Aparshakti Khurana has made a reputation for himself doing comedian roles. Like his brother Ayushmann Khurrana, he too has been a part of radio and theatre earlier than setting foot within the movie business. Now, he’s all set to disclose a darker, grey-shaded avatar of himself within the forthcoming thriller Dhokha: Spherical D Nook. He’s been paired with Khushalii Kumar within the movie and R Madhavan too performs an vital function in it. Aparshakti appears as much as his brother and says beneath the stardom, they each are nonetheless the identical individuals who discover pleasure in slurping masala tea as Dilip Kumar or Dev Anand songs play within the background. Excerpts from a candid interview with the gifted actor.
Inform us about Dhokha: Spherical D Nook. What struck you probably the most concerning the script, and what aspect of your self did you discover by this function?
I’ve been desirous to do one thing damaging for a very long time. This was my probability, and I seized it as quickly as I heard the script and the narration ended. The taking pictures started nearly instantly. We’re already receiving optimistic suggestions. After two comedic roles in a row, it was a deal with to play a severe, darker, and extra intense function. I’m doing the Kashmiri dialect for the primary time, and for the primary time ever, I’m on display screen with brief hair.
You appear to be happy concerning the new hair-do…
My father would by no means enable us to put on our hair brief. We used to get an excellent beating when it was reduce too brief. He desired that our hair seem like Dilip Kumar’s. In consequence, we had no alternative to experiment with a brief haircut, both on or off-screen. This was my first alternative, and I’ve grown to love myself on this new avatar.
What was it like working together with your co-star, Khushalii Kumar?
It’s a pleasure to have her on set on daily basis and collaborate together with her. Khushalii is somebody I’ve recognized for a very long time. She used to come back utterly ready with all of her homework, which was unbelievable given how severe the movie was. I feel she appears beautiful within the movie as effectively. Her persona has many sides. She started her profession as a clothier and is aware of the whole lot there’s to learn about it. Moreover, as a result of she was born and raised in a musical household, she has had sufficient publicity to foretell what is going to succeed and what is going to fail. She can also be a superb dancer, making her a whole package deal.
After doing comedic roles in Pati, Patni, Aur Woh, Stree, and Dangal, what made you abruptly resolve to be a part of an intense movie like Dhokha…?
Individuals ceaselessly settle for you in a selected area in succession, and then you definately turn out to be typecast in that, to the purpose the place you’re barred from portraying roles in different genres. Even when others are unwilling to contemplate it, you may have the ability to do the alternative. Once I was within the theatre, all of my administrators used to forged me in darkish roles. I used to request that they struggle me out for comedy, but it surely was all in useless due to my intense eyes. They didn’t suppose I may ever seem like a comic. Then after I graduated to movies, it so occurred that my debut movie Dangal I had a comedy function to play and it was adopted by two comedies in a row. Bhushan Kumarji and Kookie Gulati (director) Sir gave me this new and difficult function to play one tremendous day and I instantly stated sure because it supplied selection.
Are you making a deliberate try to interrupt away from the forms of roles you had beforehand performed with this movie?
I’ll say 50/50. It’s not one thing I went all out for. I used to be making each effort to grab these alternatives. Nevertheless, I proceed to do no matter comes my manner. On the finish of the day, you possibly can’t disrespect your job, particularly when individuals settle for you in sure shades of comedy. You’ll be able to’t additionally disregard how a lot love and respect individuals have proven you.
Have your tastes shifted towards enjoying extra severe characters now?
In actuality, I’m solely getting lead roles within the scripts I’m receiving by probability. I imagine the fraternity has begun to like and respect me. However it’s not like I’ve any preferences for a selected shade of character or anything. No matter work comes my manner, I settle for it gratefully, whether or not it’s for singing, OTT, or internet hosting. I get pleasure from engaged on tasks which are each productive and permit me to be taught or do one thing new.
The previous few Hindi movies did poorly on the field workplace, and nearly all of them have been launched on OTT. Do you will have any considerations concerning the viewers’s response?
No manner. Dhoka… is a implausible movie, so I’m assured that folks will get pleasure from this. They need to concentrate. Isn’t the present dangerous part of the movie business a nasty part for the whole world? Regardless that we’re speaking about movies from the South, solely two or three have been field workplace successes. We should recognise that the viewers is clever. So, I imagine we’re nonetheless making good movies; it’s merely a notion that has arisen. That’s just about it.
Was it disappointing that your first movie as a number one man, Helmet was solely out there on OTT and never in theatres?
No manner, no how. At the start, I imagine a very powerful factor is that the work that we now have all accomplished reaches the viewers, which is already taking place. Second, the producers who’ve invested
in me have earned their a refund. I imagine the controversy between OTT and theatre is unending, however you merely must do good work. The easy reality is that the producers should earn cash, and folks should watch the content material, whatever the medium.
What are your ideas on the internet as a medium?
Each movies and OTT content material are appropriate for private exploration. Solely OTT has fewer restrictions, permitting us to say dialogues that the censor forbids. OTT lets you categorical your self extra freely. To us, OTT is extra useful as a result of it offers equal time to every character, whereas the movie focuses on and lingers on solely the lead characters.
The slogan ‘Boycott Bollywood’ could be very well-liked nowadays. What are your ideas in the direction of it?
It’s actually heartbreaking. Artistes are a susceptible bunch, burdened by the stress of an unsure life filled with ups and downs that comes with the business by default. I imagine we merely must chill out. I’m referring to most people, who readily reply to trolls and boycotts. I’d advise them to be extra affected person and to make use of their good judgement. Social media content material ought to be strictly monitored. The federal government ought to actually control them.
