A parshakti Khurana, who was recently in Goa, made the most of his work trip. The actor, radio jockey and television host loves visiting Goa. “Where I stay depends on the things I want to do. If I want to relax, it’s the south, if I want to party, then it’s the north,” he says, in between sips of cool coconut water.

‘I LOVE MY FAMILY TIME’
Since becoming a dad to daughter Arzoie in 2021, he has realigned his priorities. “Earlier, I used to get off a flight and go to my office or shoots, but now I go home first, visit my daughter and only then go to work. ” The actor loves being a dad and taking on daddy duties. He says, “I like to come home immediately after shoots. Now I try to take longer projects in Mumbai, and travel only occasionally.”

‘MY COMEDY FILMS ARE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED’
Having completed shoots for the films Berlin, Jubilee and Jab Khuli Kitab, he is now looking to work in genres other than comedy as well. So does he fear being stereotyped? “An actor is stereotyped till he starts doing bad, unsuccessful, flop films. My comedy films are doing well and some are critically acclaimed. But I don’t think I am stereotyped. If I were, I wouldn’t have been a part of films like Dhokha Round D Corner, Berlin or Jubliee,” he signs off.

AYUSHMANN AND I HAVE A RAM-LAKHAN RELATIONSHIP
Aparshakti says his elder brother Ayushmann Khurrana has always been his rock and guide. “Having an elder brother in the industry really helps; there are times when I get scolded, if I’m doing something wrong, but I need that discipline. At the end of the day, he is my older brother. He makes sure that I sleep on time, if I have a shoot the next day,” says Aparshakti.

Talking of his relationship with his bhaiya through the years, he says, “We have always shared a typical elder-younger brother bond and I have always looked up to him. We come from a small town and a middle-class family, and were brought up in a way where I had to touch his feet and take his blessing. So, we’ve always had a Ram-Lakhan kind of relationship.”

Two months ago, actor Aparshakti Khurana made his debut as a solo lead in Helmet. While the film received a lukewarm response, he believes that it has added a new leaf to his career. “It makes complete sense to keep doing lead roles now and if the fraternity is sending you such scripts, it’s a no-brainer. When you do get such scripts, why would you pick up stories where you are the second lead?” he asks, adding, “I’m getting those scripts right now where I’m the lead. I’m trying to zero down on a few of them.”

The Pati Patni aur Woh (2019) actor quips that he would be open to playing the second lead only if a film starring Aamir Khan, Vijay Sethupathi, Kamal Haasan or Amitabh Bachchan comes his way. But he quickly clarifies, “I’ll choose films keeping an open mind. I wouldn’t think, ‘My journey as a lead actor is going on right now.’ If I get to be a part of films with them, I don’t have to think twice because I’ll be surrounded by people, who will only make me a better actor.”

On the personal front, the Hum Do Hamare Do actor turns 34 today. It is a rather special birthday for him as this is his first after becoming a father. Khurana has flown back to Chandigarh to be with his wife, Aakriti Ahuja, and daughter Arzoie to celebrate the day.

So, what’s he looking forward to in the next year? “I just bought a new apartment in Mumbai. The interior design is going on, which Aakriti is taking care of. That’s going to take a couple of more months to get sorted. Arzoie is still in Chandigarh as we can’t keep changing her surroundings. She needs to be comfortable,” ends Khurana.

Aparshakti Khurana talks about his next, which he hopes to wrap up by September
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 31, 2020)

It has been almost four months since Aparshakti Khurana moved to Chandigarh to spend time with family. During the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown, he released two singles, collaborated on an audio script, and shot for almost 15 brands at home.

“A productive mindset keeps you energised and creative. I don’t want to go with a lazy mindset to the set whenever shooting resumes,” reasons the actor, who shot with his parents and wife for the first time while handling the shoot by himself. “Since I had done radio before, I am used to multi-tasking and doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work. So, this was not new.”

Aparshakti returns to the city on September 8 to complete work on his first film as a leading actor, Helmet. “Just the climax is left, which is only a couple of days’ work. We should resume by mid or end-September depending on the situation,” he informs.

The film is about condoms, not so much to promote its usage as much as it is about including the word in our daily vocabulary. “We just want to establish that it’s normal to go and ask for a condom at a store. The film ends on the word ‘condom’, to normalise its usage, and not something that has to be whispered into someone’s ear or conveyed through gestures,” he avers, adding that he plans to start his next film around October 15. “It will require some outdoor shooting, so we are still figuring out places where the impact of the virus has subsided.”

Apar and brother Ayushmann Khurrana shared glimpses of their family time on social media during the lockdown.

