I used to have SRK’s posters on my wall: Ayushmann Khurrana

I  never thought I’d be able to have a serious conversation with a man sporting a nose ring (and a ponytail). But it’s the multi-faceted Ayushmann Khurana, so I don’t even ask him why he’s wearing an accessory that Sonali Bendre made famous in the 90s. He must have had a good reason to adorn himself with a piece a jewellery that even girls don’t wear anymore. Or maybe he didn’t. It didn’t matter. Seconds into our conversation, I forgot the twinkling bit of jewellery on his nose and somewhere in the middle of our conversation, he recited a Hindi poem penned by him. I was charmed. He could now wear a bandage dress and a tiara for the next interview and I wouldn’t judge him. He is just talented. I read somewhere: ‘We all get the same amount of hours in a day. It’s what we do with them that makes us who we are.’ Ayushmann is a full-time actor who makes music, writes poems, novels, maintains a blog in Hindi and also finds time to spend with his wife and two kids. He recently bought a cricket team too. My head gets dizzy just thinking about all that he indulges in. Here, the industry’s newest AK, talks about his varied passions. Read on...

You are a multitasker to another level! Do you need to keep doing things all the time?

I think I am, but of course, I have this calm façade. My parents always say that I am very calm and composed, but also that I want to do everything. Acting is my core profession and I always thought of it as much more easier than music. Or maybe it comes easier to me because there are no set of rules in acting. In music, saat sur hain jis se aap bhatak nahi sakte hain. Aur acting mein ek scene ko dus tarike se kar sakte hain. So music is more technical for sure.

How do you find time to do everything that you do? Do you ever find time for your wife in the midst of all this?

She loves me a lot and gives me a lot of space. She has known me since I was 16. She has always seen me acting, writing, doing everything and she knows I really want to do this. As long as you are a good dad, you love your kids and spend some time with your kids, it’s fine. And it’s all credit to her.

You are the only actor of your generation who has kids. Your thoughts on early parenthood?

You know, earlier I had no reference who to ask about fatherhood. When my wife was pregnant, I was like kisse poochoon? So then I asked my dad. But it’s amazing. I think that they make me stay young because I’ll be in touch with the next generation. I realise it’s your kids who make you realise that you know, this is not happening. They tell you what’s cool and what’s not. I remember telling my dad, ‘Yeh kya pehna hua hai?’

Was he a young dad too?

(laughs) In fact, no. I am a younger dad, which is quite crazy.

You are a singer, actor and lyricist. Will we see you turn to direction next?

I have no idea. You just keep on doing things when it is the right time. Right now there is no any time for other things. I just want to act and sing.

How does your wife deal with the actor in you?

She has been dealing with it for the past 15 years now. It became tough after Vicky Donor. We had no time for each other; suddenly everybody wanted a piece of me. Things changed a lot almost overnight. I think she has evolved as a person over the years. She has become more patient, more giving and all credit to her. It is so difficult to be an actor’s wife; actually not just actors, being the spouse of anybody who is in the public eye.

What’s your ideal day like when you are not working?

I need to spend time with my family, do my riyaaz; I watch movies, discover new bands, I do that most of the time. I’ll just go to YouTube and discover new bands — latest, old, whatever.

After all these years in the industry, do you now feel like an insider?

I don’t know… I don’t want to feel like an insider. It feels good if you are watching the industry from the outside and you are still in awe of Bollywood. It just helps that child-like quality. I want to keep it completely alive and kicking.  When I watch any film, I watch it like an audience.

You’ll make a terrible film critic.

Yes, I’ll be a terrible critic. Recently, for Sonam’s film Neerja, everyone was posting videos on their greatest fear. My fear is losing that innocence of a common man. As an industry insider, I want to be on the periphery and just watch everything.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha got you so much love and respect from the industry. It changed your perception majorly. Agree?

I completely agree with that. I think Dum Laga Ke Haisha has given me more than Vicky Donor because in Vicky Donor, being a Punjabi, I could sleepwalk while playing the character. In Dum Laga Ke Haisha, there was an effort — the language, the body language and everything. It has got me lot of respect.

You came in with an unlikely hit. Do you think that somewhere that has become your USP? Maybe people don’t really want to see you singing/dancing or doing conventional stuff?

I don’t know. I think when Vicky Donor happened nobody took me as a conventional hero. Even the films I was getting were slightly off-center like Nautanki Saala, Bewakoofiyaan and Hawaizaada. But I guess that kind of cinema has probably worked for me — content-based or slightly off-center.

You choose your films keeping that in mind?

You have to reign yourself for sure. Like in Dum Laga Ke Haisha, nobody expected that I would be doing the UP khari boli type of person. But I guess again it’s not just with me… It’s with everybody. Frankly speaking, I would love to do a typical Bollywood film as you call it.

Do you get offered such films?

Yes, but it also depends on who is directing and producing it.  But if I get a decent project, which is like commercial-commercial, I would love to do it with a good director.

Were you being cautious after Dum Laga Ke Haisha? You have just signed one film post that…

Two now. Manmarziyan and Meri Pyari Bindu. I guess I was busy with music as well.  I recently cut an album single, Yahin Hoon Main; I am just doing another one as well but yes, I had to be conscious after Dum Laga Ke Haisha because I delivered a hit after three not too successful films. I guess I took my time; I read scripts and I followed my heart.

Who do you consider your mentor? Aditya Chopra or Shoojit Sircar?

There are two mentors — Shoojit Sirkar and Aditya Chopra.  They belong to different schools but I am glad that I have these two mentors and I seek their advice in time, every now and then.

How much have you matured as an actor since the time you started?

I don’t know. I think I was a very loud actor when I was in theatre. I think stage is slightly louder for sure. There are no small frames or big frames. We project a lot more and you are slightly larger-than-life. I think I have evolved as an actor. I was four out of 10 then; now I am seven out of 10.

Three roles that you would love to do?

Amitabh Bachchan in Shakti, Shah Rukh Khan in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker.

Who is your favourite actor?

I am influenced by Dilip saab, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. The thing with your favourite actor is you develop that feeling in your teens mostly. I think Shah Rukh was ruling the industry at the time. He was the badshah of Bollywood. I was really struck by his intellect as well. I studied journalism because of Shah Rukh. He studied Mass Communication in Jamia, so I did too. SRK came to Mumbai and I said I would also do that. I used to have Shah Rukh’s posters on my walls. My family is very filmy. They used to watch every film. They still do that.

Most actors say they cringe when they see themselves on screen.

I am quite critical. In fact, I don’t see my films more than twice. Once before anybody sees and then once with everybody.  In fact, Dum Laga Ke Haisha I have seen twice. Vicky Donor twice. I feel there is always room for improvement. But the more you watch it, the easier it gets. When you are watching the first time, then you become critical.  The second time, it’s like theek hai yaar, achcha hai. By the fifth time, you get obsessed and start believing this is good.