With Antim: The Final Truth that hit the screens last month, Aayush Sharma presented himself in an image, which was a far stretch from what we saw of him in his debut film, LoveYatri. All the blood and sweat that he put into his intense character as the brutal gangster, paid off, as he won appreciation for it. Now, the young actor is keen to prove his mettle in every genre possible. In an interview with BT, Aayush gets candid about his struggle after the failure of his first film, the lessons learnt from his second one, bulking up to match Salman Khan on screen and his filmi dreams. Excerpts...

It’s true that most of the time, the focus is more on an actor’s physical transformation. However, Rahulya (his character in Antim) didn’t require as much of a physical transformation as mental. The first aspect I had to work on was not to care about what people thought of me. As an actor, you are always concerned about what image you project, and the perception people build of you. The character of Rahulya required me to shed all those inhibitions. When I heard the narration, I felt that I was the antagonist, but it eventually turned out to be my story. In order to get into the skin of the character, it was essential for me to not judge Rahulya. I also read the book, The Courage To Be Disliked, which helped me prepare for the character better.

Along with the mental transformation of becoming the character, I worked on the physical aspect. I was aware that I wouldn’t be able to justify the high-octane action sequences if I did not transform myself to look the part. I had Salman Khan opposite me. His screen demeanour and stardom are so huge. To justify even sharing a frame with him, I required a massive physical transformation. That involved putting on 16 kilos to look convincing on screen and be able to pull off the character.

My first outing wasn’t a success at the box office, and my calibre as an actor was questioned. I wasn’t defensive about the criticism and I worked on my shortcomings. Today, there is an influx of great content and artistes. I realised that if I was going to pitch myself as a star and do the same thing again, I would just fizzle out. So, I wanted to project myself as an actor first and leave the rest to the audience. Their acceptance is the only way for you to attain stardom. You can do as many films as you wish to, but till the time the audience accepts you as an actor, there is no way you can become a star.

Failure teaches you a lot more than success does. Success tends to make you complacent, but failure pushes you to work harder. If you ask me today, I am grateful that my first outing wasn’t a success at the box office. Had it been, I probably would have stayed in the same zone and become repetitive. That experience taught me that for every film I need to put in the same effort I put in for Antim. It also prepared me to accept that if I fail once, it’s not the end of the road.

My priority is to ensure that my performance doesn’t falter. I understand that people watched Antim with zero expectations, but they have expectations of me now. So, I am going to make sure that I work harder so that they can see a newer version of me in the next film and are pleasantly surprised.

Fortunately, I have been trained by him, and for me, it means that while we can have fun at home, on the set, it is strictly professional. When I started working on this film, I realised that this is the biggest platform any actor can get. You have Salman Khan in a film being directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, whose story revolves around your character. Being a superstar, Salman (Khan) bhai knew the importance of this project for my career as well. But he never told me what to do or never instructed me to perform a scene in a certain way. The first thing he told me was that he had never played a grey character in his career and asked me to find out for myself. He could have guided me through this film, but what about the next one, or the one after that? So, he told me to hone and master my craft.

Warina Hussain on sharing screen space with Salman Khan for the first time for a dance number in the third instalment of the Dabangg franchise
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2019)

After making her debut with Loveyatri last year, Warina Hussain is set to share screen space with Salman Khan in “Munna Badnaam Hua” from his Christmas release Dabangg 3. Calling the song her biggest break yet, she says, “I am happy that at such an early stage in my career I got to work in a big song and franchise.”

“Munni Badnaam Hui” and “Fevicol Se,” featuring Malaika Arora and Kareena Kapoor respectively, have been chart-toppers from the franchise, but the Warina doesn’t feel the pressure of meeting expectations. “I knew I had to give my best. I am aggressive when it comes to grabbing opportunities. Besides, this time it’s Munna, not Munni; Salman sir will deal with the pressure,” she chuckles.

Ask her if she got the jitters while shooting with the actor and the answer is ‘no’. “I am super confident in front of the camera. Although, I was nervous about getting the look right. We have created the Millennial Munni. I didn’t know till the last day if I would be in the song at all,” she reveals, and is quick to add that her Munna is more chilled out as an actor than as a producer.

While she hasn’t received formal training in dance, by her own admission, her Bollywood stock has risen thanks to the dance songs “Chogada” and “Akh Lad Jaave” from Loveyatri and “She Move It Like”, a single released by Badshah. “There are times when people call me the Chogada girl. The next one might be, ‘Yeh hai woh ladki Munna ko badnaam karne wali’,” she guffaws before signing off with a promise, “2020 is my year.”

Gunjan Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2019)

Model-turned-actress Warina Hussain had a dream debut last year when she starred in Salman Khan’s LoveYatri alongside Aayush Sharma. However, Warina admits that Bollywood was never on her mind. “I started as a model at a young age. But after a few years I realised that I never attended college, I don’t have a degree and will not be able to choose a different career option. So I thought ab yahin rehna hai toh I might as well take the next step. Luckily, things have been great for me,” says Warina.

The actress adds that this wouldn’t have been possible without Salman Khan, who is also her mentor now. She says, “Salman is a bundle of positivity and he is very supportive. Whenever I am in doubt, I reach out to him. Mentally, I am at peace knowing that he is there for me.”

‘PEOPLE RECOGNISE ME NOW AND I LIKE IT’
While Warina is one-film-old, the actress has gained popularity. She reveals that before becoming an actor, she would travel in autos post-3am just to chill. “I love my auto rides. It’s just me and my earphones and we would travel around Mumbai. But one day an auto driver recognised me asked for a selfie. It was a new experience for me,” she says, adding, “Life has changed in many ways post LoveYatri. Earlier I had a very normal routine. Kabhi film dekhne chale gaye, gym chale gaye. But now, wherever I go, people come up to me and ask for pictures. And I am not complaining about it at all. In fact, I appreciate all the love coming my way.”

‘SALMAN KHAN HAS A HEART OF GOLD’
Salman is known for giving opportunities to new talents. Warina, who was launched by the actor, says that it’s a big responsibility. “He has a heart of gold. He has given opportunities to a lot of people and I feel really lucky that I got this chance, too. I think that it is our responsibility to live up to the chance that he has given us. If we don’t make good use of it, or if we don’t work hard, then it’s pointless. I don’t feel pressurised that ‘Oh, I have been launched by Salman Khan, I have to give my best’, but yes, I do feel that it is my responsibility to not let him down.”

‘I STARTED MY MODELLING CAREER IN DELHI’
Warina moved to Delhi from Afghanistan in 2013 and started working as a model in the capital. However, the actress has moved to Mumbai now. She says, “Delhi will always be special because I started my modelling career here, but after a while, I shifted to Mumbai. Delhi is more about fashion shows, ramp walks and I never wanted to do that. Mumbai is all about commercial modelling, you can get ads or work in music videos. That’s what I wanted to do, so I shifted to Mumbai.”

After her acting debut in a Salman Khan production, Warina Hussain will shake a leg with him in the third Dabangg film
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 13, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (May 18) that after the chartbusters, “Munni Badnaam Hui”, which was picturised on Malaika Arora in the 2010 cop-drama Dabangg, and the Kareena Kapoor-starrer “Fevicol Se” in its 2012 sequel directed by Arbaaz Khan, the makers of Dabangg 3 have recorded a song titled “Munna Badnaam Hua”. Now, we have learnt that Warina Hussain, who made her Bollywood debut with the 53-year-old actor’s production LoveYatri last year opposite his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma, will feature in the new song with Chulbul Pandey.

