‘Be Your Best Possible Self'

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s brush with spirituality has powered his growth and inspired him and his wife Tahira to fight back a grim diagnosis

- Blessy Augustine And Suchismita Ukil

WALKING THE TIGHTROPE BETWEEN BEING STARS and remaining true to their art form does not come easy to Bollywood actors. Ayushmann Khurrana, 34, has emerged as a surprising exception. Khurrana made his debut in 2012 with Vicky Donor, where he played a west Delhi Punjabi boy who falls in love with a Chittaranjan Park Bengali girl. The film portrayed the peculiarities of the two communities tenderly and comically, while exploring the topic of infertility. Khurrana owned the character of Vicky, a sperm donor, and established himself as a reliable actor with excellent comic timing. His recent back-to-back successes—Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), Shubh Mangal Savdhan (2017), Andhadhun (2018) and finally the `200-crore grosser Badhaai Ho (2018)—have propelled him into Bollywood’s league of stars. It is a commendable achievement when one sees how many ‘non-star kids’ versus ‘star kids’ make it. It is also worth emphasizing how Khurrana has managed to do so through the roles he essays. Unlike his non-star kid contemporary Ranveer Singh—whose biggest hits are larger-than-life movies like Bajirao Mastani and Simmba—Khurrana’s unique selling point is his ability to bring to life ordinary, relatable characters with a touch of comic innocence.

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