He surely knows what popularity tastes like, but stardom is something that Ayushmann Khurrana feels today’s actors can’t experience. The 32-year-old- whose next film, Meri Pyaari Bindu, alongside Parineeti Chopra is in the post-production stage, says: “I don’t believe in stardom. That used to be there in the days of Rajesh Khanna, and the three Khans (Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan) have enjoyed it… The phase of super stardom is gone because actors are so approachable and available… There’s no mystery left.”
Ayushmann believes that in this day and age, the tables turn, and positions change every Friday (with new films). “It’s a volatile and exciting market at the same time… Every year we see several new actors joining the industry. This phase has come after a long time… There’s a lot of work happening. Nepotism is gone, and people are coming through TV and modelling.”
The actor made his debut in Bollywood with Vicky Donor (2012), that won the National Award in the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment category. Talking about pressure to deliver his best ever since, he adds: “Over the years, you build that equity when people say, ‘This guy does interesting stuff, be it music or films’…. It’s good to have pressure.”
