for a theatrical (big screen experience), you need to also be relatable. It can’t be completely alienated in terms of concept. You need to choose scripts that are massier, commercial and also reach a wider audience. It has to be a family entertainer, and after all, I love being on the big screen.”

‘Coming from a theatre background, my language is my strong point’
In terms of spectacle films, Ayushmann wants to try his hand at mythology. He says, “I would love to do a mythological film someday. Coming from a theatre background, my language is my strong point. My Hindi is pretty good. I think in Hindi. It is difficult for a Chandigarh boy to speak shuddh Hindi, but thankfully, in my family, there was this tradition of reading a lot of Hindi books, shayari and poetry. I have read Munshi Premchand and Harivansh Rai Bachchan. So, yes, I am dying to do a mythological film. As an actor, you can have a field day if your language is good.”

‘AI-generated content lacks soul’
Apart from acting, Ayushmann has always made his love for music known. Ask him if he is concerned about the way AI is being used to recreate popular voices, and he says, “Of course, it is nerve-racking, but only till a point, where it doesn’t develop the soul. I have tried ChatGPT. I tried using it to write like Gulzar saab, Javed Akhtar saab and Ghalib, and it probably got the grammar right, but the soul was missing. I feel AI may take care of some technical jobs, but how will you get the soul (in a creative job)? It’s all about the soul.”

‘I played Ashwatthama in college and won awards’
Talking about the mythological character that he wishes to play on screen, Ayushmann says, “You will be surprised to know that during my college days, I played Ashwatthama. We did a play called Andha Yug by Dharamvir Bharati. It’s a famous play in Hindi, and I got a lot of awards for playing Ashwatthama. I would also love to play Krishna, Arjun or even Chanakya.”