According to a source close to the development, Salman and his team were looking for someone who would do justice to the Dabangg special number and zeroed in on Warina. “She shot for the song in a four-day schedule beginning from June 8 at Mehboob studio. Salman and Warina had a great time shooting for the song which has been composed by Sajid-Wajid and sung by Kamaal Khan of 'O O Jaane Jaana' fame and Badshah. This time the song is set in a modernised dhaba and Warina will be seen in an Indo-Western outfit. Her look is created by Salman’s designer, Ashley Lobo,” the source revealed.

Vaibhavi Merchant has choreographed the song and unlike the previous two numbers, this one will see Salman’s Chulbul Pandey in the spotlight, trying to woo his object of affection. The film, which went on the floors with a Maheshwar schedule earlier this year, moving to the outskirts of Mumbai, follows a non-linear storytelling pattern, jumping between Chulbul Pandey’s past and present, showing his transition from a neighbourhood rowdy to a Robin Hood cop. 

Meena Iyer (DNA; March 27, 2019)

In the last four years, Salman Khan has launched six actors. Quite evidently, he is committed to the cause of introducing new talent. And, in a sense, he is passionate about giving bankable artistes to the movies. Of course, the Bollywood superstar is aware that he can handhold them only during the first stage of their career. Post this, they have to learn to fly on their own. However, that hardly stops him from giving the ‘kids’ his best.

While talking about Pranutan Bahl and Zaheer Iqbal, the lead actors of his production Notebook that releases this Friday, Salman looks back at his debut film. He says, “Thirty years ago, I was introduced with a lot of love. Though I began my career with Biwi Ho To Aisi in 1988, I feel it was Sooraj Barjatya who launched me in 1989 with Maine Pyar Kiya. Like I always tell people, ‘First Sooraj (Barjatya) launched me. And, then I launched Sooraj (Pancholi) in 2015. Life goes around in circles.”

Tease him that the filmmaker is waiting for him even after three decades and the actor says, “Ya, I know. We did Prem Ratan Dhan Payo in 2015. As of now, he also has three other films (not with me), which are ready. I saw the rushes and two of those movies look nice.”

Veering back to the topic of new talent, the Tiger Zinda Hai actor points out, “Aayush (Sharma) and Warina (Hussain) were launched by me last October in LoveYatri. Barely five months later, my production house is backing Pranutan and Zaheer. It’s good to do so because new talent should come in. Both of them have trained hard.”

Zaheer is a dear friend’s son
The Dabangg Khan is all praises for Zaheer and Pranutan. Though both of them are his close friends’ kids, he maintains that it was their sheer talent that prompted him to give them a break in Bollywood. Salman says, “Zaheer is a dear friend’s son, he has been with us since his childhood. When he showed a leaning towards movies, I asked him to train hard first. He has been doing so since Jai Ho (2014).”

“He has attended courses in acting, diction, action and dancing; in short, all the things that an actor needs to be equipped in. Every day, we would send him to auditions, never mind if nothing came out, but it was a part of his training. He’s got the personality of a hero, so we call him Zahero.” (Smiles).

He adds that the debutant is a sportsman at heart. “He’s a good swimmer, he plays squash and table tennis quite well, too, and is adept at roller-blade skating as well as cycling. He’s respectful, well-mannered and has had a good upbringing,” informs Salman.

Pranutan was studying to be a lawyer
As for Pranutan, few people know that she was pursuing a course in law. Salman tells us that her father, Mohnish (Bahl), has been one of his closest friends since childhood, much before they did Maine Pyar Kiya (1989).

However, he is quick to add, “I’ve got lots of friends, they have children, but we’re not looking to launch all of them — only those who, we feel, will do well, have the personality, are hard-working and have a passion for a career in movies. So, Zaheer and Pranutan have worked hard to earn their breaks.”

The actor-filmmaker says fondly, “I hope Notebook does well, both are accepted by the audiences and they make their families proud. It can’t happen just because I produced the film, it should happen due to their own destiny.”

Kashmir is beautiful, it needs no one to enhance it
Salman mentions, “Notebook is a beautiful love story. It’s got a lot of humour, niceness and laughter. It is set in Kashmir. Director Nitin Kakkar has done a good job. Some people have said that the cinematography is fantastic too. But, I say, Kashmir is fantastic. It doesn’t need anyone or anything to enhance it. It’s so beautiful on its own. How can any of us take credit for making it look beautiful?”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 27, 2019)

As much as Salman Khan is known for his stardom and his box-office successes, he’s also known to be a man who provides grand launchpads for his friends (within the film frat and outside of it). For these newcomers, being launched by bhai is a privilege, but it comes with its own set of pressures, too. In a chat with BT, Salman, one of the producers of the upcoming film Notebook, talks about Bollywood’s fresh breed of talent, the challenges they face and how he, as an actor, has reached a stage where he wants to work without a break. Excerpts:

In just a few days, two newcomers Zaheer Iqbal and Pranutan Bahl, backed by you, will make their debut at the movie marquee.
(Cuts in...) Yes, and I will continue to back more kids for as long as I can. Why? Because I was also launched at some point and I think the industry can do with some more fresh talent.

The difference that is evident between you and other producers is that you largely make a sustained effort to make room for children of actors and filmmakers (mostly)... something other producers would not take chances with?
I have seen a lot in my own life. So given my experience, I feel that if a boy or girl can make my head turn, he/she should be launched. That’s the first thing I go by, it is then followed by training which takes a lot of time and effort. Sooraj Pancholi had toiled for five years — he assisted on a few films and groomed himself in every department before we cast him in Hero. Similarly, Aayush (Sharma) worked very hard before we decided to launch him. (Smiling) Actually, Aayush ke saath ek aur chakkar hai. There was a romantic film that had come my way. I thought I had gone past that phase in life when I could do something like that on screen, so Sohail told me about a guy he had seen at the gym, who he felt was perfect for it. Two months later, Arpita brought a guy home and introduced him to us, saying she wants to marry him. He was not coming to the gym for some time, now I know why.

Eventually, Aayush also assisted on Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Tubelight and Sultan — he travelled with me extensively. People liked his dancing skills in LoveYatri, but when we saw him dancing for the first time, we all were all like ‘Dance classes please…’ He practised dance, action and acting for hours every day. He worked out rigorously and his dedication was evident in the film. Likewise, Zaheer was also an assistant on Jai Ho, where he did everything — from giving claps before the scene to rehearsing with actors and running other errands. He also worked on his body and craft simultaneously.

When did you first spot Zaheer’s talent?
His father is a dear friend. I first saw Zaheer at his sister Sanam’s wedding. When Sajid Nadiadwala and I went for the sangeet, his father flagged off the ceremony after we reached the venue. I saw a beautiful dance performance and a video clip, where Zaheer and his cousin put up a play about his sister and brother-in-law. We were watching that, when I just turned towards Sajid and he said, ‘Haan mujhe bhi aisa hi lagta hai’. Almost as if he could read my mind. I thought he was a fine talent and we could give him a chance. I did ask his father if he had purposely insisted on starting the sangeet only after we reach the venue (laughs!) The boy has been with me for five years now and he has blossomed. Sooraj, Aayush and Zaheer chill together at Galaxy. They are always together and stand by each other at all times. They’re happy for one another — no khunnas, no jealousy. I wish it stays that way.

