Showing posts with label Ayushmann Khurrana interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ayushmann Khurrana interview. Show all posts
Pati Patni Aur Woh Do was tentatively titled Prayagraj Ka Prajapati-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:34 AM
From clutterbreaking cinema to family entertainers, Ayushmann Khurrana reflects on his evolving choices
Sonal Kalra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 16, 2026)
His career spans 14 years, and he already has a National Award to his name, apart from the moniker ‘clutter breaker’. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, currently tickling the audience’s funny bone with his latest flick Pati Patni Aur Woh Do (PPAWD), spoke on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra about his upcoming choices, post-Covid trajectory shift, and more:
Currently, high-end, action, nationalistic-flavour films are trending. It’s said that the era of films keeps changing, and this one’s the current flavour. What do you think is the future of slice-of-life films like yours?
Kisi bhi zamaane mein aaiye, clutter break hona chahiye. I don’t feel like following whatever is working. This has been my genre, of course, but going forward, even I am doing an action film, it will be an action-comedy. I guess whatever interests me or engages me to my core, I go for it rather than thinking about trends or algorithms in cinema.
You bring relatability to the table as an actor. Pati Patni Aur Woh Do has three female leads with you. Is there stress that along with the relatability, people might brand this character a ‘cheater’?
We are not promoting infidelity with this film. In fact, out of all the films in the Pati Patni franchise, only ours has a male lead who doesn’t have a roving eye. He’s loyal to his wife. It’s a comedy of errors; he gets caught in such situations.
You shot in Prayagraj. What was special about the experience?
I had never shot there before this film. In fact, this film was tentatively titled Prayagraj Ka Prajapati! But since Pati Patni Aur Woh has been an iconic franchise since the first film in the 1970s, the producers titled it this. So many films have been based in Kanpur and Varanasi till now, so we thought Prayagraj is the one!
You said recently that failure doesn’t bother you, you are more afraid of making safe but boring films. Can you elaborate on this?
I always wanted to be courageous when it comes to my choices. Courage surpasses talent most of the times. Kabhi kabhi aap mein voh kadam lene ki himmat nahi hoti, jabki aap ke paas talent hota hai. This (PPAWD) is a commercial, safe film. My upcoming films are courageous. I did films like An Action Hero (2022) and Andhadhun (2018). It has to be a mish-mash so that my commercial films can help my other kind of films.
You have Yeh Prem Mol Liya coming up. What’s the status of the shoot, and what’s it like to be on a Sooraj Barjatya film set? A lot of sanskaari vibes?
It’s 90% shot; one song and two scenes are left, which is a maximum of seven days of shoot. It will release on November 27 this year. Jab main Sooraj sir ke set pe jaata hoon toh unke set ko naman karta hoon, touch his feet! It really feels like I have come to a temple. He’s such a spiritual person, very clean-hearted. Unse zyaada sant insaan industry mein koi nahi hai. He’s a purist and goes by his vision, hamesha audience aur fans ko saath mein leke chalte hain. Every actor in his film’s cast is the hero. The last time I did a film like this was Badhaai Ho (2018), jahaan naani se lekar daadi tak, everyone was an important character. We are going back to that. The entire family is the star of the film, and only Sooraj Barjatya can do that.
Are there any actors, too, whose feet you feel like touching as you are blown by their talent?
(Actors) Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan sir, of course we revere them. Among my contemporaries, I really love Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. We have a lot of exciting actors in our industry, but these are the ones I really respect.
When you are home, is there active involvement of your family in your work? Is there advice that you get from your kids, or any suggestion?
I am doing films which cater to family audiences. My daughter Varushka (12) watched the edit of Pati Patni… recently, and she loved it! That’s the barometer — that my kids enjoy my films. It has to reach Gen Alpha also, apart from Millennials and Gen Z. I want to do family films and get them into theatres. The fun of community watch is amazing.
You have done a host of films on taboo subjects — from sperm donation to erectile dysfunction. Is there another taboo which makes you think, ‘Iss pe film banegi toh I would want to work in it’?
I think maine saare taboo topics khatam kar diye hain (laughs). I have worked in so many films based on them. It limits the family audience. I did films on taboo subjects before the Covid pandemic. Even after that, I did Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021) and Doctor G (2022), which didn’t get as much at the box office as I hoped for. After OTT became big, I only looked for films which were for wider audiences. Taboo break se zyaada relatable subjects which people can watch together. Everything was so different before the pandemic; the films I did had tremendous box office uproar. But things changed post-pandemic.
What’s your life mantra?
Courage is bigger than talent. Take risks. Sahi waqt kabhi nahin hota; jab aap karte ho, tabhi sahi waqt hota hai.
North vs South mindset isn't the right step forward-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:06 AM
Roopa Radhakrishnan (BOMBAY TIMES; July 2, 2025)
Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana was recently in Ooty, shooting for Thama (the forthcoming film in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe), and spoke to us about his experience filming for the first time in Tamil Nadu, why there shouldn’t be a north vs. south mindset in the film industry, on Hindi cinema’s evolution in the post-pandemic era and more…
Have the lines between the north and the south film industries blurred of late?
The north vs. south mindset isn’t the right step forward for the Indian film industry. We’re moving towards a more unified Indian film industry. It’s an exciting time to be an actor, as collaboration is becoming the cornerstone for change. We saw what Atlee did with Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan and what Nag Ashwin did by bringing together Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan sir in one frame! These projects are bringing together the best of both worlds!
Your films like Vicky Donor Article 15, Andhaadhun and Badhaai Ho have been remade in Tamil. Have you seen any of these? What did you think about them?
I have seen some of the remakes, but I can definitely say that these films being remade in the South is definitely a moment of incredible appreciation for me as an artiste. There is no bigger validation than seeing my films crossing over and entertaining people across my country.
Any south film that you’d love to remake?
I’m not really a believer of remaking films. I feel once a film is made, we should let that be. It’s my personal choice to not look for remakes and keep an eye on new and unique concepts that people have never seen me in before. I’m sure there are a lot of films that could be remade in Hindi, but I would love to do original content, like how I’ve been doing so far.
You’re working with Rashmika Mandanna, who is from the south. Do you see any difference between working with an artiste from the south vis-à-vis someone from Bollywood?
Working with Rashmika has been a delight. She brings a fresh energy to the set, which is needed when you have hectic shoot days. She ensures she knows all the nuances of her scene before she steps on set. Her work ethic is incredible. In terms of the acting process, every actor has a different process and that is not restricted to the industry they come from — but what remains constant is the commitment to the craft.
These days, we routinely hear that Hindi cinema is no longer the force it used to be. Do you think there’s truth in this opinion?
