Ayushmann Khurrana

bout 4 years old he had seen the film Tezaab at a single screen theatre in Chandigarh along with his parents. When the song Ek Do Teen blazed the screen, the audience in the dingy cinema hall whistled, cheered, and threw coins at the screen. Some cine buffs went crazy and chanted ‘Mohini… Mohini…’ and the cinema hall echoed with thunderous clapping and applause. More than the song and Madhuri Dixit’s dance, young Ayushmann Khurrana was fascinated by the splendour of cinema. He was overwhelmed by the jubilation and the fondness of audiences towards Madhuri Dixit. Bowled over by the euphoria of the audience towards film stars, young Ayushmann Khurrana, made up his mind to become a film star! Ayushmann Khurrana was ridiculed by school teachers for his interest in films After having made up his mind to become an actor, Ayushmann Khurrana started to act and dance and drew attention in school and society. But he rued, “In our Punjabi culture acting and singing is considered worthless. Hence my school teacher ridiculed me. My math teacher used to taunt me saying – you are nuts in studies, you can only dance and sing.” When he confessed his passion to his grandma she slapped him. Similarly, when he opened heart his to his sweetheart, she laughed him off! Despite humiliation, Ayushmann Khurrana continued his struggle Ayushmann Khurrana, pursued his passion. To add salt to his injuries he failed in the Channel [V] singing reality show, Popstars. He was condemned by some for his thick eyebrows, some mocked his Punjabi accent and some laughed at his short height. But Ayushmann Khurrana withstood all humiliations and made a second attempt in 2004 to participate in MTV’s Roadies season 2, which he finally won at the young age of 20 when others of his age were busy completing their formal studies, Ayushmann Khurrana was earning a handsome five-figure salary!

Ayushmann Khurrana took acting seriously since childhood After having made up his mind to become an actor Ayushmann Khurrana took up acting seriously. At school, he would spend more time at the theatre than classroom. He would be engaged in doing legendary plays like Shylock and Merchant of Venice or did musicals like Romeo and Juliet and Eve performed dark plays like Othello. Khurrana was so passionate about plays that he took an intense interest in theatre both at school St. John’s High School and DAV College in Chandigarh. In addition, he was even instrumental in founding two active theatre groups at DAV College, Chandigarh. The theatre groups called ‘Aaghaaz’ and ‘Manchtantra’, are even today functional despite Khurrana, having quit them long back. During his college days, Ayushmann Khurrana did many experiments in dramatics. He revived the orthodox style of street plays and won prizes in national college festivals like Mood Indigo (IIT Bombay), Oasis (Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani), and St. Bedes Simla. He also won a Best Actor award for playing Ashwatthama in Dharamvir Bharati’s Andha Yug.” Soon he began getting a lot of TV offers. He was a TV presenter for various shows like the IPL broadcasts and was also an RJ at BIG FM Delhi for four years. Film director Shoojit Sircar convinced Ayushmann Khurrana for Vicky Donor Film director Shoojit Sircar wanted a face that could translate innocence and honesty for his film Vicky Donor (2012). The role was first offered to Vivek Oberoi and later to Sharman Joshi but both declined as the subject was a bit edgy. Finally, Shoojit hit upon casting Ayushmann, whom he had discovered for MTV’s Wassup. When Shoojit gave the good news to Ayushmann, he could not believe it as he felt his personality did not suit the character but Shoojit convinced him. Ayushmann Khurrana did a fantastic job but Khurrana credits Shoojit as he believes Shoojit extracted the right performance from him. The film won National Award and it fetched Ayushmann Khurrana the prestigious Filmfare, Screen and Stardust Best Debut Actor Award. After Vicky Donor, Ayushmann Khurrana was shattered After the mega success of Vicky Donor, Ayushmann Khurrana was shattered with a hat-trick of flops viz Nautanki Saala, Bewakoofiyaan, and Hawaizaada but despite failures, Ayushmann Khurrana did not sign any run of the mill masala Bollywood film, instead, he signed Dum Laga Ke Haisha, another off-beat film with a newcomer Bhumi Pednekar. The film not only did good business but won a National Film Award. Speaking about his penchant for parallel cinema, Ayushmann Khurrana says, “Though I love all kinds of cinema roles that are different and earthy, which people can connect are more challenging to perform. Such roles give inner solace as an actor.” The pair Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar are once again collaborating this year and Jodi has signed a new film, ‘Shubh Mangal Savdhan’ to be produced by Aanand L. Rai.