I think we will still take time, still we have 50% in the occupancy and we need to be 100% to
decide what’s going to happen and at the same time it has to be a film with a wider reach
If you see my filmography every film is the first attempt in that sphere, in that realm with that
concept. It should be relatable to people. There has to be some kind of value addition to the society
Anek is one of those films. It’s a political thriller and I look forward to that film because it’s a
genre breaker for me and I watch the edit and it’s beautiful
He loved the film and my performance also in particular and it meant the world to me. It was
very surreal because I have been a fan and I have started my journey with Hrithik in a way
because in 2011 I hosted a show. Hrithik was the judge
and I was the anchor so he has seen my journey. Its beautiful
Hi guys this is Himesh and welcome to Pinkvilla. Today we have with us
Ayushmann Khurrana. Welcome to Pinkvilla Ayushmann, its lovely having you here.
Thank you Himesh. And firstly what a fantastic performance
that you have delivered in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui
Thank you so much. Congratulations on that
Ayushmann, if I am not wrong, this was the first film that you started after the pandemic like
in between the pandemic, after the first lockdown. So, what
was the idea behind Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui as the first film to start?
The fact that this is a first film actually from start to finish got completed in a pandemic after
first lockdown. And of course, I was also working on Doctor G and Anek simultaneously but
thought of pushing it first because I had to undergo transformation. That’s the only time I could
have done that. I was just sleeping for 8-10 hours,
working out for 3 hours, learning cross fit,
stuff it was difficult. So, I needed that time, that time frame where I was not distracted by
other things in life so that time was apt so
And what was the first reaction when Abhishek Kapoor narrated the script and the subject to you?
I was completely blown. I didn’t take a narration, I read the script and it connected with me
somehow. I was always empathetic towards to the community and being an ally, I think I
should do something which is a conversation starter for the community. It’s a very thin line to
tread on but it is very difficult, it is very risky film but I am glad that we are talking about it right now
And like you said you underwent a transformation in terms of body type and everything,
could you tell us something about that journey? How long
did it take for you to get that perfect toned body?
Almost six months. But three months of rigorous training so Rakesh Udhyaar was my trainer
and also Shivoham assisted by Drishi and we worked together for like 3-4 months together
and I had to gain weight, muscle also be a cross fit
athlete so it was mix of everything so it was very, very difficult
And was there any reference point for your character or
what was your research like for this film per say?
More than research there has to be empathy and you get empathy by meeting people,
discussing their problems, their journeys and trigger happened back in the day in the 90s
when I think my father introduced me to and after that I watched Satyameva Jayate, Aamir
Khan’s Satyamev Jayate where Gazal Dhaliwal in it and what’s her story and her journey so
yeah even with my last film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan there were lot of interactions
with people from the community so it all boils down to empathy and if you can trigger
empathy in the viewers and the audiences mind and heart also
I think we successfully did that Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui
And you know from Vicky Donor till now you have done so many films which have broken
stereotypes. For according to you which was the most path breaking and challenging one, if you
have to choose from the films that you have done and why?
I think every film which has certain sexual content from Vicky Donor and Shubh Mangal
Saavdhan, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and now Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is very, very
difficult. It’s very difficult to make it palatable for a wider audience. This particular film of
course we face certain challenges, we had to monitor the trailer that we should not give out
the details or the main subject of the film so it was very difficult and I am glad that people are
going to theatres and they realise what the main issue or the content or subject of the film is
and they come back home after getting some value addition in that
Actually, that was my next question. Like you said in the trailer you didn’t give away what
the problem was all about and if you look at your films earlier around it was in the trailer
What was the idea behind that keeping the main plot under wraps?
Before pandemic of course Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan released and trailer was banging,
I think it was hilarious trailer but I remember talking to somebody in the interior cities like
Patna and Karnal and they were like we didn’t go to see the film because it was about two
guys and they were kissing in the trailer so as a country we come form that mindset. People
don’t want to watch something which is for them which is not normal. So, it becomes very
difficult for a commercial film to connect with that segment of society. So, to get them in,
give them an illusion of a hetero romance and then introduce them or induct them to subject
of trans world and or in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan the gay world so I guess it becomes
very difficult to market this film or right from the inception to shooting the film and market
the film then how people are going to react towards this
subject it is all very tricky but against somebody has to take it
There is one particular scene in the film which in my opinion is what the film is all about
where you interact with a trans person which leads to the metamorphosis of your character.
The one on the signal. You can speak about it now the film is out. Could you tell us
something about that scene and you know how did you approach that particular scene and
how did that scene come into picture in the first place in the script?
It was very important to get the perspective from their side and also showcase that despite of you know
that trans person being educated, she is still on the streets begging so of course
unemployment is there but there is no acceptance from the society. She was quoting
Shakespeare and nobody could have imagined the person who is on the traffic signal going
for alms and quoting Shakespeare. So, it is such dichotomy of life so I guess it was just a
statement that you need to be more acceptable and there was another scene in the film which
is not there which got edited was that when in the coffee shop we enter the manager doesn’t
allow that person inside, you can sit out you can’t come inside. So, because of the length
issue I think it was Gattu’s call to edit that scene but that was also very powerful that she was
not allowed to sit inside and that’s why we sat outside
Oh, that’s actually quiet because you know that scene actually defines what the entire film is
about actually. And you know one thing which stands apart in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is
it’s not preachy at any point of time. Even in the scene that we were speaking about one is not
adopted a melodramatic approach just that you know people tend to go dramatic in that sense
that I am educated but still I am not getting work but it’s shown in a subtle way. She is
speaking in English, quoting Shakespeare but nowhere, there is no direct mention of such.