Do you imagine that the Hindi movie business is in want of change?
Audiences need good tales, and right now’s writers have wonderful scripts and content material to supply. I imagine that writers ought to be recognised and revered in the identical manner that administrators, actors, and producers are. I imagine we must always pay extra consideration to the writers. The author ought to have the identical standing because the director, actor, and producer.
Inform us about your relationship with Ayushmann Khurrana, your elder brother.
I like and admire him. For a few years, our household adhered to Papa’s rule of touching the toes of the aged for blessings as quickly as we awoke within the morning. We adopted this as much as the date. This, I imagine, is without doubt one of the causes there isn’t any sense of insecurity, competitors, or anything. And why
love and respect are current in simply the correct quantity.
How do you react when individuals make comparisons between you and Ayushmann?
Such questions come up when you will have taken somebody’s help in your journey, akin to when you have been launched by a star or when you your self are a star youngster. I started my journey with five-minute roles with out in search of help from anybody. In 2019, I additionally launched a track referred to as Kudiye ni with Neeti Mohan on T-Sequence. Whereas listening to it, I discovered myself questioning if it sounded much like Ayush (Ayushmann) bhaiya’s. We’ve got loads in frequent. Each single reviewer, nonetheless, acknowledged we’re each completely different. Essentially the most encouraging side was that nobody made any comparisons.
Did he encourage you to pursue a profession as an actor?
Sure, in fact. I needed to be a cricketer and even captained the Haryana under-19 cricket crew, however I ended up finding out legislation in Chandigarh for 5 years. I acquired my first job working for senior lawyer Amarjit Singh Chandhok for 3 months earlier than realising I wasn’t reduce out for this area. Luckily, I used to be given the chance to work as a radio jockey. I’ve seen Ayush bhaiya do the whole lot from appearing to singing to radio jockeying to internet hosting. I figured I’d give it a shot as effectively. In any case, rising up in a household the place your mother and father and even grandparents are concerned within the artistic area influences everybody. Good energies collided, and God was gracious sufficient to permit me to perform these minor targets in life. Not solely has Ayush bhaiya impressed me, however total Chandigarh has been an inspiration.
Inform us about Arzoie, your daughter, and your new function as a father.
You could have performed a wide range of roles all through your life, however changing into a father is a brand new problem. I imagine it merely introduced quite a lot of happiness, good luck, and optimistic vibes to the whole household. It’s one thing that actually binds us collectively. It’s wonderful to come back house and attempt to get everybody collectively for dinner when there’s a brand new member of the household. It’s great to have this new addition to the household, and I couldn’t be extra grateful to have one other woman in my life after my spouse and mom. My spouse and mom have prayed to God for higher issues to occur in my life. I now have a second soul. I imagine she shall be my cheerleader on the subject of motion pictures, and I shall be her cheerleader on the subject of her training, life, and upbringing. I’ll at all times be her largest cheerleader.
What new parenting expertise did you decide up after changing into a father?
Touchwood, I’d wish to suppose I’m a really hands-on father. And I attempt to make my spouse, Aakriti, as comfy as potential. After all, a father can’t do the whole lot {that a} mom can. Having stated that, I proceed to attempt to fill her footwear by helping her with minor duties. I used to be by no means a homebody earlier than. I’d name Aakriti out for a trip as quickly as I acquired house on the finish of the day. However now I attempt to end work as rapidly as potential whereas remaining disciplined, after which return house to spend time with Aakriti and Arzoie.
Aakriti is alleged to have helped you loads throughout your salad days…
We used to remain in Delhi after I was filming Dangal. It was her concept for us to relocate to Mumbai. She landed an excellent job in Mumbai and we each relocated right here as she stated it’ll assist me in increasing my profession. With out her assist, it could have been extraordinarily tough to maintain the
ardour going.
What new issues have you ever lately found about your self?
I’m simply glad I can do internet hosting, singing, music, and appearing all on the identical time, to not point out sports activities and play. And as a results of all of this, I found that I’m very comfortable to return house and
spend leisure time with my household. All of this retains me so energetic and upbeat that I wouldn’t ask for something extra from life, not solely this however within the subsequent start as effectively, even when it means repeating all of my earlier errors and classes realized, and eventually attaining my objective. My targets could seem mundane to others, however they’re merely fulfilling to me. The underside line now could be I’m very comfortable. Cross your coronary heart!
What do you discover pleasing in life and the way do you understand it?
Spending time with household or having a cup of tea with a biscuit can help you in attaining happiness. When you goal for the inconceivable whereas ignoring such candy moments, your pleasure shall be fleeting. Happiness will not be present in flashy vehicles or first-class journey. That pleasure is fleeting as a result of it’ll depart you on the will of God. I by no means requested for the inconceivable or indulged in envy. My little pleasures are completely mine, and nobody can ever take them away from me!
What annoys you and the way do you cope with it?
My want to finish ten duties in a single day irritates me significantly. I’m extraordinarily energetic.
Which administrators and actors do you wish to collaborate with?
Raju Hirani, Sriram Raghavan, Suresh Triveni, and Zoya Akhtar are my dream administrators. Zoya Akhtar is without doubt one of the nation’s most gifted filmmakers.
You’re doing a present referred to as Jubilee, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. Please inform us about it.
It’s a present concerning the rivalry between two Hindi movie superstars. I’m one in every of them. It’s a interval piece set within the Nineteen Forties. I’m extraordinarily happy. I don’t suppose I may have accomplished what he made me do if he
hadn’t been my information! I trusted him and adopted each recommendation he gave me to one of the best of my potential.