While appreciation for Aayush validates your decision to launch him, people often question your choices in launching your friends’ kids. What’s your take on that?
It felt great that Aayush was accepted, although the film didn’t do as well as we would have liked it to. The thing is, these are the boys I see and meet. They work really hard to get a nod from me. They work on presenting themselves well and everything that goes with it, because it matters. And mind you, I have many friends, but that doesn’t mean I am launching everyone’s kids (smiles!). Shera’s (his bodyguard) son Tiger is being groomed right now and he’s already being considered by so many producers and directors. Shera feels I will be the best judge of a script for his son, so I am now sifting through scripts. I am yet to find something worthy.

There was news about you launching Rinzing Denzongpa (Danny Denzonpgpa's son) and Ashwami Manjrekar (Mahesh Manjrekar’s daughter), but not many knew you were planning to launch Mohnish Behl’s daughter Pranutan with Notebook, too...
The thing is, I had seen her audition —I think she had done something with Mukesh Chhabra (casting director). I called Mone (Mohnish Bahl) and he confirmed that she had auditioned. We didn’t let her audition for LoveYatri as Warina Hussain had already auditioned for it and was perfect for the part. It wouldn’t have been fair on my part to replace her. When Notebook came on to the table, these guys offered the film to several girls until they saw Pranutan’s auditions. I called Mone and told him that it’s a clean film and a good story. I also told him that Pranutan will have to audition for the part. She won’t get it because she is my friend’s daughter. Mohnish agreed that she should get work on her own steam. On the audition day, I got a call — this time to see if she has liked the script and if she would like to do it. I ensured Mohnish got a narration, too. Pranutan and he liked the story and things got going. So, it’s all on merit, entirely. I can’t have people work in a film just like that, because films cost a lot of money. Just because apna brother-in-law hai toh uske saath kar lenge…aisa nahi hota. Atul Agnihotri is also my brother-in-law, but I can’t make him a hero now. He’s made a fantastic film called Bharat. He’s proven his mettle as a producer in the past. I want him to continue doing that.

Today, do you feel paternal towards the new talent that you launch?
Paternal? They call me bhai, so no, they don’t let me feel that way. But I keep telling them that as much as possible, I don’t want to see their faces in my house. I tell them that when I call you to chill at home or for a party, you should be ready with replies like, ‘Bhai I am busy shooting or I have a show or some other work’. I want them to go ahead with that steam in their lives. Of course, like a bhai, I monitor what they’re doing with their overall grooming, but I also make sure they work on their own. Boys like Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff are so good with everything that they just set a very high benchmark for the newer actors. When the new boys see their films, they go like, ‘Yaar, aur mehnat lagegi!’ If they’re not as good, or better than Tiger and Varun, how can I launch them? The confidence to surge ahead comes with time, but they also have to work hard to get to the starting point. Maintaining what you achieve is also very tough, which they need to learn.

Sooraj took very long to find his second project, Satellite Shankar. He once told BT that he consults you on every script…
Cuts in... That’s true. Just the other day, he came to me with an outstanding subject for his next film. He’s a sweet fellow, who has gone through so much in the initial years of his career. He’s danced like a dream in Time To Dance with Isabelle Kaif (Katrina Kaif’s sister). I’ve also seen Satellite Shankar; he’s good. These kids do make me feel proud. When people on the social media pull them down and apart, I feel like telling them that when one man works in a film, he ensures that so many others in the chain get their daily bread and butter. No one seems to understand that.

That’s been your mantra for years now. You don’t seem to take breaks between films and move on quickly from one film to another...
I never take a holiday, except that 10-day break in December. I don’t like taking a single day off, and I don’t. So many people find a chance to earn their living when I work. The other day, I was remembering my days when I had just made my debut in Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). There was a time when I just wanted to work. And now, when I am in that position, I don’t see the need to go off on holidays and say that I need breaks. Bakwaas…aise thode hi hota hai. I like working and that is why I keep working throughout. If that pain we go through doesn’t come across on screen, it’s not worth it. People always appreciate the effort you put in to give them that two hours of pleasure. If you get complacent, like I did once, films don’t do well. After that, I decided to do action films because that’s the cinema I grew up with. God was kind and those films worked. When it’s tough for most films to cross Rs 100 crore, my biggest disaster came at Rs 150 crore at the box-office.

Which newcomer is next on your launch list?
While I’m still figuring what happens with Shera ka beta, Tiger, I actually want all these boys to work together in a super dhamaal film, the kind that I have done in my past.

Farzana Patowari1 (BOMBAY TIMES; February 23, 2019)

Aayush Sharma, who was last seen in the movie Loveyatri, says that he’s “delighted” over how the movie was received by the audience, even though it didn’t make any waves at the box office.

“For me, today, the biggest victory is that whoever watches the film, says they enjoyed it,” he explains, adding, “We wanted to make an easy-breezy love story for people, which had entertainment value. We did not try to give out any message, because some films are made purely for entertainment.”

Here’s what else he had to say about his past and future Bollywood outings, his evolving relationship with bro-in-law Salman Khan, and the other important role in his life — that of Ahil’s dad.

‘NOW, WHEN CHOGADA TARA COMES ON, I FEEL LIKE SAYING ‘BAS BHI KARO’’
Most of all, Aayush is happy about how well the music of Loveyatri did — especially the song Chogada Tara, that continues to play everywhere. “Sometimes, I have to say, ‘Arre bas karo yaar!’,” he jokes.

“You go to any party, and the moment this song comes on, people start looking at me. I am like, ‘What do you want me to do? Do you want me to dance or what?’ And sometimes, eventually, I have to,” laughs Aayush.

When his film released, he went to a single screen cinema hall in Mumbai, to see the reaction of the audience. “At the end of the film, people were standing and dancing to Chogada. The theatre owner came down and told me that he had seen the audience react like this only to big actors. He added, ‘I am not saying that you are a big actor, but you should cherish this moment — achieving this in your first film’. That is when I felt satisfied.”

He explains, “People in India don’t just watch the film. They whistle, dance, laugh and cry with you.”

‘SALMAN BHAI IS THE MOST SUPPORTIVE PERSON I KNOW’
When asked how his brother-in-law Salman Khan reacted to his film release, he replies, “Our conversations have become more mature. Initially, I would only talk about acting, but now — a film later — I talk about editing, camera, etc, so he keeps laughing and saying, ‘After one film only, you have picked up a lot of things’. I am particular about how I want to edit the film and how it should look. However, he is the most supportive person I know. He saw the film and told me on a Thursday, ‘Whatever happens on Friday, it is not in our hands. It is in the hands of the public. However, whatever is in our hands, we should be proud of that. I am proud of you and happy’.”

Aayush adds that Salman believes, “One should always see the brighter side, because in this industry, people will take you up at one point and then they can immediately bring you down. The biggest advise he gave me was that everything that I read about myself that praises me is useless, and every time someone criticizes me, I shouldn’t get negative and start contradicting it, saying that this person is biased or doesn’t like me.”