Hindi cinema delivered all-time blockbusters with Pathaan, Jawan, and Animal in a span of 12 months. We also had Stree 2 and Chhaava recently. I guess that answers the question! Every industry goes through its churn, and Hindi cinema, like any industry, is going through an evolution where it will shape a new identity in a post-pandemic world.
What’s your take on the notion that the films that were successful before COVID, especially the ones revolving around middleclass lives, aren’t theatre-friendly anymore?
The pandemic has precipitated a change in content viewing patterns. No one wants to watch something that’s been seen before or, for lack of a better word, vanilla. Anything mediocre won’t work anymore. To me, that’s exciting because it gets us out of our comfort zone. Look at Laapataa Ladies, 12th Fail, The Kerala Story, Munjya or Sita Ramam — these were rooted stories, not hugely budgeted extravaganzas, and they still found their audience. So, if the story hits home, people will show up.
You have an identity as a representative of the middle-class man. Has this image narrowed the stories that come to you?
I’ve found my niche is championing real men who are endearing, relatable, and flawed, but also heroic. It has not narrowed my choices. It’s my personal ambition to be very original. A good film will bring in audiences, and I try to look for the best scripts that our industry is making. In Thama, the audience will see me in a different avatar yet find the quirk that they see in my movies, which has become my calling card!
On his experience shooting in Ooty...
Ooty provided the perfect backdrop for Thama. Every time you turn your head, you see greenery and mountains covered with clouds. This is also the first film I have shot in Tamil Nadu. I have always been a fan of the hospitality and culture of the state. We had a tight schedule, so I didn’t get time to visit popular spots in Ooty. However, I had good local cuisine. I can’t wait to return and visit the place properly.
After watching Rang De Basanti, my friend and I used to take gedi of India Gate and salute-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:22 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; January 28, 2024)
This Republic Day, among the spectators who lined up to watch the parade at Kartavya Path was Ayushmann Khurrana. Ayushmann, who attended the parade for the first time, says that going from watching it on TV every year as a kid to being there in person was quite an experience. Ayushmann also met several officers from the forces and shared that it was amazing to see so many women officers commanding the parade.
“It was like a childhood dream to witness the Republic Day parade live in front of my eyes. It finally happened now and it was wonderful. It was a very overwhelming experience because it is something that is etched in the memory from childhood. I have been watching the parade as a kid on Doordarshan. It used to be a holiday and we would wake up in the morning to watch it. Seeing the Armed Forces march would be inspiring and watching them parade right in front of me this time – hardly 20 feet away – was overwhelming,” he shares.
INSPIRING TO SEE WOMEN OFFICERS COMMANDING R-DAY PARADE: AYUSHMANN
For Ayushmann, the best part of this year’s Republic Day parade was that it was women-oriented. “For the first time, the parade was heralded by 100 women artistes playing Indian musical instruments. Being a musician, I was overwhelmed. The parade had different musical instruments and not just the military musical band. It was very wholesome. I saw women from the Armed Forces taking the center stage, it was phenomenal. This year was dedicated to women, which shows the progressive stance that we as a nation are putting forward in front of the whole world. It was amazing that many women were commanding the parade. I do a lot of progressive cinema and I get really inspired by real incidents like this,” he says.
‘As an actor, whenever one dons a uniform there is also a sense of responsibility’
“My films like Article 15 and Anek have a deep message of inclusivity. In Article 15, I donned a uniform for the first time. As an actor, whenever one dons the uniform (of Armed forces or police) there is a sense of responsibility which also comes. We get in touch with real-life officers, imbibe their body language, imbibe their sense of responsibility and their sense of duty. I’ve met many officers and R-Day was another eye-opener when I met officers from Navy, Army, Air Force and police forces.”
‘For me, Delhi is India Gate’
Ayushmann’s first job was in Delhi, and since his mother is from Delhi most of his vacations were also spent in the city. “I have seen Delhi in every season. It has the charm of changing weather. The AQI was much better 20 years back. We never complained about pollution back then. But the city has its own charm. My favourite memory of Delhi is that when Rang De Basanti released, and my friend and I used to take gedi of India Gate and salute because that was the film that instilled the feeling of patriotism in us. I think everybody has done that and every millennial has done that when the film was released. So, for me, Delhi is India Gate. I used to cross India Gate every morning to host a radio show, and (around R-Day) I used to see all the jawans doing their drills. That was truly inspiring for me. For me, the microcosm of India is New Delhi – the capital.”
It helps sell tickets as a singer if you are a known actor-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:10 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 18, 2024)
From playing a sperm donor in Vicky Donor to essaying a woman in parts in Dream Girl 2, Ayushmann Khurrana, as an actor, is known to surprise the audience. Between the hits and misses, highs and lows, the actor says it is important to strike a balance and not get affected by either.
Reflecting on his definition of success, Ayushmann shares, “For me, success is probably the balance between contentment and ambition. It is a hard balance to strike, but contentment is very important. However, you can’t be overtly content; otherwise, you won’t survive. You also have to be ambitious at the same time.”
‘I want to create three singles a year’
Ayushmann Khurrana, who’s also known for his singing abilities and has popular songs like Paani Da Rang, Saadi Galli Aaja and Mitti Di Khushboo to his credit, also wants to constantly explore his talent in the field of music. “I want to create three singles a year. My musicality is supported heavily by my acting. It helps to fill the auditorium and sell tickets because you are a well-known Bollywood actor. It really helps, and that’s why I will always maintain that I am an actor who sings and not a singer who acts,” he says.
‘Writing a film is not easy’
Apart from acting and singing, Ayushmann wants to focus on writing. “I consider myself a part-time writer (laughs),” he shares, adding, “I normally write couplets or songs. Writing a film is not easy, you need to cut off from the world for six months and I normally shoot for a couple of films in that time. I want to shoot two films a year, create music and write more. But as of now, I love what I am doing – which is acting, music gigs and writing shayari once in a while. I am in a happy space.”
I am dying to do a mythological film; would also love to play Krishna, Arjun or even Chanakya-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:22 AM
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.”
I can’t really see myself in a typical commercial potboiler-Ayushmann Khurrana
3:50 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 5, 2023)
Ayushmann Khurrana is known for his distinct genre of films, which can be best described as out-of-the-box, quirky, brave, and rare. In a career spanning over a decade, he has broken some rules, made new ones, and marched ahead. At a recent session at FICCI Frames 2023, the actor spoke about how he has held his own as an unconventional actor, and what made him redefine the new-age mainstream hero in Bollywood.
