“I don't carry my characters home” Ayushmann Khurrana

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Ayushmann Khurrana understood this early in his career.

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What was initially adopted as a survival tool, has now become a #careergoal for the actor. The outsider opted for the path less frequented to avoid getting lost in the melee. An unobvious rebel, he chose off-kilter subjects like sperm donation, erectile dysfunction, fat-shaming, sexuality of middle-aged parents, virtual romance and recently the bane of baldness. In his characters, people find a resonance of their unspoken and unsolved riddles. With the jubilation of Bala behind him, the actor looks forward to a riveting 2020 with Gulabo Sitabo and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan… The Ayushmann juggernaut is unstoppable…

Is this the best phase of your career?

Last year, I felt I was in the best phase. This year too, I’m feeling the same. When I read the script of Dream Girl, I could sense it would be a blockbuster. At the same time, people had never seen me in a slapstick comedy. I’ve always done subtle roles. But this time round, I was loud and OTT. Of course, masses love these kinds of films. Each time I attempt something different, I’m apprehensive. Where Bala was concerned, I was confident. It had a solid script. It’s middle-of-the-road cinema, which is entertaining.

Were you nervous doing Article 15?

Yes. I was nervous during Article 15, AndhaDhun and Dream Girl. Article 15 was not a commercial movie, it’s a dark film. I feared paise kamayegi ki nahin. While AndhaDhun was experimental.

Was Bala de-stressing after doing intense films like AndhDhun and Article 15?

Doing every film is the same. Of course, if you’re doing a dark film like Article 15, it takes a toll on you. Whilst researching, I read about the underprivileged. That left me disturbed. But playing every character entails the same amount of hard work. It’s equally stressful and fun.

What excited you about Bala?