However, Apar denies a film together on cards for them. “There are offers, but we haven’t found something that we both connect on,” he reveals, happy that the brothers celebrated Raksha Bandhan together at home after almost 12 years. “It was amazing to be with family as that is what makes a festival worth celebrating.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 7, 2020)

Over the past few days, we have seen actors, including Himansh Kohli and Radhika Madan, flying off to be with their families in Delhi. Now, Aparshakti Khurana, who hails from Chandigarh, has decided to drive all the way from Mumbai to his hometown to be with his parents. He had been observing the situation around the city and the country over the past few days and after a lot of thought, decided to head home.

Talking to BT en route, the actor said, “I’m driving down to Chandigarh with my wife Aakriti. Given that the current scenario is slightly better, this looked like a good time for us to travel to Chandigarh. Our parents really want us to be there. They have been missing us and we, too, want to be by their side in such trying times. For me, family is always top priority. We have taken all the necessary precautions in the best possible way.”

A week ago, the actor had spoken to BT about deliberating over travelling to Chandigarh. He had said, “I spoke to a couple of friends and Radhika (Madan), who recently flew to Delhi. A few of my other colleagues are also planning to travel. We have been thinking about it, too. Having said that, we are fine in Mumbai. In fact, the Khuranas have two homes in the city — bhaiyya (Ayushmann Khurrana) ka aur mera. We belong here now, yehi ghar hai apna, yehi sheher hai. I know that Mumbai is more sensitive when it comes to the number of Coronavirus cases, but it’s not like we have spent sleepless nights here.”

After wrapping up his first film as a hero, which revolves around contraceptives, Aparshakti Khurana playing musical games with friends, family
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 16, 2020)

Ayushmann Khurrana’s younger brother, Aparshakti Khurana, came into the spotlight with Dangal, and followed it up with comic turns in Luka Chuppi, Bala and Pati Patni Aur Woh in close succession. When the lockdown was enforced by film bodies on March 19, the actor had just wrapped up shooting for his first film as a leading man. Helmet, a social-comedy featuring Pranutan Bahl, is set in Varanasi. “It’s directed by Satram Ramani and written by Luka Chuppi writer Rohan Shankar and revolves around condoms. I am excited for the film,” he beams.

Meanwhile, Aparshakti is utilising the Coronavirus-induced house arrest to try out new things. “I am learning how to cook and brushing up my knowledge of classics. I am also reading scripts and working out with the help of fitness videos,” the actor shares, adding that in the last few days, he has watched Martin Scorsese’s Leonardo DiCaprio-starrer psychological thriller, Shutter Island, and the 2016 sports drama, Race. By the end of the lockdown, he intends to become an expert at rustling up his favourites—kaale chaney, dhokla and aloo paratha.

While everyone is feeling the pinch of social distancing, the actor recently devised an innovative plan to touch base with family and friends. On March 24, he launched ‘Quarantine Antakshari’ online, which saw Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and his brother, Ayushmann, join in. “Honestly, it was my singer-friend Jonita Gandhi’s idea. Aakriti (his wife) and I were thinking of things to do. That’s when we thought of putting our musical skills to use. The idea was to ask friends, family to sing, but everyone is not a singer, I thought to go ahead with Antakshari, where no one is judged for their skills,” he smiles.

The actor talks about how he occupies a different space as an actor, and the equation he shares with his brother and bhabhi
Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; September 9, 2019)

In an industry where comparisons are inevitable, it’s not easy to have a National Award-winning and commercially hit actor as your brother. Of all people, Aparshakti Khurana would know.

While he has carved a space for himself as a successful character artiste, there’s no escaping from being compared to his big brother, Ayushmann Khurrana. In a recent chat with BT, Aparshakti said, “I have been doing well in my space. Fortunately, not many people have compared Ayushmann and me till now, but whenever someone does, I don’t pay heed to it. Such comparisons won’t affect my craft. I am saying this because as actors, we occupy different spaces in the industry. Also, comparisons are only possible between equals. Ayushmann has been working for the past 11 years, while I am just three-years-old in Bollywood.”

Aparshakti says that Ayushmann is more of a parent than a brother to him. And, he shares an equally close bond with his bhabhi, Tahira Kashyap. The actor shares, “She (Tahira) was a family friend and back then, I used to call her didi. I used to blackmail my brother about all his secrets, but I have never blackmailed him about bhabhi because I respected them and their relationship. In fact, I never even told our parents about it in the initial days. Bhabhi has brought in a different sort of positivity, and since she is the first girl in our family, she made both of us (Ayushmann and him) chivalrous. I share a warm and friendly equation with her. She knows everything about my work and I discuss all my films with her.”

