Kartik Aaryan Is Here To Stay

Breaking through the clutter of star sons, Kartik Aaryan’s story validates both – destiny and determination. Raghuvendra Singh meets the outsider who’s now an insider

- Raghuvendra Singh

The day he landed in Mumbai, a starry-eyed Kartik Aaryan, visited idol Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat at Band Stand in Bandra. He was one among the thousands waiting to catch a glimpse of the superstar. Just then the gates were thrown open and SRK drove out in his car, waving out at his teeming admirers. His eyes met young Kartik’s for a fleeting second. It was a defining, decisive moment for Kartik. The boy, who had left the by-lanes of Gwalior in search of the glamour alleys, had met his hero. A rank outsider, who went on to become Bollywood’s Badshah. The fire to follow suit had been kindled in Kartik.

A series of humiliating auditions later, Pyaar Ka Punchnama happened in 2011. After four years of ennui came the superhit Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015). Yet Kartik continued to go unrecognized, uncelebrated, unsung… Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety last year and Luka Chuppi this year, drum-rolled the fact that he was no accident. The unassuming actor had arrived. And that he could pull in the crores.

Top filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali and Karan Johar have placed their bets on him. Beautiful girls like Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday can’t have enough of him. Life is coming up beautifully for him, right now. Kartik Aaryan is a rare breed, who cut through dynasty and discrimination to carve his success trail…

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO TOP THE WISH-LIST OF FILMMAKERS?

I’ve craved for this situation for the longest time in my life. It has happened finally. Name, fame… are secondary. The primary thing is work. I’m a workaholic. I want to give every second of my life to my work. I’m working every single day. I’m enjoying it all. I’m living my dream.

WHAT ABOUT FEMALE ATTENTION? YOU SEEM TO BE ENJOYING THAT TOO…