Actor Ayushmann Khurrana On Movies, Travel and Books

”Despite riding high on the success of his last three films, actor Ayushman Khurrana chooses to revel in the simpler joys of life.

- Aditi Pai

From a sperm donor to a blind pianist, Ayushmann Khurrana’s repertoire of characters has proved that taboo themes and offbeat plots can also set the cash registers ringing. “Middle of the road cinema is here to stay,” he states. But this year’s much appreciated and commercially successful Andhadhun is particularly special to the acclaimed actor for more than just its sparkling success and unique story—he played a character he had “no reference for” in Indian cinema, worked with a big ticket director for the first time and shot the crucial climax in East Europe, a travel destination he loves. “It was the first time I shot abroad; otherwise my film sets haven’t gone beyond Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Uttar Pradesh,” he says. If the family drama, Badhai Ho, which is pacing towards the hallowed 100 crore club, saw Panipat being recreated in Delhi, the comedy-drama Shubh Mangal Saavadhan was shot in the capital. Andhadhun's shoot in the Polish city of Krakow gave the avid traveler an opportunity to visit the former Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz. “It was eerie and fascinating at the same time. I have read about the World Wars and could feel the energy of the people who died in the gas chamber there. The museum had their shoes, hair, their clothes,” he says. A history buff who has voraciously read about the world wars, Khurrana came back with a pile of books. Incidentally, books are among his favourite travel companions.

Immersive travel scores big