Scene: A small town somewhere in India. It is the '90s. The town's lone movie theatre is screening that month's hottest release, Baazigar. A boy sitting in the audience, flanked by his parents and sister, is mesmerised by the wicked charm of Vicky Malhotra, played by Shah Rukh Khan. He is not the only one. The entire nation is smitten by this dimpled hero. And like most kids his age, this boy wants to be SRK!
This could be the plot of a slice-of-life movie, a by-product of Bollywood's recent dalliance with heartland India. But our story is about Kartik Aaryan, the hero of his own Bollywood heartland story.
"We are a family of movie buffs. With my parents and my sister, I would always watch new releases at theatres or movies on television. I was so much in love with that world that I desperately wanted to be a part of it. It started with the dream to become a hero," recalls Kartik, the actor who has been catapulted into the league of A-list stars since the humongous box office success of his latest release, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Growing up in Gwalior, his is every bit of a small-town success story that Bollywood celebrates today.
MAN WITH A PLAN
For a boy from a simple middle-class family in Madhya Pradesh, conquering Mumbai was too distant a dream, one that couldn't be articulated even to his parents. "It was so far-fetched for a boy growing up in a town like ours that nobody would have believed me even if I told them. It was not a plausible career option at all. Nobody in my school or at my home had an inkling that I wanted to take this path," says Kartik, whose doctor parents' dream was to see their son become a doctor or an engineer.
Denne historien er fra August 20, 2022-utgaven av Brunch.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 20, 2022-utgaven av Brunch.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Man of the moments
Sunil Chhetri has retired from football, but he's not done yet. The 40-year-old legend talks about the moments that defined his careerand why his biggest achievement is off the field
Sonal Kaushal
Voice artist, YouTuber, content creator, @The_Motormouth
Raising the nepo rate
Who said privilege was a bad thing? These 10 celeb kids are clapping back at their family legacies and forging ahead on their own
It's rally been a treat
For car lovers, the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE is an opportunity to see - and talk about - rare, timeless cars in all their glory
Mess around and find out
Live while you're young. It's the time to make mistakes, experiment with jobs and relationships, and flirt with new cities
Rewind, reheat, taste, repeat
For anyone tracking the food scene, 2024 has been a year of spectacular highs. See which chefs, restaurants and trends made the cut and will shape the year to come
Thinking on their feet
Viral moves, hook steps, even fakers. Insta has changed how dance evolves. See how creators stay on their toes
Try these new party tricks
The good news: This season's fashion staples can create a party look, a holiday fit and a wedding look too. There is no bad news
Make every second count
History rarely celebrates the runner-up. But we should. It's where the tales of grit and comebacks lie
Pragya Kapoor
Film producer, @PragyaKapoor_