Short Film Awards
Glamour & Style Awards 2019
Cover Story: Kartik Aaryan On Making It Big In Bollywood, Love, Life And More
by Raghuvendra Singh | November 1, 2019, 4:14 PM IST
The day he landed in Mumbai, a starry-eyed Kartik Aaryan, visited idol Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat at Band Stand in Bandra. He was one among the thousands waiting to catch a glimpse of the superstar. Just then the gates were thrown open and SRK drove out in his car, waving out at his teeming admirers. His eyes met young Kartik's for a fleeting second. It was a defining, decisive moment for Kartik. The boy, who had left the by-lanes of Gwalior in search of the glamour alleys, had met his hero.
A rank outsider, who went on to become Bollywood's Badshah. The fire to follow suit had been kindled in Kartik. A series of humiliating auditions later, Pyaar Ka Punchnama happened in 2011. After four years of ennui came the superhit Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015). Yet Kartik continued to go unrecognised, uncelebrated, unsung… Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety last year and Luka Chuppi this year, drum-rolled the fact that he was no accident. The unassuming actor had arrived. And that he could pull in the crores. Top filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali and Karan Johar have placed their bets on him. Beautiful girls like Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday can't have enough of him. Life is coming up beautifully for him, right now. Kartik Aaryan is a rare breed, who cut through dynasty and discrimination to carve his success trail…
Festive season begins 🔥 Estoy listo 😏
A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan) on Oct 20, 2019 at 12:17am PDT
How does it feel to top the wish-list of filmmakers?
I've craved for this situation for the longest time in my life. It has happened finally. Name, fame… are secondary. The primary thing is work. I'm a workaholic. I want to give every second of my life to my work. I'm working every single day.
I'm enjoying it all. I'm living my dream.
What about female attention? You seem to be enjoying that too…
I like attention. I don't shy away from it. The kind of female fan following and love I'm receiving is precious. But it's all related to the characters I've played till now. Thanks to my characters Rajjo (Pyaar Ka Punchnama), Gogo (Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2), Sonu (Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety) and Guddu (Luka Chuppi), I'm getting all this love. I'm loving it.
As an outsider how tough was it for you to break into Bollywood?
As an outsider, you don't know the right people to meet or the right path to take. You just have to keep working hard on yourself, on your craft and wait for the right moment. I come from a small-town, Gwalior. For me to even share my dream with my parents was a difficult task. Bollywood seemed another planet altogether. They'd never have allowed me to leave my studies to come to Mumbai. So, I joined D.Y. Patil College in Navi Mumbai just so I could give auditions in Mumbai. I'd learn about auditions on Facebook. It was a task to travel from Belapur to Andheri by local train every other day. I'd change my clothes in the washroom at the station. This continued for two to three years. Main andhere mein teer chala raha tha (I was shooting in the dark). Outsiders will relate to this. During one of the auditions, one person mentioned that he taught at an acting school. That's how I joined an acting school.
Did you face humiliations during your struggle?
After queuing up for hours for auditions and then being told in front of everyone, "Go. You're not fit," was humiliating. It breaks your self-confidence. A popular casting director would ignore me. He'd say, "Iska kuch nahin ho sakta. He won't get work even in ads and serials. He's wasting his time. He'll end up struggling all his life." The same casting director saw one of my films. He called me and said, "I'm extremely sorry. The only time I went wrong in my whole career was with you. You proved me wrong."
You've mentioned that social media played a great role in your career. How?
I read about the auditions of Pyaar Ka Punchnama (PKP) on one of the FB walls. I had no money to make a portfolio. So I cropped my pictures from the college album and sent it to them. They called me for the auditions. The process carried on for six months. Finally, Punchnama happened. My monologue from the film went viral. It was on everyone's phone. It was trending everywhere – on FB as well. It's funny that the same platform, which led me to the Punchnama audition, brought me fame. People started calling me 'the monologue boy'. The film became a sleeper hit.