WHENEVER MY MOVIE RELEASES, I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK ‘ARRE, MUSIC TOH ACHHA HOGA’
Meanwhile, Aayush has been beefing up and also learning Marathi for his next film, Mulshi Pattern. He says, “It is a very different movie from Loveyatri, and I am very excited about it. It is not in my comfort zone. If it would have been a love story, then it would have been pretty easy, but this is, again, a learning process for me. Loveyatri was targeted towards a Gujarati audience, this is a pan-India film. It’s about an issue which is prevalent in the country, so to bring out the essence of the role and the subject, I am learning Marathi. I want to work harder on myself, so that when the people see the poster or promo, they say, ‘Is he the same guy?’ It’s an action film which will appeal to the masses, for sure — though I might lose the audience who liked me in Loveyatri, who may say ‘What the hell has he done?’”

Apart from this, Aayush says he has signed four other films and the fifth one is under negotiation.

Talking about the sheer amount of diverse roles coming his way, he says, “I think it’s God’s grace. Sometimes, Salman Bhai laughs and says, ‘What do these people see in you that they are signing you?’”

Apart from concentrating on doing diverse roles across various genres, Aayush is now also taking keen interest in the music and production processes of his future films.

He says, “I love music, and now I have a big thing in my head, that ‘Loveyatri music was like this’. Now, every time I listen to a track from my new films, I say, ‘Listen, dude my last film had this music. We need to either smash it like that, or do better than it’. I want that whenever people see that I am coming, they say that ‘Arre, music toh accha hoga’. I am actively involved in the music of the movie. However, I try to keep myself from recreating the same songs.”

‘I SPEND 3 AM TO 5 AM WITH AHIL EVERY DAY’
Aayush and his wife Arpita Khan welcomed their first child Ahil Sharma around the same time his Bollywood career kicked off. How does he balance both these roles?

“His third birthday is on March 30, and he is getting crazier with each passing day. He has started speaking, and he speaks proper English now. I interacted very less with him last year, and I had lost around ten months with him, as I was busy shooting and promoting the film. Now, when I spend time with him and see him doing new things, I think, ‘Arre yeh kab seekha?’ He holds up his palm and says, ‘First listen to me’. The other day, he was saying, “You two will go and get me a burger and I will sit at home’.” I said, ‘Ahil, let’s go and eat out. He replied by pointing at us, and saying that he will stay at home, and that we should go and bring his food. He sleeps very late, as though he’s adjusting to our schedule. I spend 3 am to 5 am with him, and that is the only time I get with him. Sometimes, he crashes my meeting and gives out useless information that none of us need to know,” laughs Aayush. He adds, “He thinks that I am a superhero now. Every time we discuss an action scene, he thinks that it is a superhero film. Sometimes, he also comes to my gym when we are working out. I have also taught him how to do pushups!” 

LoveYatri has a great setting, festive vibe, the vibrancy of Gujarat, chartbuster music etc. But its biggest problem is that there’s no story as such. Nothing exciting happens and the conflicts that arise in the film are inconsequential. The climax is thanda. Surely the makers could have added some thrill and drama to get the much needed excitement. Talking of performances, Aayush Sharma is disappointing. He dances well and in a few scenes, he does a good job. But overall, he has a long way to go. He doesn’t have the required screen presence – in many scenes, he totally gets overpowered by other performers. Warina Hussain does quite better in fact. Ram Kapoor is highly entertaining and his scenes would be loved by audiences, especially when he talks about the three Khans. Pratik Gandhi is on a roll – after Mitron and Ventilator, he gives yet another rocking performance and brings the house down! Sajeel Parekh is fine while Ronit Roy plays the negative role nicely. As for songs, Chogada and Tera Hua are the best of the lot. All in all, this one strictly is an average fare!

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

AYUSHMANN KHURRANA VS AAYUSH SHARMA – WHO’LL WIN?

The month of October is here and it’s going to be very crowded. Each week will see at least three releases. Almost all of them are small and medium budget films and they are trying their luck in this month itself since November and December will be dominated by the biggest films of the year. Tomorrow, three films are releasing out of which two of them have a chance. My analysis:

ANDHADHUN: It is directed by Sriram Raghavan, known for crime thrillers like Ek Hasina Thi, Johnny Gaadaar and Badlapur. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Radhika Apte, Tabu and yesteryear actor Anil Dhawan, it is the story of a blind piano player who gets involved in a crime. The trailer is highly interesting and has got noticed. Even the songs have made some impact. But it’s the trailer that has done the trick as it makes people intrigued. Ayushmann is the one who plays the blind man but the trailer gives one an indication that he might not be blind. Since it looks like a niche film, the opening won’t be huge and will be in the Rs. 3 crore range. A good word of mouth will ensure the film gets commercial success. It can also sustain well in the weekdays if the response is positive.

LOVEYATRI: It marks the debut of Salman Khan’s brother-in-law Aayush Sharma and Afghanistan beauty Warina Hussain. Directed by debutant Abhiraj Minawala, it is majorly based in the town of Baroda during the nine-day festival of Navratri. The film is also releasing just a few days before the festival with the hope that it might give the film a boost. The trailer seems okay but the songs have worked very well, especially Chogada. The film gives a nice nostalgic vibe of the 90s Hindi films but it also looks too simple. Nevertheless, it has a chance in the single screens and Gujarat, where the film is based. Just like Andhadhun, it’ll also open in the Rs. 3 crore range and it remains to be seen which film comes on top on Day 1.

LUPT: It is a horror flick starring Jaaved Jaaferi Vijay Raaz, Karan Aanand, Meenakshi Dixit, Niki Walia, Rishina Kandhari and Rishab Chadha. The film looks interesting but there’s absolutely no buzz about it. Neither have the songs made a mark. The horror element might help the film some audiences. But day 1 collections would be disastrous and it can be even less than Rs. 30 lakhs

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 3, 2018)

Actresses usually dream of a debut where a Bollywood superstar is attached to a project. Model-turned-actor, Warina Hussain, is part Afghani and part Iraqi, and she’s eager to make a lasting first impression on the marquee with Salman Khan’s home production, LoveYatri: Journey of Love. In an interview with BT, she takes us through her journey so far. She also reveals the hard work that she and co-star Aayush Sharma have put in on their first film, among other things. Excerpts…

The first experience of being on a film set can be quite special. What was it like for you on the set of LoveYatri: Journey of Love?
Our first shot was on a scooter for the song Tera Hua. We were told that we will rehearse and then shoot. But Vaibhavi Merchant (choreographer) had lied to us. She actually shot the song while we rehearsed to capture the raw moments. She knew we were nervous. Actually, I couldn’t sleep the night before out of excitement. While Aayush did his little prayer in the vanity van, I sought duas, too. It’s turned out to be an experience that will live with me all my life.

How do you view your journey leading up to a dream debut in a film produced by Salman Khan?
It’s not been easy. My mother and I settled in Delhi a decade ago when I was in my early teens. After class 12, I wanted to get into fashion designing which didn’t happen because of financial and family issues. I decided to earn and took up a job as a sales girl at a fashion designer’s boutique. That also didn’t work too well, so I took up modelling. At one point, I realised that I don’t have anything other than modelling to do. So, I decided to move to Mumbai to work in ad films. I gradually found opportunities with fashion catalogues and they became my primary source of income. From there on, it was one audition after the other, till I finally tested for LoveYatri.

