Ayushmann’s nautanki
After his dream debut with Vicky Donor, Ayushmann Khurana is all set to woo his fans again with Nautanki Saala, directed by Rohan Sippy. “I play a theatre actor and the role was something I could relate to since I have been a part of theatre groups during my college days,” says Ayushmann.
Elaborating on his role, Ayushmann adds, “My character is called Ram, but he is a Ravan! It is a character with shades of grey.”
Incidentally, the script of Nautanki Saala was narrated to him at the same place where Sholay was narrated and Ayushmann found that an exciting coincidence. “It was a real high for me. Meeting Rohan Sippy, who comes from a strong legacy of filmmakers, was quite an experience,” he says.
The actor is singing two songs in Nautanki Saala. He says, “Singing is something I do for myself. But it is not a parallel career for me.”
With a crop of new actors making their debut in Bollywood every year, isn’t the competition worrisome? “I think this is the best time to be a newcomer,” says the 28-year-old. “Bollywood is moving beyond nepotism, and is looking at actors who are talented and not from the industry. Every kind of film is being watched and appreciated if the content is strong.”
Ayushmann says he has had a very sweet and fruitful journey so far. He started off as a theatre actor and director in Chandigarh, after which he went to Delhi to become a radio jockey. He won MTV Roadies 2 and then anchored a number of television shows. “I have never been a struggler. I achieved success in whatever I did. But I have a stable head and do not get carried away,” he says.
Ayushmann’s wife Tahira is a writer, who recently launched her second book, Souled Out. The childhood sweethearts married last November. Ask him how Tahira deals with all the female attention post-Vicky Donor and he says, “She is the first and last person I have loved. She is mature enough not to take it seriously.”
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