COVER STORY : Aparshakti Khurana on Altering Lanes with versatile roles

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 to be like 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 essentially the most in regards to the script, and what facet of your self did you discover via this function?

I’ve been desirous to do one thing adverse 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 capturing started nearly instantly. We’re already receiving constructive suggestions. After two comedic roles in a row, it was a deal with to play a critical, 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 in regards to the new hair-do…

My father would by no means enable us to put on our hair brief. We used to get a very good beating when it was lower too brief. He desired that our hair appear to be Dilip Kumar’s. Consequently, 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 along with your co-star, Khushalii Kumar?

It’s a pleasure to have her on set daily and collaborate along with her. Khushalii is somebody I’ve identified for a very long time. She used to come back utterly ready with all of her homework, which was unimaginable given how critical the movie was. I feel she appears to be like pretty within the movie as nicely. Her persona has many aspects. She started her profession as a designer and is aware of every thing 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 be a superb dancer, making her a whole bundle.

After doing comedic roles in Pati, Patni, Aur Woh, Stree, and Dangal, what made you instantly resolve to be a part of an intense movie like Dhokha…?

Individuals continuously settle for you in a particular house in succession, and then you definitely develop into 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 be capable of do the alternative. After I was within the theatre, all of my administrators used to solid me in darkish roles. I used to request that they fight me out for comedy, nevertheless it was all in useless due to my intense eyes. They didn’t assume I may ever appear to be a comic. Then once 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 high quality day and I instantly stated sure because it provided selection.

Are you making a deliberate try to interrupt away from the sorts 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 means. On the finish of the day, you’ll be able to’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 taking part in extra critical 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. Nevertheless it’s not like I’ve any preferences for a particular shade of character or the rest. No matter work comes my means, I settle for it gratefully, whether or not it’s for singing, OTT, or internet hosting. I get pleasure from engaged on initiatives which are each productive and permit me to study or do one thing new.

The previous couple of Hindi movies did poorly on the field workplace, and the vast majority of them have been launched on OTT. Do you’ve gotten any considerations in regards to the viewers’s response?

No means. Dhoka… is a implausible movie, so I’m assured that individuals will get pleasure from this. They need to concentrate. Isn’t the present dangerous part of the movie business a nasty part for your complete world? Although 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 obtainable on OTT and never in theatres?

No means, no how. Firstly, I imagine a very powerful factor is that the work that we’ve all executed reaches the viewers, which is already taking place. Second, the producers who’ve invested 

in me have earned their a reimbursement. I imagine the talk between OTT and theatre is unending, however you merely must do good work. The easy truth is that the producers should earn cash, and folks should watch the content material, whatever the medium.

What are your ideas on the net 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 means that you can 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’ may be very in style lately. What are your ideas in the direction of it?

It’s really heartbreaking. Artistes are a weak bunch, burdened by the stress of an unsure life stuffed with ups and downs that comes with the business by default. I imagine we merely must calm down. I’m referring to most of the people, who readily reply to trolls and boycotts. I might advise them to be extra affected person and to make use of their good judgement. Social media content material must be strictly monitored. The federal government ought to actually keep watch over them.

Do you imagine that the Hindi movie business is in want of change?

Audiences need good tales, and at the moment’s writers have wonderful scripts and content material to supply. I imagine that writers must be recognised and revered in the identical means 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 am keen on 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 is no such thing as a sense of insecurity, competitors, or the rest. 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’ve gotten taken somebody’s help in your journey, reminiscent of in the event you have been launched by a star or in the event you your self are a star baby. I started my journey with five-minute roles with out looking for help from anybody. In 2019, I additionally launched a tune 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. Now we have rather a lot in widespread. Each single reviewer, nevertheless, said we’re each totally different. Essentially the most encouraging facet was that nobody made any comparisons.

Did he encourage you to pursue a profession as an actor?

Sure, after all. I wished to be a cricketer and even captained the Haryana under-19 cricket staff, however I ended up learning regulation in Chandigarh for 5 years. I bought my first job working for senior lawyer Amarjit Singh Chandhok for 3 months earlier than realising I wasn’t lower out for this subject. Luckily, I used to be given the chance to work as a radio jockey. I’ve seen Ayush bhaiya do every thing from performing to singing to radio jockeying to internet hosting. I figured I’d give it a shot as nicely. In spite of everything, rising up in a household the place your dad and mom and even grandparents are concerned within the artistic subject 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 complete Chandigarh has been an inspiration.

Inform us about Arzoie, your daughter, and your new function as a father.

You will have performed a wide range of roles all through your life, however turning into a father is a brand new problem. I imagine it merely introduced loads of happiness, good luck, and constructive vibes to your complete 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 lady 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 might be my cheerleader in the case of films, and I might be her cheerleader in the case of her schooling, life, and upbringing. I’ll all the time be her largest cheerleader.

What new parenting abilities did you decide up after turning into a father?

Touchwood, I’d wish to assume I’m a really hands-on father. And I attempt to make my spouse, Aakriti, as comfy as attainable. In fact, a father can not do every thing {that a} mom can. Having stated that, I proceed to attempt to fill her sneakers by helping her with minor duties. I used to be by no means a homebody earlier than. I might name Aakriti out for a journey as quickly as I bought house on the finish of the day. However now I attempt to end work as rapidly as attainable whereas remaining disciplined, after which return house to spend time with Aakriti and Arzoie.

Aakriti is claimed to have helped you rather a lot throughout your salad days…

We used to remain in Delhi once I was filming Dangal. It was her concept for us to relocate to Mumbai. She landed a very good job in Mumbai and we each relocated right here as she stated it’s going to assist me in increasing my profession. With out her assist, it will have been extraordinarily tough to maintain the 

ardour going.

What new issues have you ever just lately found about your self?

I’m simply glad I can do internet hosting, singing, music, and performing all on the similar 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 lively and upbeat that I wouldn’t ask for something extra from life, not solely this however within the subsequent start as nicely, even when it means repeating all of my earlier errors and classes discovered, and eventually reaching my purpose. My aims could seem mundane to others, however they’re merely fulfilling to me. The underside line now’s I’m very comfortable. Cross your coronary heart!

What do you discover fulfilling 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 reaching happiness. In the event you goal for the unattainable whereas ignoring such candy moments, your pleasure might be fleeting. Happiness is just not present in flashy automobiles or first-class journey. That pleasure is fleeting as a result of it’s going to depart you on the will of God. I by no means requested for the unattainable 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 take care of it?

My want to finish ten duties in a single day irritates me enormously. I’m extraordinarily lively.

Which administrators and actors do you need 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 in regards to the rivalry between two Hindi movie superstars. I’m considered one of them. It’s a interval piece set within the Nineteen Forties. I’m extraordinarily happy. I don’t assume I may have executed 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 means.