With LoveYatri, you stumbled upon a chance to be employed by Salman Khan. What was your first meeting with him like?
I am an introvert. So, I take a while before I open up. Usually, I only smile and you can keep guessing what I’m thinking. I met Salman on the day I was signing the film. He said, ‘Hi! I am Salman Khan.’ I replied, ‘Hi! I am Warina Hussain.’ It was that casual. He told me that my auditions were good and that I would undergo more training. Aayush (Sharma) and Abhiraj (Minawala, director) thought, ‘Isko pata hai Salman Khan kaun hai?’ Generally, they are used to seeing people get ecstatic while meeting him. I drew a blank. (Laughs!) Whenever I am in doubt, I talk to Salman. He’s very stingy with praise, because he doesn’t want people to go off track. He’s generally very encouraging, but woh daant bhi dete hain if he finds you’re getting lazy.

Since you hail from Afghanistan, did your command over Hindi surprise a lot of people? It’s rare to find foreigners who know the language well.
(Smiles) Actually, a half of Afghanistan knows basic Hindi because everyone religiously follows Bollywood. For the longest time, wherever we went, my mother made sure she has a cable connection because she didn’t want to miss her Ekta Kapoor serials. I grew up watching Son Pari and Shararat. When I came to India is when I formally started communicating in Hindi. While talking to mom, I keep checking with her if she understands what I’m saying, because I often mix words from Hindi, English and Dari (her mother tongue).

All eyes will be on your co-star Aayush Sharma, because he’s debuting in a film produced by his brother-in-law Salman Khan. Where does that leave you?
I am nervous right now. I am not an Indian, so I don’t know how the audience and the industry will react to me. My Hindi is okay, but I don’t know if people will accept me as an NRI in the film. My acting and dance skills will also be analysed. As an artiste, I’m also into the habit of self-critique, but right now, this is the only thing going on in my life. I am hopeful that people accept me.

Generally, models-turned-actors fall prey to the perception that they’re not natural performers. From Katrina Kaif to Deepika Padukone, girls have been scrutinised in the past.
No one must be judged without seeing their body of work. As a model, you have a certain personality, which softens when you become an actress. It’s about how you groom yourself for the profession. Everyone who has made it big, has worked on themselves. Persistence matters a lot, if you have to survive in the film industry. I’ve often been asked if I was nervous while facing the camera. I was more concerned about other things. I will have to prove whether I deserve my next chance to act or not.

Bollywood has long been a favourite in your home country Afghanistan. Now that your debut film is set to release, what sort of reactions are you expecting from back home?
I wish my film opened there. The thing is I haven’t been to Afghanistan in a while. I do get messages from fellow Afghans from other parts of the world, wishing me luck and hoping that I succeed at what I am doing. While staying here in India, I just pray that women in Afghanistan have a great future ahead.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 1, 2018)

This Friday, while all eyes will be on Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain, the release of LoveYatri: Journey of Love is going to be just as critical for another newcomer, director Abhiraj Minawala. The young filmmaker takes us through his aspirations and expectations while making a debut with a Salman Khan production. He has honed his skills under the tutelage of prominent filmmakers and is hoping to have a long and successful career ahead. Excerpts…

How do you view your journey from being Ali Abbas Zafar’s assistant on Sultan, to making your debut as a director in a film produced by Salman Khan? LoveYatri: Journey of Love has had its share of controversy and attention, too. What were the challenges?
It has been a long journey from being the first AD to a director. It takes a lot of patience to get this far. It started on the sets of Sultan, where I met Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma for the first time. Aayush was trying to understand the workings of every department on a set. I knew that he wanted to act, but not once did it occur to me that we would end up launching our careers together. I took a year’s break after Sultan and when I finally ran into Salman sir, he asked me for ideas and he was keen that I make a film for his banner. When I started working, I felt Aayush could be a great fit and he liked the script, too.

What advice did your mentor Ali Abbas Zafar offer you?
He had once told me that for your first film, you should work in a space that you are familiar with. Don’t take on too many challenges right away. Take one step at a time and build a strong base for a longer and stronger career as a filmmaker. I stuck to that mantra. As a Gujarati, I could connect with LoveYatri’s story really well. It’s not like I didn’t find great stories before this, but this one excited me the most. My mother’s family is from Ahmedabad. I’ve spent many summer holidays there and I have seen several Navratri celebrations, which are distinctly different from the ones in Mumbai. People go dancing on all nine nights. I wanted to bring out these beautiful things about the state, through a simple romantic story. Aayush plays Sushrut, who wants to start a garba academy, but no one takes his ambition seriously. Warina plays Michelle, a Baroda girl who stays in London. They meet during Navrati, share a common passion for dance and fall in love. Isn’t that sweet and simple?

With the audience’s evolving taste in cinema, even modern love stories have had to reinvent the formula. Do you think a simple love story like LoveYatri, will be able to appeal to contemporary sensibilities?
This film is like a hidden treasure waiting to be found. In late 2000s, films like Khosla Ka Ghosla and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye opened doors for different kinds of stories, which could be set in new parts of the country. You will be surprised to know just how many people want to watch films like LoveYatri. The last time I saw this kind of innocent romance was in Jab Tak Hai Jaan. I had worked on that film, so it was all the more special. Our film has a contemporary style, but it also has the innocence of the 90s films, which is a rarity today. More recently, I felt Bareilly Ki Barfi introduced people to the real texture of Uttar Pradesh with a simple love story. Similarly, through a love story and a set of characters, I’ve tried to introduce the country to the flavours of Gujarat. I’m sure people will savour this film as a romance that I feel has vanished from the big screen.

Launching any newcomer is a huge responsibility for any director or producer. In this case, Salman is launching Aayush, who is his brother-in-law. Do you feel more pressure because of it?
There’s a lot of pressure on me, but it’s not because Aayush is in the film. Salman has shown confidence in me that I can helm a film for his banner, and more so with his brother-in-law. He’s launching a new trio. It’s a lot of responsibility. The fact that he’s confident about us gives us a lot of self-belief.

The Khan family is a tightly-knit unit. Since you have worked with Salman and Aayush, what sort of a rapport do you share with their family?
For me, Aayush is like a brother, but when I am going to his house or Salman sir’s house, I don’t ever forget what I am going there for. Right now, I go there when I have work. The family is indeed very loving and accepting. Like Salim Khan saab saw the film and had only one thing to say, ‘It’s a sweet film. You’ve done justice to it.’ It’s a huge compliment. Previously, Ali has shown his films to him. When Ali heard about this, he said, ‘It’s great because if Salim sir doesn’t like something, he has a lot more to say.’

What was Salman’s reaction?
He just smiled and gave me thumbs up for it.

Now that you have directed a film for Salman’s banner, do you have aspirations of directing him in a film, too?
Yeah! I am hoping for something like that, but there is a long way to go. I need to prepare myself thoroughly before working with a superstar like him. My next film depends on how people receive LoveYatri.

Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; September 30, 2018)

He’s no stranger to controversy, but Salman Khan’s home production, LoveYatri: Journey of Love, created brouhaha over its earlier title (Loveratri). Reportedly, a political outfit in Gujarat objected to it, since they felt that it sounded similar to the festival, Navratri. Salman was quick to diffuse the situation when he promptly changed the title, even as the Supreme Court later passed a judgement in favour of the film. In a candid chat with BT, the superstar talks about steering clear of political and societal pressures and staying focussed on entertaining the masses. He also shares some intimate thoughts on his equation with his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma, who makes his debut with this film. Excerpts from a freewheeling chat...

