Ayushmann Khurrana And Bhumi Pednekar: Two Of A Kind

They struck the right chord with the audience the first time around in Dum Laga Ke Haisha. A year has passed since then, but the camaraderie is intact. Ahead of their second film together—Manmarziyan— Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar talk to Nairita Mukherjee about love, romance, sex and everything that makes the world go round.

- Nairita Mukherjee

Your chemistry in Dum Laga Ke Haisha (DLKH) was very well appreciated. Was that a factor when you agreed to Manmarziyan?

Ayushmann: It was a double whammy! Sameer (Sharma, the director) and I have been talking about the movie for the past one-and-a-half year, since just after Vicky Donor, but only after DLKH happened did we realise that Bhumi is perfect for Manmarziyan.

Bhumi: For me it’s just a coincidence that both my films are with him. But it makes things a little easier.

Bhumi, you don’t come from a film family. Did you have to convince your parents to let you be an actor?

Bhumi: Well, not my mother—she and I, in fact, have nurtured this dream since my childhood—but my dad, yes. Forget acting, it was a task to convince him that I wanted to drop out of Whistling Woods (she took a comprehensive course in direction and editing but dropped out in a year) and take up a job at Yash Raj Films (YRF) at 17! From handling production to assisting to casting— I worked my way up several levels. Eventually I joined Shanoo (Sharma, casting director) and started casting for second leads. I was, in fact, casting for DLKH too.

So how did you land the role?

Bhumi: Adi sir (Aditya Chopra) and Maneesh (Sharma, co-producer) had discreetly suggested to Shanoo that I should audition for the role of Sandhya (her character in