‘I HAD NO OPTION, BUT TO TAKE THE UNCONVENTIONAL PATH’
Talking about what prompted him to make the unorthodox career choices that he did, he says, “I think in every era there has been space for every kind of character, every kind of actor. In the 2010s there was a definite void for an actor who was also a character, especially, around the time Vicky Donor (2012) happened. The protagonist was a part of an unconventional film that did commercially well, which was not the norm in the past. When I came to Mumbai in 2008, Ranbir Kapoor had just made his debut. At the time there was this void for actors in their 20s as most of them were in their 30s or 40s. When Ranbir made his debut, I was like, yeh toh aa gaya, ab main kya karunga? Then Ranveer Singh came into the industry in 2010 and again, it made me think… yeh bhi aa gaya ab main kya karunga? I had no option but to take the unconventional path and fortunately, it worked for me. I was an anchor on television, and Shoojit Sircar saw something in me (for Vicky Donor). I didn’t even audition for that film, and it all started there.”
‘THE ONLY TRIP IN MY LIFE IS TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF THE BOX’
While the Andhadhun actor was eagerly waiting to step onto the silver screen, he was extremely cautious about picking the right film to make his debut, even if that meant turning down as many as six offers as a newcomer. “I was a television presenter at that time and was very secure. I was interviewing actors and learning from their success and mistakes. I had this notion ki agar meri pehli picture nahi chali toh mujhe doosra mauka nahi milega. I had six chances before, but the scripts didn’t resonate with me. Vicky Donor was a breath of fresh air. Shoojit Sircar was a credible director and I always thought that this film will earn a lot of credibility, but the kind of commercial success it got was beyond my expectation”.
When asked about the risks he has taken in his journey to becoming Bollywood’s unconventional star and being the one to create a certain genre of films which is unique to him, he explains, “I have built my entire career on risks. I cannot not take risks. I can’t really see myself in a typical commercial potboiler. I have always been an unconventional actor. The only trip in my life is to do something which is out of the box and something which is being attempted in Hindi cinema for the first time.”
He further adds, “I just focus on one film at a time, and I want the film to engage the audience in a certain way. When I had back-to-back commercial successes, all the subjects were unconventional. I never thought that I would be making a genre for myself, it is too much to think about. I was just taking one film at a time and doing my own thing.”
‘RISK-TAKING CAPABILITIES OF FIRST-TIME DIRECTORS ARE FAR MORE’
The actor has worked with several firsttime directors, like Hitesh Kewalya (Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan), Raaj Shaandilyaa (Dream Girl) and Anirudh Iyer (An Action Hero). And what excites him about working with them is that even they have this urge to push boundaries, and of course, it also helps to keep the film’s budget in check. “The risk-taking capabilities of first-time directors are far more than the seasoned ones. The kind of scripts that I get, by default, are with first-time directors. Also, it is about the budgeting of these films. My films are not mounted on a 100-crore scale, so it’s easy to manage the budget of the film I do with a first-time director. The subjects that I pick are risky, and out of syllabus for Bollywood, hence, they have to be made on a certain budget, so that it works out well for everyone,” he says.
‘I MAY NOT BE THE MAIN DRIVER OF A FILM’S STORY’
What stands out in a film headlined by Ayushmann, is also the ensemble cast – who bring along their talent, quirk and energy to the subject. Elaborating on that, the Badhaai Ho actor says, “In my films, I am not really obsessed with my own character, I am obsessed with the whole story. I may not be the main driver of the story, as the characters around me are also very strong, whether it is Jaideep Ahlawat in An Action Hero, Rajkummar Rao in Bareilly Ki Barfi, Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta in Badhaai Ho or Bhumi Pednekar in Dum Laga Ke Haisha.”
‘OTT IS LIKE THE IPL’
The actor who has never been bound by any medium, having started out as a radio jockey and then going to become a mainstream Hindi film actor, says that the digital medium excites him. He shares, “OTT is like the IPL where there’s emerging talent and has space for a lot of people. All we need to do is choose the correct medium for a correct project – that has been my learning from the pandemic. I love the OTT space. No medium is small, be it television or radio. Agar aap ek artiste hai toh aap theatre mein perform karke bhi khush ho sakte ho.”
In Mumbai, there will be Lohri celebrations, but in 20 degree Celsius you don’t get the feel of the bonfire-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:47 AM
Jaspreet Nijher (BOMBAY TIMES; January 14, 2023)
The ‘Chandigarh boy’, as he likes to call himself, Ayushmann Khurrana is missing the warmth of winter bonfire on Lohri. Back in Mumbai for work after a New Year break in Chandigarh, the actor says the Lohri in Mumbai is not quite the same as it is in the freezing winters of Chandigarh.
Do you like to follow the set traditions for Lohri – the bonfire, the revadis, mungfali, the family dinner, etc?
I dig nostalgia and I am a traditionalist at heart. It’s a mixed bag. Sometimes, I feel I am an old soul but at the same time I am full of energy when I see something artistic, aesthetic or creative. Traditions give me butterflies. So, Lohri with its revadi, mungfalis, family dinner...it all reminds me of the winters of my hometown Chandigarh. In Mumbai, there will be Lohri celebrations in our society, but in 20 degree Celsius you don’t get the feel of the bonfire. It is really beautiful and different when it’s below 10 degrees.
How do you make your performances effortless?
It comes with your pattern and the time you have given to your craft. I was a method actor during my college days. But when I dabbled in theatre, radio and live television acting, it made me more spontaneous as a performer and it really penetrated my film journey as well. I believe in reacting more than acting, and when you have credible actors around,your performance gets better.
Your choice of genres and offbeat films has won you the reputation of being a bold actor. Now, what’s next?
My biggest trip in life is to be part of original content and I will be relentless in the search of uniqueness and attempt to be a trailblazer for content in Hindi cinema. As a purist, there is always this battle in your mind and your heart between commerce and art. And I would love to tread the middle path.
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‘WILL MAKE TIME FOR MUSIC THIS YEAR’
I would like to include music in my wishlist and it is something new I will be doing this year. I haven’t been getting time for music because I was doing at least three films a year. So, this year I will be shooting for two films and make time for music. I also want to reach out to more people via commercial Hindi cinema, like Dream Girl 2 which is coming up.
It’s difficult to get the same kind of footfall today for Article 15 that it got back in the day-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:15 AM
Admitting that fans of his brand of social comedies have moved to OTT during the pandemic, Ayushmann Khurrana says An Action Hero is his stab at reinvention
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 21, 2022)
This film has no taboo subject, no message,” he declares. These words, coming from Ayushmann Khurrana, signal a change. In the past few years, the actor has become the poster boy of social comedies. But An Action Hero is far removed from his brand of cinema. “It suits the [audience’s] palette in the post-pandemic era. It’s also my first post-pandemic choice. This movie reinvents me as an actor because I have never done hardcore action before,” he shares.
Anirudh Iyer’s directorial venture sees Khurrana as a popular movie star who has an unlikely encounter with an angry fan. “Of everything that you have seen [from me] in the last few years, this is the most [mainstream] film. It feels like a relaunch,” smiles Khurrana.
