Go-Getter, Ballsy & Dependable - Ayushmann's Success Recipe Has A Dash Of 'Simplistic Attitude'!

"To begin with...I don’t talk about myself in third person. Brand Ayushmann is too much”, chuckles Ayushmann.?

It’s been three weeks since Article 15 released, a movie that has become part national obsession, part an attempt to address India’s caste imbalance. But the Ayushmann Khurana roller coaster has moved on. He's hopping seamlessly from one project to another.?He quips, "When I approach a filmmaker, I make it a point it should not be just different from me as a character but it should also be different for the audience as a wholesome film viewing and it should have a certain value creation, a value addition. When you watch a film it has to be content marrying entertainment.”

The Andhadhun actor believes in getting into the skin of his character and following the suit, he is currently engrossed and consumed by yet another project that a lot of people are betting on.

He’s currently in Lucknow at the heart of the Hindi belt shooting for a movie with Amitabh Bachchan and Co. It’s his second movie on a social issue on a trot.

Instagram

But it’s not a part of a hidden agenda, there’s no angling for a Rajya Sabha ticket, or peddling nationalism - it’s something a lot simpler “something creative without an agenda.” For him, “If you have a simplistic attitude towards life, that could become your brand.”?

Even though Article 15 was a rare hit (ticked off the critic and money box both) it did predictably throw some people in an abject tizzy. The protests were the usual mix of poster tearing, demands for a ban, apology, and even a court order.

“They should watch the film first and then probably protest about it,” Ayushmann rues. True to what he says, a lot of protests started out even before the trailer of the movie released (or right after). They don’t have to be offended every single time.

But considering getting offended and going on the offense is our national pass time, Ayushmann and Co didn’t walk into the controversy with the blinders on. They were prepared and okay with the controversies,

“As long as the film is not saying something offensive to anybody, we are safe. We said things as they were and after watching the film, even the ones who were the naysayers loved it.”?

The courage of Article 15 though came from his recent spate of successes, which have given him the elbow room to experiment in a movie which would have been a bit risky to take on when his movies weren’t working.?

“It feels great. I feel validated that my choices are working with the people and sensibilities. I will become braver with my choices because till now they have worked. I will go with my gut and I would like to keep it as simple as possible. There’s no different fear or pressure. it’s just excitement.”

What is interesting for Ayushmann though is that even with a concrete lull phase with a string of flops, he managed to bounce back. His first hit Vicky Donor was in 2012 and then after a few misses and flops, the next hit that came his way was in 2015 with Dum Laga Ke Haisha.

There might have been a fair share of ups and downs in his journey but he prefers staying close to reality. He claims a chunk of this happens because he isn’t aloof or disconnected from reality.

“I travel, I talk a lot to people around me, I don’t live in a bubble or a cocoon, and I think that’s what makes life more exciting and that’s what makes me more creative.”?

While explaining his life as an artist, “Observing & living a simple choice of life” is his way of living and it also helps him put words to characters like Ayan Ranjan in Article 15 or the UP accent of a docile and domesticated guy from UP in Dum Laga Ke Haishaa.

Ayushmann's Instagram and Twitter profile speak volumes about the person he is. From his moonlight obsession to his Hindi poetry, his personality on social media is relatable for a lot of people. Swinging gently between living up to the expectations that people have from him and the ones that he creates for himself, passion is a non-negotiable trait for him.

“The message for millennials?is to be passionate about your craft, follow your heart and at the same time be around people who help you grow. Evolve every single day and be objective with you own self. Don’t be self congratulatory and don't mix contentment and ambitions or else you might tread that thin line.”

After five back to back hits, Ayushmann has a line up of some more interesting projects that include Dream Girl, Bala, Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan and Gulabo Sitabo. Four films, four contrasting subjects, well, that's just him!?