As he ventures into music, Aparshakti Khurana says his actor brother Ayushmann Khurrana doesn't mince words when discussing his career
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; June 3, 2019)

Aparshakti Khurana fronts his debut single, Kudiye Ni, but a conversation reveals that the T-Series offering is more of a family affair. Long-time friend Neeti Mohan accompanies him on vocals, Chandigarh buddy Sargun Mehta grooves alongside him in the video, which has wife Akriti helming duties as an art director, and sister-in-law Tahira Kashyap calling the shots as director. Reminiscent of the visual beauty of Nitya Mehra's Baar Baar Dekho (2016) — the film though, failed to earn critical acclaim — this track has Khurana wooing Mehta at a common friend's wedding. He tells us why it took him four years to release the track after composing it in his vanity van, during the shoot of Dangal.

Edited excerpts:

Despite being a fan of music, why have you taken this long to launch your debut single?
My decision to come to Mumbai was also taken seven years after the release of [Ayushmann Khurrana's 2012 film] Vicky Donor. It's easy to [discuss] nepotism because people assume you have someone to guide you. But, it's equally important to be prepared for anything you wish to venture into. If I had released this song immediately after [debut film] Dangal, people would have said I'm just [trying everything]. It was important to wait for the right people to collaborate with and for the right time.

Given that this track marks your sister-in-law Tahira Kashyap's first directorial venture following her recovery from cancer, can you discuss the process of approaching her?
Bhabhi had first picked up a conversation with me to inquire if I would like to act in her film. That's when the discussion [around this song] began. But, things picked up pace when a brand came on board. They were in a hurry, and then I couldn't be patient, because I was clear that I wasn't going to put my own money into my song. One must be patient enough to at least have someone willing to sponsor you. When that happened, I went back to her and told her we had 10 days to shoot it. She wasn't apprehensive at all. When she was diagnosed, she was happy, positive and strong. We've seen her posts and Ted Talks. It's so difficult to have energy when you are in that state. When she was [unwell], in her head she was still fine. So, now that she's healthy, she is more than fine.

Since Ayushmann has made his mark as a musician, did you seek his advice before taking the plunge?
When I first made him hear the song four years ago, he said, 'Give it time.' When he says that, you know that he likes it, but it needs work. Ayush bhai offers me a reality check when it comes to acting and singing. He scolds me, telling me I'm not ready. Bhai is strict. Although today it seems like things are half-sorted [in my career], he will still call at 10 pm asking me to go to bed if I have an early shoot [the next day]. Papa yells at bhai the way he yells at me. I'm happy when that happens [laughs]. But, bhabhi has always encouraged me. Their different energies help me. Her support and his [yelling] keep me focused. If bhai doesn't like a song, he will say it's s**t. In the past, when I've sent him a few compositions, he hasn't even replied. I understand [he's being] honest, and accept it.

Aparshakti Khurana on his co-stars in Remo D’Souza’s next
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 28, 2019)

After working with Varun Dhawan in Shashank Khaitan’s Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Shraddha Kapoor in the horror-comedy Stree, Aparshakti Khurana reunites with the actors with Remo D’Souza’s Street Dancer. After the film’s Punjab schedule last month, Aparshakti returned from London on Wednesday. Next week he kicks off the third schedule. “I play a Sardar on screen for the first time and it is the only non-dancing character in the film,” the actor says, adding that he is extremely fond of Varun and Shraddha. “I found another brother in Varun. I was a part of the shoot at the Wagah border on Republic Day. It was surreal. It was fun working with Shraddha again too.”

He is currently doing the pre-release rounds for Luka Chuppi, which is fronted by Kriti Sanon and Kartik Aaryan. “There were many reasons for me to take up the film. I play a Muslim character for the first time, I have never been to Gwalior or Mathura and the combination of Kartik, Kriti, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak was exciting for me,” he rattles off his wishlist.

Next up, the actor has the tentatively-titled Kanpuriye with Vijay Raaz and Divyendu Sharma and the Ekta Kapoor-produced Jabariya Jodi featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra as leads. “I play Parineeti’s childhood friend, who is in love with her. I will be seen spouting some sher-o-shayari this time,” he signs off. 

