KARTIK AARYAN: Will Stop at Nothing

Fresh off the indisputable success of his highest-grossing film yet, 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', Kartik Aaryan has kissed the gates of superstardom. But unlike most before him, it's his relatability with the masses that has made him invincible. We talk to him to find out what keeps him grounded...

- Vrutika Shah

Kartik Aaryan has an air of nonchalance surrounding him as he walks into the opulently decorated show apartments of the anticipated real estate behemoth The Imperial i in South Mumbai. Dressed in an oversized pink t-shirt, a pair of white track pants and a matching oversized cap, his disguise almost works, if not for his big fat entourage. He really does embody the good-looking boy-next-door tag more than coming across as one of the biggest names in the Indian film industry today. But it’s exactly this trademark Kartik Aaryan charm that’s appealed to the masses for the last 15 years.

His last outing, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, was a major commercial hit and became the second highest-grossing movie of 2024. And for Aaryan, it’s his most successful movie yet. Back when he was cast as “Rooh Baba” for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, he was stepping into some huge shoes with Akshay

Kumar’s performance having etched the original 2007 film into the pop culture hall of fame. And yet, here we are—Rooh Baba has a massive fan following not just among the urban and elite but mainly among the masses, who find him to be both relatable and yet aspirational. After all, he is the quintessential smalltown dreamer who turned the universal aspiration of becoming an actor into a dazzling reality. Before this blockbuster, Aaryan had taken a break from his traditional romcom roles and took on a biopic, Chandu Champion, in which he brought the story of India’s first Paralympics Gold Medalist, Murlikant Petkar, to life on screen. The prep to embody an athlete is not easy and Aaryan had to undergo a full body transformation—spending extensive hours at the gym and going through rigorous boxing and martial arts training. Proof that talent and good looks only work when coupled with hard work.