Changing the title of Loveratri to LoveYatri... just a few weeks before the release must have been a tough decision?
No, it was the easiest decision of my life. What’s the point in getting stuck on a topic if someone has a problem with it? It’s not like we had any intention of hurting anyone or their feelings. It’s not like the title Loveratri means something offensive, but a section of society felt offended by it, and sadly, these people are from the very place where the film is based, Gujarat. Why should we then deliberately go ahead and upset them? So, we changed the title. It’s a very simple change and I think we were fortunate to get the new title, because at the end of the day, the story is about a journey of love. In hindsight, perhaps the new title suits our film better. Hopefully, it will not create any more problem for anyone. And if they are not satisfied with LoveYatri, we will change it to something else. If they still have a problem with any new title, we’ll just say, ‘Paanch October ko ek picture release ho rahi hai. Uss film ka title nahi hai, par uss film ka hero hai Aayush Sharma, Warina Hussain heroine hai, director Abhiraj (Minawala) hai, kripya aap apne nazdeeki yaa door wale theatre mein jaake iss film ko dekhein’ (laughs!). Honestly, how does it matter? My life’s ambition is not to get stuck on the title of a film.

Over the years, the films you have produced, or starred in, have been family entertainers. So, how do you react when political establishments make a hue and cry about your film, compelling you to even appeal to the Supreme Court of India?
I was surprised that a simple title like Loveratri could court such controversy. I could not figure out why it happened. There was one Gujarati lady called Avni ben, who’s quite close to my family and her opinion influenced my decision. To give you a background, she’s a simple woman who has nothing to do with politics or films. But she said, ‘Gando thai gayo (you have gone mad). Yeh kya naam rakha hai film ka, Loveratri?’ If someone were to say that for personal or political gains, that’s a separate matter, but here, a simple Gujarati lady felt so strongly against the title. That’s when I said, ‘Change the title!’ We’ve made a beautiful film with a love story to entertain the people. We don’t want people getting upset with our cinema. Even when the film went to the Censor Board, the committee raised a concern, but they cleared the title when Abhiraj (Minawala, director) explained his thoughts and ideas behind the title. They CBFC saw reason and merit in our arguments. We were very happy when the Censor Board said that we can keep the title and just add a tagline to it. But with so many different sources expressing the same concern over the title, I decided it was best to just change it.

Brother in law, mentor, producer... how would you describe your equation with Aayush Sharma?
I’m not the person that you guys think I am. My equation, or my way of dealing with newcomers, does not change from person to person. So, whether it is Sooraj Pancholi, Athiya Shetty, Zaheer Iqbal (a friend’s son) or Aayush, I work with them in the capacity of a filmmaker. For me, every film I make is like a launch film and I consider every film as a film that can destroy my career. I believe, every newcomer, like Aayush, goes through the same set of emotions and apprehensions.

All eyes will be on Aayush in LoveYatri, because he’s being launched in a film produced by you. That in itself is massive pressure for a newcomer...
It’s going to be very difficult for him. He’s got a huge task at his hands. When I started out, I went out on my own, because I felt that if my father produces a film for me and if that film does well, all credit would go to my father. But if the film doesn’t do well, all the blame would go to my father, too. In such a scenario, I didn’t want the blame nor the credit to go to my dad. It had to be just me, doing my own thing outside of my father’s shadow. But, he (Aayush) will have to go through that phase. Having said that, both Aayush and Warina have worked very hard on this film.

How did you react when you first met Aayush? It’s been reported that your brother Sohail, first informed you about wanting to sign Aayush for a Punjabi film. And then, the same guy turned out to be your sister Arpita’s boyfriend. Were you totally taken by surprise?
Apparently, Arpita says that she first introduced Aayush to me at our Panvel farm, but I do not recollect that meeting at all (laughs!). The second time I met him was when he came home to meet dad and tell him that he wanted to marry Arpita. I was there with Sohail and that’s when he told me that Aayush was the same guy he wanted to make My Punjabi Nikaah with. So, I told Sohail, ‘Dude, abhi toh yeh teri film mein free main kaam karega’ (laughs!).

Aayush revealed in a chat with BT that you had walked in, while he was watching a movie with Arpita in her room at 1 am. How did that situation pan out?
If I remember correctly, I said something like, ‘Oh hello? Kya hai? Chalo niklo baahar!’

In his interview with BT, Aayush also claimed that he feels awkward at film parties and he’s always at a loss of words. Even at film events, he’s always waiting to make a quick exit. After all your interactions, what’s your understanding of him now?
He’s an introvert. He’s a very awkward boy. He was just as awkward with people from political parties, as he is with people from filmi parties (laughs!). He’s just shy. He’ll be all okay and chirpy with you one day and the next day he’ll be running away from you. But above all, he’s a sensible guy. He’s travelled with me for the last four years. He was an assistant on Tiger Zinda Hai, Tubelight, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan. I told him that he needn’t be a full-fledged director’s assistant, and that he should just come to the set and observe. Whatever he had to learn about acting he picked it up in film school. But I wanted him to come to set and learn the process of filmmaking. In these four to five years, he has learnt from everyone he has interacted with. He picked up lessons from the cinematographers, directors, technicians, other actors and me, too. He is a very keen learner. He doesn’t like to meddle in things, he doesn’t like to take centre stage, he prefers to stay reserved and that allows him to observe and learn. I feel, the ability to observe your surroundings and absorb your experiences is a very important skill for actors. That’s the best quality any actor can have.

With the cut-throat competition in the film industry, today, is it more challenging for newcomers to survive and establish themselves?
Today, it’s like the law of the jungle out there. Everyone is eating into everything. During our time, people used to start thinking about stardom only after their films became hits. But today, with the social media and the constant attention on actors, new kids are turned into stars long before their first film has even released. It’s difficult for young actors, because they need to maintain focus, 24 x 7. One little slip-up and their image and career prospects can be lost forever. When we were young, kisi ki majaal nahi thi poochne ki, ‘script kahan hai?’ People would shoot you down before you’d even finish the question. But actors today are sensible and more cautious, because they know there’s so much at stake. They weigh their pros and cons, they find out everything about the director and his team. They want to hear the entire script, they want to meet the producer and know every little creative aspect of the film. They will not shy away from going that extra mile to promote the film on every possible medium, because they know... this is it. There’s nothing bigger than the film, that’s what makes or breaks them. Today, actors need to be sorted and have their head on their shoulders.

Your films have always had strong family values. Does that stem from the fact that you too come from a family that has strong bonds and connections?
I always remember this one incident that happened on the first floor of Galaxy Apartments (his home) many years ago. The entire family was watching an English film together, and suddenly the actors started kissing. It was a proper lip-lock. One head turned to the right, the other to the left, someone started staring at the ceiling, someone at the floor, a few people didn’t know where to look. Dad gave out a loud ‘ahem!’ Someone called out for the house help to get tea for everyone. Every single member of the family got distracted and the moment the kissing scene stopped, the whole family got back to watching the movie. That’s why I feel, you don’t need such stuff in a film. You don’t need these gimmicks to make the film work. I’m not saying these gimmicks don’t work in favour of films, I’m just saying they’re not a necessity in cinema. In my first film, when Sooraj Barjatya was directing me, I remember I had to apply a balm on Bhagyashree’s feet and I did that while shutting my eyes. I don’t think sex or skin can sell a film. That’s not my way of making movies.

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 28, 2018)

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that no coercive action should be taken in any part of the country against actor Salman Khan in relation to his upcoming production, LoveYatri.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered the submission that the movie, slated for an all-India release on October 5, has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and despite this an FIR has been registered in Bihar and a criminal complaint is pending in Vadodara in Gujarat.