So, what prompted the reinvention? Since 2017, he has been on a dream run, having cracked the difficult formula of turning topical social issues into commercially viable projects — be it tackling erectile dysfunction in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017), or questioning casteism in Article 15 (2019). But after the pandemic, the audience doesn’t seek relatable stories on the big screen anymore.
“I am probably the only one in the industry who has to shift gears to [draw audience] to theatres now. It’s tough to make overtly progressive films for theatres today because people, who are progressive, consume entertainment on OTT. It’s difficult to get the same kind of footfall today for Article 15 that it got back in the day. What is the use of an Article 15 if it wasn’t successful on the big screen? OTT consumers already know about these [social issues].”
That’s not to say he won’t lead socially relevant films. The idea is to reimagine them for the big screen so that they reach the audience they want to influence. “How will you reach out to people who are casteist? How is it ‘cinema for change’ when you make progressive content for already progressive people? If [we] make an Article 15 today, it will have more commercial elements. My endeavour will always be to have an Article 15 on the big screen because that’s my stubbornness.”
I think the female gaze is important in any progressive cinema-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:39 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 15, 2022)
He has made a career out of taking risks for the right reasons, by his own admission. He rewrote the rulebook for the mainstream Bollywood leading hero. And with one gutsy act after another, he won over the audience’s love with several light-hearted movies that carried the load of heavy-weight subjects. With Junglee Pictures, Doctor G, which hit the theatres on Friday, Ayushmann Khurrana stepped into an unfamiliar space once again and owned it. In a conversation with us, he talks about the women force in his life, stepping out of his skin for roles and more. Read on…
From being a sperm donor in Vicky Donor, cut to 10 years later, here you are seen delivering babies in Doctor G?
Life has come a full circle, isn’t it? And it’s evident how you have staunchly followed your belief in a certain kind of content-heavy cinema. I have always believed in cinema for change and it is something that I started with my first film, Vicky Donor, and since then, I have been tirelessly treading on that path. I think a film is more palatable to people when it is shown in a way that it has something to say. And yes, you are right that life has come a full circle. It was beautiful that I got a chance to play a doctor in this film, and this is the kind of content that attracts me.
In Doctor G, your character, Dr Uday Gupta is quite a chauvinist, and his beliefs clearly fall within gender stereotypes. In real life, you are a far stretch from that. Tell us about how the women around you have impacted your life and the choices you have made.
It all depends on the kind of women and people you are surrounded with in your life. My grandmom was a pure artiste, she would sing at the gurudwara, and was interested in various art forms. She would appreciate cinema, too. My grandfather was very strict, so she would take her five sons to the theatre to watch movies. She was a huge Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand fan, and she would mimic actors. I have never seen a woman of that age mimic actors, she was ahead of her times. My mother, who taught me Hindi, would really motivate me to take part in debates, especially in Hindi. I was in an all-boys school and college, and then I met Tahira, and she made a gentleman out of me. I really thank these women for shaping my life.
This year you complete a decade in Hindi cinema — quite a landmark year. However, your journey began much earlier — as a theatre artiste, RJ, VJ, TV reality show celebrity and finally, as a Hindi film actor. What is it that remains unchanged about you through this journey which has seen high, lows, and a lot of success?
I think my core is still the same. In my early days, I did a lot of street theatre, which was based on social issues, and I firmly believe that my cinema is an extension of that. My experience in theatre has always helped me choose subjects which are relevant, topical, close to people and mostly taboo. It comes from there. I am still a simple guy from Chandigarh. I would love to call myself a minimalist, I know there are a lot of embellishments that come with this profession, but I would love to stay away from that.
Do you think the fact that filmmakers saw you as this rare lead actor who was willing to push barriers with subjects that most commercial actors would not dare to do (as your roles were not the typical alpha male characters) helped you carve this distinct space you have in the industry today?
I always thought I was an unconventional actor, and I would have to make unconventional choices. I probably saw the industry closely when I was an anchor, journalist and radio presenter. I learnt a lot by watching them and the choices they made closely. I remember when I was a VJ, I had turned down six films. I believed that if I made the wrong choice, then being an outsider, I wouldn’t get a second chance. So, I thought that my first film had to be special and clutter-breaking. And I am glad that I got a movie like Vicky Donor because it couldn’t have been better. Coming from a small city and trying to make it on my own — I didn’t know how else I could have been different. It had to be with choices and films that were different from what was conventional.
It’s the third time in your career that you are being directed by a woman. While gender does not define what one is capable of or how good someone is at a task, do you think that the female gaze makes a difference, or at least for certain subjects?
I think every film should have a female gaze. I know a director is a director, but a female director brings a lot to the table. There is more sensitivity, and you just can’t say anything as the right of humour. I think the female gaze is important in any progressive cinema. I know that a typical commercial cinema could be slightly regressive in nature, and I am saying slightly as I may offend a lot of people, but I understand that it goes with the popular palate. I have worked with three female directors — Nupur Asthana (Bewakoofiyan), Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Bareilly Ki Barfi), and now Anubhuti Kashyap, who is fantastic. I think every film should have a female gaze, not just this. In a lot of commercial films, maa ka kaam kya hota hai? Bas khana parosna? Ya biwi ka kaam kya hota hai? The women have nothing to do in the movie. So, a film like Doctor G is for the women, of the women and by the women.
Today, in the digital era, many actors are talking about taking risks and pushing boundaries to win over a wider section of the audience who consumes content largely on OTT platforms. We have seen you play characters where you are a man battling baldness, figuring out how to deal with erectile dysfunction, impersonating a female voice for a living and more such. And this was all for mainstream cinema and way before the OTT wave. In that sense, would you say you were ahead in your choices and thought process?
Well, maybe. People have called me a trailblazer and trendsetter, as I said earlier, I guess the confidence in my script writers came with my first film. They started thinking so out of the box that they started writing subjects that were not spoken about. From 2017 onwards, I started getting great scripts. I think they started writing keeping me in mind and believing that I would support it and take their vision forward. Also, I am saying this because most of my hit films are with first-time directors or fairly new directors. Doctor G, too, and even my next one. I’ve always been a quintessential risk taker, and I love working with fresh talent as it gives me the impetus to give my best.
And they also fearlessly bring in an entirely new and fresh perspective to cinema, right?
The entire genre of my films is based on fearlessness. And that is important and only a first time director is fearless. The more you succeed and climb the ladder of success, you become fearful of what will happen.
However, in your case, it seems like the appreciation and success you got with every unconventional film, made you more fearless to take on such subjects. Would you agree?