Apparently, you met with an accident just before Punchnama was to go on the floors…
My autorickshaw overturned and my leg got stuck in it. I was badly injured. I was taken to the hospital on a cycle by strangers. I called my mom and began crying that I'd lose the film. When director Luv Ranjan and producers Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak came to see me that night, I begged them, 'Sir please mujhe film se mat nikalna'. Thankfully, they waited for me.
Post the debacle of Akaash Vani and Kaanchi what was your state of mind?
I saw failure early in my career. Akaash Vani was a beautiful film. It's still close to my heart. I don't know why it didn't work. Then Kaanchi also flopped. I feared I'd never get another chance again. I went into a depressing mode. Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (PKP2) was my only ray of hope. If that had also bombed, I wouldn't have been here today.
What kept you going?
The belief in myself. I came to Mumbai with nothing. I had done three films on my own. The fact that I was slowly becoming part of this industry without any connections was in itself an achievement. But the sad part was that even after doing three films, filmmakers weren't interested in meeting me. I kept going for open auditions even after Punchnama 2, which was a super hit. Other aspirants there would click pictures with me. And I'd get rejected in those very auditions.
How difficult was it to maintain a façade till the time you made it big?
I had bought a second-hand car, in which the door next to the driver's seat wouldn't open. The roof was damaged. Rain water would seep inside. Whenever I attended events/parties, I'd park the car at a distance so that no one saw it. Sometimes when there was no petrol in my car, I'd even get into an autorickshaw. I wasn't papped those days. Despite doing three-four films, people didn't acknowledge me. But that never disappointed me. In fact, it motivated me to work harder.
When were you finally accepted by the industry?
After Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (SKTKS) things changed. That Friday was magical. That night was the result of seven years of struggle. It was the turning point in my life. Suddenly, the spotlight was on me. People began saying we always knew you'd make it. Luka Chuppi took me further. It was a litmus test for me as after the success of SKTKS. All eyes were on Luka Chuppi. After the success of Luka Chuppi, filmmakers began believing in me. But I'll never forget my struggle because it made me. I'm still in touch with my college friends and with those 12 roommates with whom I shared an apartment. In fact, I bought that flat. I want to cherish those memories. I don't hold it against anyone. At the end of the day, filmmaking is a business. Here nothing's personal.
Is success equally difficult to handle?
Success or failure cannot change me. I've always been taught to be humble and respect people. Being a successful actor or a star is secondary. My only focus is my work. I value it. I don't have 'yes men' around me. That helps me keep in touch with reality. The only thing that has changed is that now I'm not able to spend much time with my friends and family. The audience appreciating my work makes me feel secure. It empowers me when I see brands and filmmakers investing in me. I want to keep doing good work.
Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak ✌🏻
A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan) on Oct 4, 2019 at 5:10am PDT
What has the industry taught you?
To have patience and never lose hope. From where I come to where I stand today and where I will be tomorrow – hopefully on a better level – is unreal for me. The industry has taught me to keep on working hard to get my way. The industry is my home now. The team I work with becomes my family.
Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Ayushmann Khurrana… you seem to be friends with all. Is there no sense of competition between you all?
We're all working in our own space and doing our kind of films. We all believe in hard work. That's the common point, which connects all of us. There's a huge difference in our journeys. We inspire each other to do better work. Ranbir Kapoor's one actor, whose body of work is amazing. I envy his choice of films.
In an industry full of star kids, what gives you an edge?
My X-factor is my relatability be it in films or in real life. Main audience ka banda hoon. That's one reason they love me. Their unconditional love is unreal. They feel happy for me. They relate to my journey.
You just finished Imtiaz Ali's #AajKal. How was the experience?
It's been a learning experience. He's changed me as an actor. His films and characters are so relatable. I'm a romantic. I relate to his world. I'm sure many will relate to our film too. I'm altogether a different person after doing a film with him. That's what people around me say as well.
You've stepped into Sanjeev Kumar's role in the Pati Patni Aur Woh (PPAW) remake. Those are big shoes to fill...