Despite the success of his last blockbuster, Stree, and the fact that he doesn’t need to be introduced as Ayushmann Khurrana’s brother anymore, Aparshakti Khurana says that he still cannot believe that he is an actor
Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; December 28, 2018)

Actor Aparshakti Khurana no longer needs to be introduced as Ayushmann Khurrana’s younger brother as he has managed to forge an identity for himself in the industry in less than two years. But it has not been an easy journey for the cricketer-turned-RJ-turned-actor. Aparshakti says it was not an overnight decision to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother, but it took him seven years of hard work and perseverance to reach where he is today. Currently enjoying the success of his last blockbuster, Stree, Aparshakti has finished shooting for Luka Chuppi, which also stars Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi. Another project that is keeping him busy these days is Jabariya Jodi in which he plays Parineeti Chopra’s love interest. The movie also has Sidharth Malhotra in the lead. The actor, who was in Delhi recently, spoke about his immense love for Dilli ka khana, reality checks that he and Ayushmann give each other and why he still introduces himself as a sports anchor.

‘I MISS DELHI’S DELICIOUS FOOD’
Before joining the industry, Aparshakti worked as an RJ in Delhi, and like any other foodie, he cannot stop talking about Delhi’s food. “Delhi mein number one hai food aur mujhe aise sapne aate hain khane ke. Neend nahi aati hai raat ko, jaise hi sota hoon, aisa lagta hai chhole bhature kha raha hoon,” he says, adding, “Not much has changed in the city since I have shifted to Mumbai. I think it is exactly the same, the warmth of the people here is the same. When I shifted to Delhi from Chandigarh, it was rather a liberating atmosphere for me because I was quite pampered at my home in Chandigarh. So when I shifted to Delhi all by myself and experienced that independent life that every recent graduate wants, I think that really improved me as a professional and individual as well.”

‘I FOLLOWED MY BROTHER’S CREATIVE SENSIBILITIES’
It is not just films that are common between the brother duo — both have been cricketers, RJs and now, actors. “I think personally also, we had quite a similar journey. He also got married early and I followed in his footsteps, and I am not complaining,” says Aparshakti.

The Stree actor shares that the decisions he took in life were not planned, but there was a structure to move in the right direction. “When you really plan things, they don’t turn up in the right way. I don’t think it was planned. Of course, there was a certain kind of structure in our heads to move in the right direction in terms of our work. So touchwood, God has been kind to let things work out for both of us,” he says.

So, do they discuss work or advice each other professionally? “I think instead of advice, we give each other a lot of reality checks. That is what I think makes you a better person, a better professional and that’s what helps you to make better decisions. If I advice him about something, it may be good or bad for me and vice-versa. It is not that we don’t advice each other as we know what is happening in each other’s lives, which scripts have come to him or what scripts have come to me, we discuss projects and a lot of other things but more than that, we both are there for each other in a very strong way and that is what helps,” says Aparshakti.

He adds that rather than following in Ayushmann’s footsteps, his brother inspired him. “It wasn’t an overnight decision to follow in his footsteps. It took a lot of time to understand what he was doing. It required a lot of hard work, passion and energy to prepare myself to do what he was doing because I came from a completely different school of thought. The best part about this journey was that all of this would not have happened (referring to his professional life) if we would have just been the star brother duo. We rather discussed how to take small steps towards a creative field and hence, radio and theatre started. With theatre, music started and that took a lot of time. That is why I will not say that I started following him blindly, I think I started following his creative sensibilities and started working towards my creative sensibilities to reach where I am today,” he says.

‘I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE THAT I AM AN ACTOR’
Though Aparshakti has a lot on his platter now, it is still difficult for him to believe that he is an actor. “I still can’t believe that I am an actor because I look so different in real life. I don’t look like Bittu from Stree, I don’t look like Omkar from Dangal or my other characters in films. So, if I am in a place where people don’t follow cinema, and when I introduce myself, I just can’t say that I am an actor. I introduce myself as a sports anchor, or something like that because a lot of people do not relate to this face. Recently, a digital platform wished me on my birthday and wrote something about my journey from Dangal to Stree. So somebody commented, ‘Where was he in Stree?’ Toh main sochta hoon ki main kya karun? Bittu aur Omkar jaise hi banke ghooma karun real life mein?” he says. 

As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 18, 2018)

To start with, I wanted to be a cricketer. I even captained the Haryana Under-19 cricket team but then, ended up studying law for five years in Chandigarh. After that I landed my first job under senior lawyer Amarjit Singh Chandhok at the Delhi High Court and worked with him for around three months. My duties involved helping senior lawyers research cases, finding precedent judgements which could help them nail a case and take care of their files. But I quickly realised that I wasn’t cut out for the profession.