Yes! Every single time I get approached by a script writer or a director, there is no parameter that I have to work with this or that director. Of course, I would like to work with filmmakers like Rohit Shetty, Zoya Akhtar and Raju Hirani. At the same time, I have always got great scripts from first-timers. I have also been doing films which are away from my skin, like Andhadhun, Article 15, and they were very different from my staple genre – slice of life, social comedy, dramedy. Then, I have Action Hero coming up, which is again completely different from my skin. So, I have to break out of my genre after every two-three films, and every time I do that, yes, I get nervous as it is away from my core, and that’s the real challenge.
Almost 70 to 80 per cent of the actors in Anek are from the north east-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:01 AM
With Anek depicting discrimination against people from the region, Ayushmann says inclusive attitude towards the community will strengthen our country
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; May 25, 2022)
Last year, when the country was hailing weightlifter Mirabai Chanu’s silver medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, Ankita Konwar had called out the Indian population’s hypocrisy, pointing out how people usually subject north-east Indians to discrimination and harassment. The otherisation of the community runs deep, festered by our society’s ignorance and apathy. Fortunately, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha and actor Ayushmann Khurrana are taking a step in the right direction with Anek that brings the geopolitical issues of north-east India to the big screen.
The drama has a singular intent — to encourage inclusivity. The actor states, “We generalise the region as north-east, but people there don’t like to be called so. They are proud of their community, their states, and their languages. We don’t get to know much about them because the media has not covered them. Whenever they [go] to other parts of the country, they are discriminated against and suffer racial abuses. We need to make them feel one with the country. We cannot ignore the region that is far more progressive than the mainland. Including them will help the country become more progressive.”
Anek was shot primarily across Assam and Meghalaya. It gave Khurrana the opportunity to get acquainted with diverse communities, their customs and traditions. “The people in Meghalaya carry forward their mothers’ names; most of the shopkeepers are women while the men take care of children at home. It’s among [the few matrilineal] societies in our country,” he marvels.
When telling a story about north-east India, it would only be right that actors from the region give voice to their experiences and hardships. The director roped in Andrea Kevichusa and Loitongbam Dorendra to play pivotal parts in the drama. Proud that the film places importance on representation, Khurrana says, “Almost 70 to 80 per cent of the actors are from the north-east, with the protagonist [Kevichusa] from Nagaland. I have realised that the story needs to be told by those who have suffered it.”
The actor agrees that an attitudinal shift in our society is necessary, and wants to give momentum to the cause through his work. “I will always say something through my art. I am not confrontational as a person, but as an artiste, I am extremely confrontational.”
On World Radio Day, Ayushmann Khurrana turns into his RJ days
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Ayushmann Khurrana attributes his decision to pursue acting to the confidence he gained from radio
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 13, 2022)
Before he became the actor and musician his fans know him as today, Ayushmann Khurrana was a radio jockey. At the age of 22, he began his career in showbiz by hosting a breakfast show that was, coincidentally, about Bollywood! On World Radio Day today, he reflects on his time on the waves, which gave him his first taste of fame.
“Here I was at my first job, and they had given me the breakfast show, which they had hugely promoted. I was on the hoardings in Delhi. That was really new at that time. We did a lot of disruptive content in 2006 and we started as a retro station! At 22, I don’t think there was anyone else in my age group who was well versed in retro Bollywood apart from me,” he recalls.
The 37-year-old, who completes 10 years in the film industry with Vicky Donor (2012), feels it is “very important” for everyone to cherish the starting point of their career. Khurrana says, “Those are the formative years of someone’s career. It can either make you or break you, and I was fortunate to be surrounded by creative people who were looking to disrupt.”
He credits his radio stint with giving him the confidence that he could become an actor in the future. “The success I saw with radio taught me that I could back myself and explore ways to become an entertainer. It is such a coincidence that I have hosted some really off-centre shows. Looking back, I feel I was always drawn to out-of-the-ordinary concepts, and that’s pretty much become my signature today as I tend to pick subjects that are fresh and unique,” he ends.
I feel privileged to contribute to Tahira's film-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:34 AM
Returning to his first love, music-making, Ayushmann Khurrana says 'Kinni soni', created for wife Tahira Kashyap’s short film, is an apt celebration of teenage love
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 2, 2021)
Taking a break from his duties before the camera, Ayushmann Khurrana returned to his place behind the mic for wife Tahira Kashyap. The actor lent his voice to a track from Kashyap’s directorial offering, Feels Like Ishq, the latest anthology series of Netflix that features six love sagas.
Kinni soni has been composed and written by the actor and his college friends, Sameer Kaushal and Gurpreet Saini. “It is a sweet, romantic song that found the right place to be featured in. Quaranteen Crush [Kashyap’s film] is set in Chandigarh amid the pandemic. I had the initial tune in mind, which I elaborated on with my friend Sameer, while Gurpreet contributed to the lyrics,” says the actor.
Tracing the emotions encountered during love at first sight, the track, he says, sheds light on teenage romance “It depicts the innocence of love. Quaranteen Crush shows a world where everything seems beautiful.”
With Khurrana and Kashyap having found love in each other at a young age, creating this offering today was evidently “magical”. “I love exploring new things, and with Tahira by my side, it becomes beautiful. We share a great companionship at work, and I feel privileged to contribute to her film. We’re able to connect and communicate with each other well, and that enriched the entire process. The most memorable part of this journey was working with her. I used to have similar jamming sessions with my friends and Tahira, 15 years ago. The process made me nostalgic.”
Despite the success he has achieved as an actor, Khurrana finds himself returning to composition and writing so often that he refuses to categorise himself as an actor alone. “I like to think of myself as an artiste, one who belongs everywhere — be it in front of the camera, or behind it. It isn’t something I have done for the first time because I’ve made music many times in the past. Also, working with your loved ones is always preferred.”
For me, poetry is a mirror to my soul-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:07 AM
On World Poetry Day today, the actor talks about how he expresses his thoughts and feelings through his poems
BOMBAY TIMES (March 21, 2021)
Besides acting and singing, Ayushmann Khurrana loves penning couplets and poems. The actor often shares his creations that offer his take on love, life and the happenings around us. His poem describing the hardships that people faced during the Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown last year, was appreciated by fans on social media. Today, on World Poetry Day, talking about how poetry has inspired him, the actor says, “Poetry is an expression of life, love, sorrow, pain and experience, and for me, it is my window to reminisce every single moment of my life. It can also be purely imaginative. A poet doesn’t have to experience utmost darkness or extreme mirth to write about varied emotions. They just have to be empathetic.”
The world of poems also offers him an escape route and a place to allow his imagination to run wild. Ayushmann says, “Poetry is a vehicle to daydream my way into a world of future possibilities. I have been an avid lover of poetry all my life, and I consider myself an aspiring poet. Robert Graves once said, ‘To be a poet is a condition, not a profession,’ and I absolutely believe this. I believe all human beings need to reflect, recount and recollect their emotions, life journeys, beliefs and experiences.”
