When we think of quintessential Bollywood heroes, our minds automatically go to larger than life characters. Someone who fights fifty goons at once and saves his damsel in distress. The one who crosses oceans for his love and impresses her entire family. Well, our Hindi movies have always tried to convince us that heroes are unbeatable and invincible. But, we all know that it’s not true. It took several years for the entertainment industry to understand that mard ko dard hota hai and portray it on the big screen. In the last decade, we have seen many movies with actors playing unconventional roles that smash gender-based stereotypes. Ayushmann Khurrana is one such ‘hero,’ who has been giving us fab movies that talk about social issues in a light-hearted manner.
In a recent interview, the actor revealed that it was always his conscious decision to choose movies that were not the usual mainstream drama. Interestingly, he had rejected a bunch of movies before signing his debut film, Vicky Donor, ten years ago. He said, “I had sad no to six films already, even before making a debut. Of course, they were no big films, they were with very vanilla themes and concepts, done to death subjects. So, there was this urge in me to do something different and path-breaking. I wanted to take on concepts that were not explored.”
Ayushmann shared that he has always been a risk-taker and chosen movies that triggered a social change. His films do not just revolve around sensitive subjects but are also entertaining and interesting. While talking about it, he said, ” I’ve always been a risk-taker, I have no other option. And, it is very difficult to find great scripts, and it is more than difficult to find a script which is known as a content script and still resonates with the masses and has a wider reach.”
His last movie, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, created a major buzz among his audience due to its unconventional plot. Ayushmann’s character, Mannu, falls in love with Maanvi (Vaani Kapoor), who’s a transwoman. Her identity troubles him until his perspective towards the LGBTQ+ community changes gradually.
While talking about the narrative, the actor said that it was important for him to play a role that he found relatable. He shared that he knew several guys like Mannu who were ‘dumb,’ ‘unaware’ and prioritised physical appearance over anything else. “Mannu comes from that mindset. In fact, back in the day, when I was in school and college, there was hardly any acceptance for the (LGBTQA+) community at that time. But we all learn as we grow up. Then I shifted to Mumbai for my first job, I interacted with people from the community, and empathy grew in me. Of course, it was a gradual process, but I am altogether a different person now,” he added. It was crucial for Ayushmann to show Mannu’s emotional growth in the movie as he believed that it could leave an impact on his fans.
Whether it is movies like Shubh Mangal Saavdhan or Bala, Ayushmann has usually done films that are considered ‘middle of the road’ cinema. These dramas have serious subjects and tropes of commercial flicks. While talking about the scripts that appeal to him, he said, “The kind of films I look forward to are films that brace transformation as cinema plays a great role in transforming the society.”
From movies like Andhadhun to Article 15, the actor has impressed us with stellar performances for almost 10 years now. We cannot wait for Ayushmann to blow our minds again with his upcoming film, Action Hero, which will release this year.
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