Of course, those are great shoes to fill. But I've tried my best. It's different from the 1978 classic though. We all have given our best, be it Ananya (Panday) or Bhumi (Pednekar). I'm both nervous and excited about it. People will see me in a new avatar of a small-town guy.
You made headlines when you were roped in to play Akshay Kumar's role in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2…
There can be only one Akshay Kumar. No one can replace him. I've been a huge fan of his. Bhool Bhulaiyaa is one of my favourite films. When I was offered the sequel, I jumped at the opportunity. It's a hilarious script though I can't talk about it.
You've mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar are your inspirations.
Shah Rukh sir and Akshay sir are outsiders, who made it. They came from nowhere and made a mark in Hindi cinema. Today, they're superstars. I feel an attachment towards them. In fact, the first day I came to Mumbai, I visited Band Stand in Bandra where Shah Rukh sir stays. It was a Sunday and fans had gathered outside to see him. Luckily, he drove out in his car and waved out to them. For a brief second meri nazar unse mili. I was happy that he noticed me in the crowd. That's a memorable day for me.
Bohot hui diet ..Excited for tomorrow 🤫 Hint- Lets have something sweet !! #ChocolateBoy 🔥 #Announcement #AnyGuesses ðŸ¤Â"
A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan) on Aug 26, 2019 at 6:49am PDT
Recently, you shot a commercial with Amitabh Bachchan. It must have been a dream-come-true moment for you…
Yes of course. But it was my mother who was most excited. She was so happy that I was shooting with Mr Bachchan that she wanted to come on the set and meet him. But she couldn't make it. I took along a poster of Deewaar and requested him to autograph it. I have framed and kept it in my vanity van. I was so happy to be in the same frame with him. It's a great deal for any actor. He's a living legend. He's one actor, who has inspired several generations. When I was shooting with him, I just kept observing him. I didn't go to my van even for a second. Hopefully, I will get a chance to work with him again.
The Punchnama series or SKTKS have shown girls in a 'mean' light. Yet girls are crazy about you...
I've only received love from girls. The motive was only to entertain. It was not gender specific. People loved the film that's why they made more than 100 crores. In fact, wherever I go, girls ask me to recite the monologue. The audience is smart. They take things with a pinch of salt.
Have you come across women like those shown in the PKP series and SKTKS?
Yes. But I got saved in the nick of time. Most of the times, in the initial stages of a relationship, everything seems hunky dory. If the person is trying to be someone else in front of you and you're lucky enough, you see through them. That has happened with me.
A crazy fan experience…
A girl stood below my building for around two weeks in a bid to meet me. I was out of town. The day I returned; my security guard told me about it. I went down to meet her. The moment she saw me, she started shivering. I relate to it because I've been on the other side. I'm a huge fan of Akshay sir and Shah Rukh sir. That's the reason I love my fans and try to give them time. I spoke to her. She said she uses all the brands I endorse. She had my photograph as her phone wallpaper. I asked her not to bunk college.
Amidst a hectic work life, is there time for love?
Initially, I couldn't find time for my personal life, be it with friends or family. But somewhere down the line, I've struck a balance. One can always find time for love.
First Sara Ali Khan and then Ananya Panday expressed their fondness for you on television. Was it flattering?
It's flattering for a person to hear something like this. (Smiles) I'm happy with all the appreciation. I've worked with Sara in Imtiaz sir's film and with Ananya in Pati Patni Aur Woh. Hope people love our chemistry.
What about rumours linking you with both?
I don't give attention to rumours of link-ups. They've become part of my life. Right now, I'm focussing on my work. Professionally and personally, I'm in a happy space.
A filmmaker you wish to work with...
Sanjay Leela Bhansali sir. He's one filmmaker I admire. There have been opportunities when my dream almost came true. But sadly, things didn't materialise. I hope to be part of his canvas someday.
How prepared are you for a not-so-good Friday?
(Smiles) I'm not prepared at all because I believe all my films will work. They're good films. I view scripts as an audience. I've experienced failure early in my career. Though you can never be prepared for it.
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