He further shares, “For me, poetry is a mirror to my soul and I try and bare it all every time I write. I’m a deeply passionate person and poetry has always been spontaneous and instinctive.”
The actor finds the process of penning poems cathartic in nature. He says, “I would certainly encourage everyone to write without thinking about how it will turn out because I don’t believe that our deepest emotions can be judged by anyone. However, writing down those feelings brings a lot of clarity and stabilise the fragility of emotions that we go through every day.”
I am certain we will deliver amazing cinematic experiences in 2021-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:29 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; January 1, 2021)
They say, ‘Hindsight is always 20/20’. However, not many can say ‘2020’ without wincing. The scares and scars have been borne by many, but with the New Year on the horizon, there is reason to hope and believe that the worst is behind us. However, it takes the voice of sanity to remind us that, “we need to ponder over what the last year has told us because it has spoken to us rather loudly.” Ayushmann Khurrana has been the voice of a new kind of cinema in Bollywood for some years now, so when he reinforces that, “people will come back to the theatres and celebrate cinema again”, we believe him. Just like we believe in the Vickys, Balas and his other quirky, complex, rare characters on screen. In an interview with BT, the ace entertainer tells us how he’s starting the New Year riding on hope and positivity, while closely holding on to the learnings from the year gone by. Read on…
2020 is finally over! This is probably the most-awaited January 1 in history, for different reasons. What are your thoughts on Day One of 2021?
I think we are all a bit relieved that 2020 is over, but I would like everyone to reflect on the learnings that this year has taught us. It would be wise to ponder over what the last year has told us because it has spoken to us rather loudly. We all need to take a step back from all the excesses and from the desire to want more and more. We need to understand what our priorities are, what little things can give us joy and what makes us human. I hope that we have realised that we are all connected and what one person does, impacts everyone. So, we should always think of being empathetic towards one and all. I’m taking this learning with me into 2021.
Watching yourself on the big screen and your favourite artistes, too — is that among the things that you are waiting to do in 2021?
We are all entertainers and nothing would make us happier than seeing people enjoy cinema again. Theatres are a magical place that can transport us into another world, get us inspired, get us conversing about issues, make us feel happy and wow us with spectacles. I’m certain that our industry will deliver an amazing year of cinematic experiences in 2021. I will have three releases in 2021 — Junglee Pictures’ Doctor G, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, and one more project — and my intent with these releases is to bring people back to the theatres. I’m confident that things will slowly turn for the better in the New Year and I hope to entertain the people of my country thoroughly through my brand of cinema. I’m certain that post the pandemic, people would want to come out with their families and celebrate moments of their lives just how they used to before Coronavirus struck us. At that time, I would want to offer audiences some of the best content that they can hopefully cherish and engage with, and this is my intention for the next year.
Do you think that our experiences and learnings from the year gone by will change the way we make movies, view and perceive films and tell our stories?
I do feel that we will have to make exciting content and great cinema for people to come into the theatres. I don’t think anyone, anymore, would want to see anything mediocre. They just won’t have the patience for anything less than good or excellent. Yes, it will be challenging, but also creatively thrilling for storytellers and actors. I’m confident that people will come back to the theatres and they will come back in hoards to celebrate cinema that speaks to their hearts. It won’t be genre specific. It will just be about good cinema.
You were amongst the first to navigate the new normal and start shooting amid the pandemic. Did the artiste in you feel the urge to get out there, even with risks, to just get the ball rolling?
I have been fortunate enough to shoot through the pandemic. I made a decision to go to my parents’ home and flew to Chandigarh as soon as the lockdown ended. This decision enabled me to shoot for the last six months of the year and I couldn’t be happier. I needed to be on the sets. I needed to feed off that energy and just wanted to be in the middle of the action. I actually wanted to contribute towards restarting my industry and I’m glad that I managed to start and end shooting an entire film in the pandemic! I’m fortunate to have found a beautiful script like Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, which propelled me to start shooting as soon as possible.
You have always shattered stereotypes and broken clutter. Recently, in an interview with us, Nawazuddin Siddiqui said that the Bollywood hero on screen needs to be shaken up a bit. In that sense, you have shaken him up, and now we need to continue stirring. Do we see you exploring more such everyman characters — not the typical hero, yet far from ordinary?
I have a personal ambition to do the best films that my industry is producing, and I strive very hard to discover them. It’s almost like a personal journey to reinvent myself on screen with every single film. It’s a desire to tell stories that are compelling, endearing, inspiring and thought-provoking. So, I’m open to doing any and every role and try my hand in any and every genre possible. But I will only do a film if I’m convinced that it is telling something new to the audience. It needs to be fresh because that’s all that people want to see now.
The fact that you leaped out of the mould early on in your career, do you think that helped you achieve the status you have today — a bankable, relatable, versatile hero who can attract audiences across multiplexes and single screens?
Jumping out of the mould was the most logical and practical decision for me. Being an outsider, I had only one chance, and I had to make it count. So, when Vicky Donor worked so well, it was kind of a relief for me. Also, it bolstered my belief that people want to see something new and exciting on screen and that I don’t need to go down the conventional path to survive and to make a name for myself. I have followed this learning ever since, and I’m really lucky that it has worked out well for me. I’m glad that audiences accepted me and gave me the love to constantly try new things to entertain them. I’m just thankful for their validation because they have actually created me. They have told me what films to choose, and they have told me what kind of content they would love to see from me. I have been a vehicle of their choice, and I couldn’t be prouder as an entertainer.
Children who grow up seeing and experiencing violence often perpetuate violence-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:06 AM
On World Children’s Day, the actor speaks about how he is committed to creating awareness about issues related to children and putting a stop to violence against them
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 20, 2020)
Ayushmann Khurrana took to his social media account on Wednesday to talk about putting an end to violence against children. The actor, currently shooting for Abhishek Kapoor’s next in Chandigarh, has been appointed as UNICEF’s Celebrity Advocate for their global campaign that aims to fight violence against kids. On World Children’s Day today, the actor, while chatting with BT, underlined the need to protect kids, who have become more vulnerable to violence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“COVID-19 has not been easy for anyone, especially children. It has made them more vulnerable to violence. We can prevent this by being aware and protecting those around us. And as men and boys, we have a responsibility to be better role models because we know, often, it is we men who are perpetrators of violence. As UNICEF’s celebrity advocate, I am committed to ending violence against children,” he says.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (2018), every hour, five cases of child sexual abuse are reported in India. The National Family Health Survey-4 reveals that one out of every five adolescent girls experiences physical violence from the age of 15, and 99 per cent school children are subjected to physical and mental abuse by teachers (according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, 2012).