Several private criminal complaints have been filed against the film alleging that its name has hurt the religious sentiment of Hindus. It was earlier titled as Loveratri, but was changed to LoveYatri by the producers keeping in mind that the earlier title sounded like Navratri.

Meanwhile on Thursday, Gujarat High Court also adjourned to next month the hearing on the petition filed by a Hindu outfit, Sanathan Foundation, seeking a change in the title Loveyatri or its ban, saying hurt the sentiments of Hindus. The petitioner’s lawyer had told the court that even the changed title sounded similar to Navratri and hence is unacceptable to Hindus.

The SC bench took note of the plea of Salman who is the producer and said that no coercive action should be taken against the film relating to the content and the title. The lawyer appearing for Salman argued that once the certificate has been granted by the CBFC, the producer is entitled to show the film in the theatres, and no criminal law should be set in motion because of such individual perception relating to the name or any song in the movie.

“Having regard to the said assertion, we think it appropriate to pass a protective order that no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner relating to the film, namely, Loveratri. That apart, no further FIR/criminal complaint/criminal proceeding shall be entertained by any investigating agency anywhere if the allegations relate to the said movie or the contents of the movie,” the bench stated.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 27, 2018)

After assisting on films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan, Aayush Sharma is gearing up for the release of his acting debut LoveYatri. With Salman Khan launching him, the newbie couldn’t have asked for a better beginning. He is aware of the privilege and candidly says, “If you take away ‘SKF’ from my film, you wouldn’t have talked to me or interviewed me.” And, while his fate at the box-office will be decided on October 5 when the film releases, Aayush has already caught the audience’s attention for his dancing skills in songs like Rangtari and Chogada. Here, he talks about making the transition from an assistant director to an actor, Bhai’s advice to him and more.

Did you always want to be an actor?
No. I never thought I would be an actor. When I came to Mumbai to study at Jai Hind College, I thought I would open a restaurant, but my friends would say I should be an actor. At that time, I thought of doing a prime-time TV show, as it will be a good way to stay in Mumbai and my parents could watch me on the the small screen back home. But I never went for auditions to get work. I was staying in Bandra and happened to meet Arpita (Khan), then Sohail (Khan) and Salman bhai. They, too, told me I should try for acting as they believed I had the potential.

Was that when you started training?
I had neither participated in the school assembly, nor was I into any theatre group. To be honest, I was too shy. So, I had to start from ground zero. I started assisting on films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), Sultan (2016) and Tubelight (2017). That was really an eye-opener on how movies are made. I also learnt the technical aspects.

Once you have assisted on a movie, you start respecting the hard work that goes behind making one. When Bajrangi Bhaijaan became a blockbuster and won critical acclaim, somewhere I felt it is my film. I thought I should be a part of this profession and do one movie that people will remember me for.

How did LoveYatri happen?
I was assisting on Sultan where Abhiraj (Minawala) was the first AD. He wanted to make his directorial debut and was working on a film written by Narenbhai (Bhatt). He narrated LoveYatri’s idea to Salman bhai saying I could do the film. Bhai liked the plot and asked him to work on it. During Tubelight, I heard the script and I loved it. I found it to be a good blend of content and commerce. You can’t control the box office, but you have to be proud of the content you are going to bring out. They were looking for a studio to produce it when Bhai said, ‘I want it to be an SKF film’.

What tips did you take from Salman Khan?
Every time I was on Salman bhai’s set, I tried to ask him about acting and he would say, ‘Acting is a reflection of what you are in real life, the day you try to act, you will ham’. He told me to keep observing and marking his work before his take. He did not even come on the sets on the first day of my shoot.

Instead, early in the morning at 7 he sent me a message saying: Feel every line, every emotion, every character. You don’t need to be Aayush anymore, you need to be the character. For me, it was too much to process! All these years, he didn’t give me any advice and suddenly so many things (laughs).

How was your first day on the sets?
I was excited, but also nervous. I was still getting used to the idea that from an assistant, I was now an actor. It was new, more so because many people feel that I am here because I am related to someone. Now, I needed to give such a shot that the ADs say, ‘He deserves to be here’. That was playing on my mind along with the advice that Bhai had given me. But it was a smooth day, we started with the song Tera Hua. At the end of the day, when I messaged Bhai about it, he texted back a sweet message saying, ‘Insha Allah! Beta best of luck, I hope from this day onward, you never have a day off and spend every day in front of the camera’.

With all the talk about nepotism, do you feel you are the privileged one?
I believe there are some people whose talent hasn’t got due credit and are waiting for a platform like this. I am lucky to have it, but more than that, I am fortunate to have the guidance of someone experienced. Many people are not guided properly and are wasting their time doing something else. There is also a difference between the box-office collection of debutants who have no i connections as opposed to those who have them. If a film with newcomers doesn’t have a big banner attached to it, it doesn’t get marketed well. Realistically, they don’t get that kind of publicity or screens. If you take SKF away from LoveYatri, who will talk to me or interview me? Of course, it helps. An outsider has to figure his own way out.

At the same time, I am as new and as raw as Warina (Hussain, his co-star) is. I was not born into a film family, but because I have a certain background, people will look at me, and say, ‘Let’s criticise him’. But in case of Warina, whatever she does, they will say, fine, it’s her first film. So, it works both ways, there are advantages and disadvantages. My only hope is that when people see the film and my work they say, ‘He deserves to be an actor’. That will be my victory.

Usually, newcomers tend to hide their marriage or family from the media as it may affect their image...
My wife has been my support system. I got married into a famous family, and I don’t think hiding your wife or child will help in your career. If you are good at your work, married or single doesn’t matter. At the end of the day people will look at your work. My family is my motivation. I believe Arpita is known as Salman Khan’s sister, I want to work hard enough that she is proud to be called Aayush Sharma’s wife. My family is the source of my strength.

Were you upset when the title was changed from LoveRatri to LoveYatri?
I have been living with the title LoveRatri for the past one year, so when they changed it I said, ‘No, that is my identity, you can’t take it away from me’. But I respect people’s emotions, it’s not important what the film is called. I have four hit songs, people know me as the Chogada boy, not LoveRatri boy. The producer’s intention is to launch three careers with the film, so when some people peacefully told us to change the title before it became a media spectacle, we did it. We made it with a lot of pyaar and hope that pyaar continues.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; September 22, 2018)

He comes from a family that’s deeply rooted in politics, and he’s married into a khandaan that is a mighty force in Bollywood. The moment Aayush Sharma tied the knot with Salman Khan’s sister Arpita, he came into the filmi fold. But he confesses that filmdom is something that he is still warming up to. Yes, he has bhai’s muscle power backing him, but the young and restless actor knows that it comes with hefty expectations and he will be pitted against nothing but the best. With his dream debut Loveyatri, directed by Abhiraj Minawala, inching closer to release, garba boy (that’s what he is lovingly called by many now) Aayush, is all fired up and ready to take the leap. In an interview with BT, he talks about his childhood days of growing up in a political family, his relationship with the ‘Khan’daan, and how he hopes that when he’s finally on the big screen, all that will matter is the performance he puts out there. Read on…

You hail from a family with a political background (son of politician Anil Sharma) and at some point, you were handling the family business, too. When were you bitten by the acting bug?
I was always a huge movie buff; I liked watching Bollywood movies over Hollywood movies. I bunked classes to watch movies. I loved watching Govinda sir’s and Shah Rukh bhai’s films. When I moved to Mumbai, the thought of being an actor was just an amateurish idea. I gave a few auditions, after which I felt that this isn’t my cup of tea. The idea came back to me because of Sohail bhai (Arpita’s brother). We would train at the same gym, where he noticed me and said that he has a film (My Punjabi Nikaah) in mind, which he wanted to direct and that I would be a good fit for it. That day, when I came home, I said to myself that this is more than I could ask for. After that conversation, nothing really happened. Then I met Arpita and we grew close, and much later, when we decided to get married, the topic came up again. Arpita had planned a meeting between Salman, Sohail, Arbaaz and me, and when Sohail saw me, he turned to Salman and told him that I was the same boy that he had met at the gym. They went into a room, discussed something and when they came out, Salman bhai laughed and said, ‘Arpita, you have ruined his career. Sohail wanted to make a film with him and now that he is getting married to you, he has to train to be an actor’.