Was that a conscious effort to not make the film
melodramatic and keep the tone as simple as possible?
You know of course there is a formula to certain social relevant films in Hindi that the
protagonist needs to deliver a message or a monologue. It happened in Bala, it happened in
Dream Girl but this time around Abhishek Kapoor had a different stance that we should not
say anything because its already there. And they are there for each other like both are
supporting each other and Manu’s character is also highlighted because of Maanvi’s support
towards what of course Maanvi is the central force in this film and it’s her journey also and it’s
also Manu’s emotional transformation, how he empathises with a trans girl like because
Manu is completely, he represents the masses, their mindset. He is regressive, he has no idea
about trans world, he has no idea about anything which we are, for him it has to be like cis het
girl as a girlfriend and when he discovers that it’s a trans girl so he flips and anybody from
who is not aware, who is not inducted towards trans world will be reacting like that in our
country because our country still needs to grow a lot. It’s a very complex situation that so I
guess in this particular situation Manu’s character was meant to be like this because he
shows the mentality of a common man in our country.
You know talking about the pandemic, has your script sense in any way changed post the
pandemic because you know there have been actors you know because of OTT coming up in
such a big way, there has been a talk about actors bifurcating into content from the word go
that this will be on OTT and this will be theatrical. Has there been
any change in your approach with scripts in that sense?
I think a good film is a good film. Irrespective if it connects with people be it like content
driven or a massy film, I think people will come and watch you just have to give them a good film
that’s what I feel. That’s what my perspective
Okay and you are open for OTT as well? In terms of series
I don’t know about the series but of course I was the first one to go on OTT with Gulabo
Sitabo but having said that I think the big screen experience
is something else. I think the feeling of community viewing is
And how do you view the future of industry in terms of box office front because you know
we are still in early times where every film is more like a case study of how it is fairing so
how do you view this mid budget film genre. How do you
view the future of that in particular as far as the box office?
I think we will still take time, still we have 50% in the occupancy and we need to be 100% to
decide what’s going to happen and at the same time it has to be a film with a wider reach like
families should go. Those kinds of films will work better because community viewing means
that you are watching with the entire family so I think that must be the benchmark
There must be hundreds of scripts which come your way on a daily or monthly basis. What
are the factors that you look into while selecting because you know you have not wrong in
terms of script selection in a longest time. So, what is it that draws you to a particular film?
I think it should be one of the first attempts in Hindi cinema with the subject. If you see my
filmography every film is the first attempt in that sphere, in that realm with that concept. It
should be relatable to people. There has to be some kind of value addition to the society and
it has to be a wholesome film not just dark or maybe preachy. It has to be a complete package
of songs in the realm of commercial Hindi cinema but if
with a particular message I think that lands you
And Hrithik recently tweeted about Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui and he praised your
performance. How did you react to that? Did you have a word with him?
Of course, I spoke to him for half an hour, he called me after watching the film. He was too
overwhelmed; he loved the film and my performance also in particular and it meant the world
to me. It was very surreal because I have been a fan and I have started my journey with
Hrithik in a way because in 2011 I hosted a show. Hrithik was the judge and I was the anchor
so he has seen my journey. It’s beautiful
You reunite with Anubhav Sinha on Anek which is your next. Could you tell us something
how exciting is that reunion for you? I know you can’t speak much about the film
Anubhav Sinha is a maverick filmmaker. He is restless and he wants to say something, he has
got a great voice of his own and he wants to address something to the society in his own way
and Anek is one of those films. It’s a political thriller and I look forward to that film because
it’s a genre breaker for me and I watch the edit and it’s beautiful
And there are two more films which are announced. One is
Doctor G and Action Hero. Could you tell us something when, what on those films?
Doctor G is a youth oriented, young film. I play a doctor in the film that to a student and it
shows a lot of student life also at the same time it has a social commentary at the same time
it’s got a male gynaecologist. I can’t speak much about the film as of now, its again a great
collaboration with Anubhuti Kashyap. And part from that I have Action Hero which I will be
shooting next in London with Anirudh and both these
filmmakers are first timers, Anubhuti and Anirudh and I love collaborating with first timers
Any last words on Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui?
I can only express gratitude I think I can say thank you to people who have acknowledged
and shown love to the film and people who have altered their mindset and I am glad that
team has been really successful doing that and in future I guess if you if you talk about a
film on trans then ideally the interviewer and interviewee should be from that community and
that will be the true win, true victory for the community
Perfect. Thank you so much and wish you all the best for all the films
Thank you so much
Hi this is Ayushmann Khurana. If you like this video, like, share and subscribe to Pinkvilla