“Children deserve to live free from violence. Children’s rights are human rights. Violence has terrible consequences for children, affecting them physically and mentally. The effects can last an entire lifetime and can destroy a child’s chance to live a happy, healthy life. They’re subjected to violence in so many places — at home, in school, on the move, on the streets, online and in the community. It happens in both wealthy and low-income families. Often, the perpetrators are those that children trust,” says Ayushmann, adding, “Violence against children is often not reported. Children don’t speak up and parents, even if they know, may not report it. Sexual abuse is often accompanied by stigma, hence children and parents shy away from reporting the cases. Children who grow up seeing and experiencing violence often perpetuate violence. As actors and public figures, we attract a lot of attention and are therefore in a position to put the spotlight on the needs of children. I hope to use my passion and commitment to increasing public awareness about children’s issues, advocate for children, especially the vulnerable ones, and support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child’s right to live free from violence.”
Ayushmann and I have decided that he won’t come home until his film’s schedule wraps up-Tahira Kashyap Khurrana
8:13 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 3, 2020)
Tahira Kashyap Khurrana and husband Ayushmann Khurrana are a helluva team. Through the months of the lockdown, we kept seeing their adorable posts that showed how they were making the most of their family time, doing fun things together and even finding special ways to celebrate their kid’s birthday given the constraints.
The Khurranas have been in Chandigarh post the lockdown, and after a long break, recently, Ayushmann went back to a film set. The couple celebrated their wedding anniversary on Sunday, and Tahira posted a sweet message on social media with a cute picture of her piggybacking on Ayushmann, and wrote “That’s the only way he picks me up! Gunny bag ‘aaloo ki bori’ style! (sic).”
Talking to BT, Tahira, who has spent the last few months penning her book and fine-tuning her scripts, said, “Ayushmann has resumed work recently. He had also shot ads in Chandigarh a couple of months ago. I have seen first-hand how tough it is to shoot due to the PPE kits and masks. It’s suffocating, but that’s the only way to work right now. It’s tougher for the artiste because they can’t wear a mask while shooting, which is a risk. As excited as I am to get back to work, I am also fearful. I have kids and elders at home, so travelling to Mumbai for work is not on the cards for me right now. I want to make content from where I am, because I can isolate myself easily here.”
Elaborating on how she and Ayushmann plan to manage home and work schedules, she says shares, “He has started shooting his film. We have decided that he will not come home until the schedule wraps up. He will stay with the film’s team for about one-and-a-half month. That rule applies to me, too. The dates for my forthcoming projects have not been decided yet, but when I start shooting, I too, will not see my kids until we have completed the schedule.”
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Despite shooting in his hometown Chandigarh, actor Ayushmann Khurrana isn’t staying at home, but at a hotel
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 3, 2020)
In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, people all over the world have been anxious about the well-being of their loved ones. Ayushmann Khurrana is no different. In fact, the actor — who is currently shooting in his hometown, Chandigarh, for Abhishek Kapoor’s Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui — has gone out of the way for his family’s safety. We have learnt that due to the coronavirus threat, he is not staying at his family home, and instead, has checked himself into a hotel.
“I’ve been extremely cautious throughout the pandemic, and taken every possible step to not catch the virus and protect my family. My wife and kids can never come in harm’s way because of me,” says Khurrana, 36, adding, “Now that I’ve started to work, my parents in Chandigarh, too, should be safe at all times. Though I want to contribute to restart the film industry, I also want to safeguard my family.”
It’s interesting to note that Khurrana has moved into a hotel “along with the entire production team”. He shares, “We all are going to stay there (at the hotel) till the end of the schedule. Even when I go to meet my family nowadays, we observe social distancing measures and also wear our masks. I admit it feels odd, but it’s important for our safety.”
Ask the actor if he misses spending time with his family, and he says, “Once the shoot is done with, I will catch up on all the lost time with them... Staying at a hotel helps protect my family as well as crew members because we’ve tried to create a bio-bubble of sorts. In fact, I’m getting tested (for Coronavirus) at regular intervals.”
Stationed in Chandigarh for several weeks now, he gives full credit to the film’s makers as well as the production crew for going all out to “keep the virus at bay from the sets”. He says, “We are working in extraordinary circumstances that no one has ever seen before. Still, the team has left no stone unturned to ensure that we are all safe and healthy.”
With Badhaai Ho, I tried to normalise the sexual desires that our parents could have-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:02 AM
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana is thrilled that Indian audiences have accepted and appreciated his style of cinema
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 18, 2020)
Be it sperm donation (Vicky Donor; 2012), erectile dysfunction (Shubh Mangal Saavdhan; 2017), premature balding (Bala; 2019) or homosexuality (Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan; 2020), he has always had a successful stint with unconventional, taboo subjects in his movies. And so, not surprisingly, Ayushmann Khurrana finds audiences’ love and appreciation towards his “progressive, forward-thinking social entertainers extremely encouraging.”
“I have been trying to normalise taboo conversations in India through my cinema. You will notice that right since my debut film (Vicky Donor), with my choice of films, I have tried to do my bit to have a constructive conversation with society about the need for change,” says the actor, whose 2018 blockbuster, Badhaai Ho (revolving around accidental pregnancy of an older couple who already have grown-up sons), coincidentally, celebrates its second anniversary today.
Although Khurrana’s choice of films may not be considered ‘safe and potentially successful’ by Bollywood standards, the Article 15 (2019) actor feels compelled to take up “important subjects” in his movies.
“I’ve always strongly felt that through cinema, we could ask society to widen its gaze towards important subjects that were not being addressed. We were a shy country, we still are, and there is beauty to that, but what I’m most happy about is how the people of my country have appreciated my style of cinema,” says the Andhadhun (2018) star, who was recently voted as one of the most influential people in the world by the prestigious Time magazine.
Talking of Badhaai Ho, wasn’t he worried about going ahead with a topic that could be uncomfortable for a majority of people? Khurrana doesn’t think so, as he wanted to put focus on the fact that physical love between parents is absolutely fine.
“Their love is the biggest proof that our society wants to normalise deep-seated issues and that’s the biggest validation for me as an artiste. With Badhaai Ho, I tried to normalise the sexual desires that our parents could have and there’s nothing wrong in that. For Bollywood, this storyline was rare but it was necessary,” says the actor, who will soon be seen in filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor’s next that revolves around a cross-functional athlete.
I have been fortunate to work with visionary filmmakers-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:00 AM
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 5, 2020)
Did you know that this year, with Gulabo Sitabo, Ayushmann Khurrana completed his 15-film journey in Bollywood? The actor, who started his career with Vicky Donor (2012), has really come a long way in terms of his experimental, unconventional film choices as well as back-to-back successes.