An eye-opener was Chandhok sir’s commitment and 24x7 dedication to the profession. I remember one day I had gone to his residence at around 2 am to deliver a file. Three hours later, another colleague went with another file. And as usual we all met at work again at 8 am. I was really impressed with his passion and the hours he was working. But it only made me realise that I didn’t have that kind of passion or perseverance as far as law goes. I wanted to do something creative and I also wanted some ‘me time’ so I could have fun and travel a bit too. So, I quit and became a copywriter.

I used to write scripts to promote different brands and compose jingles for them too. This job put me on the path of becoming a radio jockey. Thank God, both my father and mother are equally creative in their own ways or they might not have agreed to me quitting law to become an RJ. Dad is a writer with many books on astrology and vastu shastra to his name while my mother is a really creative home-maker. Both have always been very supportive, and dad always told me to do what made me happy and not chase after money. In my eight years on radio, I worked with three radio stations, but not once did I haggle with the Human Resources team for money.

I really enjoyed my stint as an RJ. Like all others, this one too was a full-time job. We worked 12 hours a day, but it was a lot of fun interviewing various celebs. My favourite was Vidya Balan who was candid and transparent. Another memorable interaction was with Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur who had come to my radio station to promote their film, Aashiqui 2. Since they played singers, we jammed together. At that point I had no way of knowing that one day I would be doing a horror comedy with Shraddha, Stree.

Our office had a fancy gym and whenever I would feel low, I would quickly go and work out for an hour. Sometimes my boss would jokingly crib, and I would remind them that the time I spend in the gym is far less than the number of smoke breaks they all take together. My days on radio were really special and I owe a lot to my stint there and those I worked with.

While I was working as an RJ, I started anchoring events. I’d also host a street food show and a fitness programme on a leading TV channel, along with a dance show for Doordarshan. I was dabbling in theatre as well and an assistant casting director spotted me in a Munshi Premchand play and recommended me for Neeraj Pandey’s Saat Uchakkey, which featured Manoj Bajpayee, Vijay Raaz and Annu Kapoor among other great actors.

People often tell me to credit Dangal as my first film, but I would never lie. Just because my first child didn’t do as well as the second, I can’t abandon it. I am very proud of both Saat Uchakkey and Dangal that gave me a chance to share screen space with Aamir sir (Khan).

Around the time I wanted to shift to Mumbai to pursue my acting aspiration. Ayushmann bhaiya (Khurrana, actor-brother) wasn’t too convinced and told me, “Yeh sheher tumhe khud bulayega.” So, I stayed back in Delhi. But four months after I auditioned for Dangal, I got a call from casting director Mukesh Chhabra and Aamir sir’s office informing me that I had bagged the role of Omkar, Babita and Geeta Phogat’s cousin. I was at my radio studio, about to begin my show for the day, when I got the news. I had tears in my eyes. Bhaiya’s words had come true.

When I came to Mumbai to start my prep for the 2016 biographical sports-drama, I didn’t even have to pay for my flight tickets.

Destiny flew me down to the Maximum City.


Clockwise from above: Aparshakti with Arjun Kapoor; a still from Dangal; the actor with brother Ayushmann Khurrana

Aparshakti Khurana's act in Stree earning him more accolades than that in Aamir Khan's Dangal, Ayushmann Khurrana's brother on why he's going to be selective now
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 5, 2018)

While Aamir Khan's Dangal made Aparshakti Khurana popular with Bollywood's casting directors, the actor says it is his role as Rajkummar Rao's friend in Stree that brought him acclaim from movie buffs. Catching up with mid-day in the midst of shooting for Luka Chuppi in Gwalior, Khurana tells mid-day, "People don't remember me from Dangal at all. I looked different in the film when compared to how I do off screen. It's good that I could transform myself. But, I had to keep reminding people that I am the actor from that film."

Khurana is quick to point out that the film, in which he played cousin to the wrestling stars, made him capable of choosing the right scripts in his career. "I may not have done a film that sees me as the leading man because it's more important to do good roles. Running after screen time isn't my motive. I want to earn credibility as an actor. There were films that I turned down, even though I was being offered the lead role. Today, many of them haven't seen the light of day. I don't see a point in being part of forgettable movies."

A discussion on elder
brother Ayushmann Khurrana's involvement in his career is inevitable. Khurana says his brother's journey has only been a lesson on life for him. "I have learnt immensely from his patience. I am here to be an actor, not a hero. The latter's career is short-lived. He [Ayushmann] always told me that I need [to craft] my own journey. That is why neither of us is the subject of discussion on nepotism, ever. He has never asked any director to give me a role. He is a supportive sibling, one who helps me remain passionate about films."