But at that stage, Salman didn’t have any plans of launching you, right?
Bhai said he won’t launch me, but he will train me to step into the industry. He always told me, ‘I should feel that you are ready to be an actor. If you aren’t, then I won’t work towards it’. Even when I started working as an AD, he told me that if I didn’t feel connected with the world of movies, I should go back to whatever I was doing. So, for four years, I did the drill. I trained every day (dancing, acting and horse riding) and was on set to understand the workings of the film industry. It is funny that I have the pressure of being from the industry, but actually, I am not from the industry. My director Abhiraj Minawala nurtured the idea of making Loveyatri while he was an AD on Sultan (2016). I was also assisting on that film, and he discussed it with Salman bhai and me. But back then, bhai told him that I needed time and I wasn’t ready. Only when we felt that we are ready to take it on, bhai heard the script, loved it and gave us a go ahead.

You have been married for over 3.5 years to Arpita. Was it intimidating marrying into the big Khan family?
Yes, at first it was intimidating, as I was trying to understand the whole family and get familiar with them. Now, I tell my father that I am blessed to have such a strong family in Mumbai. In Arpita’s family, everyone stays close by and they celebrate everything together. When we decided to get married, it wasn’t just the approval of Salim uncle or Salman bhai that mattered. The whole family’s approval was important. They were so warm and welcoming. I am closest to my mother-in-law (Salma Khan); she’s like my own mom. If she knows that I am shooting in the city, she never forgets to ask me if she should send me khaana. Loveyatri is not just my film; everyone in the family is involved in some way or the other. The film is like a family project, it’s like a home video that we have created together.

You come from a family that is deeply rooted in politics, but with your keen interest in movies, were you the odd one out?
While growing up, we didn’t discuss Bollywood at home. Our dinner conversations were mostly about politics. We were fairly reserved when it came to watching movies. In fact, if we went for a movie, it had to be for a special occasion, like a birthday treat, where dad took us for dinner and then to a movie theatre. It was a family tradition. I never thought I would be able to tell him that I wanted to be an actor, as I knew that he would be shocked by it. Being a politician, he never interacted with actors and he didn’t know anyone from the film industry. He wondered how this idea even occurred to me. When I actually told him about it, he was silent for a few minutes and then said, ‘This industry is not for us, we are very simple people. To be an actor, you have to be tall, extremely good-looking and well built, and you are nothing like that’ (laughs!). Well, he has not watched too, many movies, and his knowledge of cinema comes mostly from the films that he’s seen in the past. He even went ahead and told me, ‘In our times, Dharam ji (Dharmendra) was an actor. You are nothing like Dharam ji, so you shouldn’t try your luck in acting’.

In a way, you grew up in the public eye. You probably didn’t have the paparazzi following you everywhere, but political families also draw a fair amount of public and media attention.
The people of Mandi are very close to us. If you go to our house there, you will see that it’s always full of people. We have very little privacy and we have literally grown up with the people of Mandi. It’s a small town, and politics is a very big thing there, so everyone follows us closely and feels involved. I have fond memories of the time my dad and grandfather would contest for elections. As kids, we would go around carrying posters and paste them on walls. We would even carry badges in our backpack and hand them out to people.

Cut to Bollywood, life in showbiz is very different. After Arpita came into your life, you probably got a whiff of what it is like being in full media glare. And now that you are making your debut as an actor, people’s interest in you will only get stronger. Are you warming up to all the attention?
Politics and movies are very different worlds. In politics, you don’t live a flamboyant life. Even if you are like that, you can’t live like that. As a kid, my dad would tell me, ‘Don’t talk too much, listen more’. In Bollywood, it is important to talk. It took me a lot of time to get used to it. Initially, when I would go to parties with Arpita, I would tell her not to leave my hand, as I felt out of place. On seeing actors at parties, I would ask myself… Should I say hello? If I do, will I come across as a fan? I had so many such thoughts running through my head. Till date, I can’t hang around at a Bollywood party for more than 45 minutes. I have a timer, I quickly do my round of hellos, and then I am out of there.

Has marriage and fatherhood brought about a change in you?
When you are a bachelor, your responsibilities are different. You can take risks and also take life slightly easy. Marriage has made me very responsible. I am extremely lucky that I have a huge support system in Arpita. Being from the industry, she understands the profession and she is fully aware of the hard work that goes into it. She never tells me to skip my training so that we can go out for dinner, instead, she pushes me to work harder. We have a kid, Ahil, so I have to work hard for all of us. It will be a proud moment for me when Ahil will go to school and be known not just as Salman Khan’s nephew, but also as Aayush Sharma’s son. I will be happy to achieve that status in my life.

Talking about all the blood and sweat that goes into becoming an actor, in an interview with BT, Salman had voiced his opinion on the same subject. He had said, ‘Actor banna halwa nahin hai, it’s a lot of hard work. Today, they have to get trained for it and understand what it takes to make a movie. The journey is long... one or two years go by as an assistant director’. In spite of having Salman Khan as your mentor, you waited for long to reach this point; did you ever have second thoughts?
There were days when I thought that I wasn’t good at it. The first day when I was on set, I called Arpita and said, ‘I don’t think that I can be an actor’. Look at the number of people who are dependent on me to do my job well. It’s not just about my career, but so many people’s careers that are riding along with mine. Arpita was supportive and so was Salman bhai. He told me that I will be compared to the best, and that I won’t get any leeway. I know it and I fully understand that. I wasn’t born into a film family, but I know that I will be considered a filmi kid, and I will have to work harder than the others. Bhai clearly explained, ‘I lucked out, that doesn’t mean you will, too. Your hard work will take you places. You have to be grateful for every day that you are on set. I can launch you and give you the first film, but I can’t act and dance for you. If that was the case, everyone who I launched would have become a superstar. It is your destiny, after all’. I am glad that I got a reality check so early on in my career.

When a superstar like Salman Khan takes you under his wing, it is a privilege, but it also comes with immense pressure, doesn’t it?
Yes, there is huge pressure, and I also know that there are a lot of people who are wondering whether I deserve to be an actor. There are conversations around it, but I don’t look at it that way, else it will break my spirit. Today, I have a platform like Loveyatri, I don’t know if I deserve a film like this, but I feel so fortunate to be a part of it. I am lucky that people are keen to see me on screen. In a year, there are many movies that release, but don’t get the kind of attention and traction they deserve. The moment I am on the big screen, I’ll be on my own. Then, it will be about how good or bad I am. People will forget who I am related to.