“I feel I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with some of the best, visionary filmmakers of our time,” says Khurrana, whose penchant for films that are weaved with progressive, social messages led to a new genre of sorts called ‘Ayushmann Khurrana Genre’. “
He explains: “As an artiste, I like to experiment, mix it up and push the envelope as well. I may be known for my progressive social entertainers that carry a message, but what matters most to me is being a part of the best cinema that is produced by our industry.”
Interestingly, today, Khurrana also celebrates the second anniversary of Sriram Raghavan’s Andhadhun (2018), for which he got the prestigious National Award. “Sriram sir is one of the finest minds of our generation and when it comes to clever, psychological thrillers, he is simply a master of the genre. It has been a huge privilege for me to creatively collaborate and learn from him,” he says, adding: “I’m honoured that I got the opportunity to work in a Sriram Raghavan film.”
Khurrana feels Andhadhun pushed him as an artiste, and he wishes to work with Raghavan again. “That film gave me the opportunity to do something that I had never done before. I thank Sriram sir for his faith in me and I can’t wait to collaborate with him again, hopefully soon,” he says with a smile.
It is important that gender-neutral awards should become the norm-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:36 AM
Thrilled about Berlin Film Festival going ‘gender-neutral’ for its performance awards, actor Ayushmann Khurrana hopes award functions in India also ‘take a step towards having a more progressive society’
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 7, 2020)
For ages, film award functions have seen trophies being handed over to actors — male as well as female separately — based on their gender. But now, the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival has turned the prevailing practice on its head by deciding that its performance awards will be gender-neutral for next year’s edition. Instead of awards for the best male and female actor, Silver Bears (an award for the Berlin Film Festival for achievements in direction, acting, and for best short film) will be awarded for best leading performance and best supporting performance.
Back in India, Ayushmann Khurrana — who has been quite vocal about normalising gender conversations in the country –— is “thrilled” [with the news]. The actor says, “I wholeheartedly laud the Berlin Film Festival’s decision to award gender-neutral recognitions and I hope all film festivals across the world and India follow suit. At the end of the day, we are all actors, and gender divisions only highlight the long prevalent divisive nature of societies. Thus, it is important that gender-neutral awards should become the norm when it comes to adjudicating the best work of the year.”
Khurrana, who is currently stationed in his hometown, Chandigarh, with his family due to the ongoing Coronavirys pandemic, feels films as well as film stars can play an active role in kicking off relevant conversations, in a bid to achieve gender parity in the Indian society. He explains, “Gender divisions are too deep rooted and the film industry can really do its bit to champion change. According to me, ‘gendered awards’ are totally outdated and should be scrapped.”
The Andhadhun (2018) actor feels it’s time for all the award functions in India to also have a serious look at the “inevitable trend”. As he puts it, “I seriously hope that all award functions in our country also take a step in the right direction and do what is the most obvious thing, towards having a more progressive society. For me, good performances are good performances, and they should be seen without the gender lens.”
Work-wise, Khurrana — who last starred in Shoojit Sircar’s OTT release, Gulabo Sitabo — will be seen in filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor’s yet-untitled next that will see him play a cross-functional athlete. It’s believed that he is undergoing a “massive physical transformation” for the same, but is keeping all the prep under wraps. He is also supposed to feature in Anubhav Sinha’s next, reportedly an intense political drama.
I haven’t developed many new friendships over the years, I am still close to my childhood friends-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:08 AM
Today, on Friendship Day, the actor talks about the unbreakable bond that he has with his childhood friends. And, he shares memories of his growing-up years with one of his closest friends, Rochak Kohli, who is also a music composer
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2020)
From Chandigarh to Mumbai, and from radio and television to movies — Ayushmann Khurrana’s journey is undoubtedly a fascinating one. And through all these years, and the highs and lows that are part of it, the one thing that has been a constant in his journey are his good ol’ friends. In fact, for his buddies, he is still the young boy they would hang out with and not the star that he has turned into today. “I haven’t developed many new friendships over the years. I have childhood friends who are non-judgmental. They love and treat me just like they would before my stardom. For them, I am the same old Ayushmann and they keep me grounded by giving me honest feedback about my work. For instance, my friend Nishchay Trehan, we watched a lot of films together since childhood and he is very critical about my work, so I appreciate his opinion,” explains the actor.On the occasion of Friendship Day, the actor takes time to thank his childhood friend, music composer Rochak Kohli. Ayushmann says, “I have known Rochak since eighth grade. We went to the same school, St John’s Boys School in Chandigarh. We became friends as soon as we discovered that both of us are crazily passionate about music. We shared the common talent of composing and writing songs, which was rare for students in the eighth grade.”
Talking about the bond they share, Rochak told Bombay Times, “I feel our friendship is like water. It’s essential, and it takes any mould. We have been friends for a long period of time, and like water, our friendship is pure. I guess paani is our favourite word, too, because Paani Da Rang was our first song together (laughs!).”
Rochak has fond memories of the time when they were new to Mumbai, where they came to pursue their dreams. He recollects, “It was a big deal for boys who have been born and brought up in a comfort zone in Chandigarh. It was a whole new window to the world, which we explored together.”
Rochak says, “In Mumbai, we used to travel in local trains, and at times, we had no money. In fact, we went to Goa without money and did odd jobs there to buy food. Looking back, I now cherish these memories, and I think that’s what brought us so close. We have been together through thick and thin. We married the girls we were dating since college, so the four of us are like a family now.”
Ayushmann shares some memories, and talks about an old picture clicked during their college days. The duo, along with a bunch of boys, flaunted their shaved heads for a college play. “I think we were getting ready for one of our performances in college (DAV College, Chandigarh). In this picture, we also have other friends — Kumar Saurav, Jaiveer Singh and Mayank Choudhary. We started this theatre group in college called Aaghaaz, and this play was called Kumaraswami, in which I was the lead character. All the boys went bald for it. Rochak and I have done a lot of plays together. In the first year, we were together in the Greek play Spartacus. In the second year, it was Kumaraswami, which is when the picture was clicked, and in the third year, we were part of Andha Yug, and my character’s name in it was Ashwathama.”
Ayushmann says that even today, he is in touch with his school friends. “In fact, Rochak and I have been in touch with our school and college friends, too. We are in touch with 40 other boys, who were part of our section in school. I think that’s what makes it easy for us to deal with the adversities,” he says.
Currently, Ayushmann and Rochak are in Chandigarh with their respective families. The actor is taking this opportunity to connect with his buddies. He signs off, saying, “We are keeping our meetings very minimal because of social distancing. At times, I just meet my buddies like Rochak or Nishchay or my theatre group friends like Gautam Sharma, Gurpreet Saini, Aviral Gupta and Charandeep Kalra.”
Ayushmann Khurrana and Rochak Kohli, along with their friends, had shaved their heads for a play during their college days
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