The Bankable Star

Before the release of Luka Chuppi, producer Dinesh Vijan said that you were the one person who was most positive about the film. Did you expect such massive numbers on the first day?

Thank God the film did well on the first day itself or the tables would have turned on me (Laughs)! I was confident about the content of the film. Since the day I heard the narration and signed for it, I have been very excited about Luka Chuppi. As I said earlier too, I was looking for a film that had content as well as elements of commercial cinema. I felt this film was an amazing blend of the two and would definitely strike a chord with the audience. I didn't consider the numbers at that point but I knew that people were going to like it.

Last year, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (SKTKS) touched the 100 crore mark and you became an overnight sensation. Now, you are doing several big-banner films. Would you say that you are reaping the benefits of your last hit?

Last year was definitely a year that changed my life, and Sonu is one character that will always be close to my heart. It has given me a lot. There are so many things that happened because of Sonu. I got into a zone where I became an option for directors and producers. I was never on that list before. I am thankful to SKTKS, the character and the whole team. After that, Luka Chuppi was a litmus test for me because this was the first film that was primarily selected by me. After SKTKS's success, I had the option of selecting a film. Luka Chuppi was a test of my judgment and thankfully it worked. People are watching the film and that gives me a sense of validation.

Would you call Luka Chuppi a turning point, given that it marks your transition from bro-mance to romance?

Of course! After SKTKS and the Punchnama series, a lot of people started calling me the 'bro-mantic' hero. There is a transition happening post-Luka Chuppi. Now, I am finally finding my way to the romantic zone. So, I am travelling from being a bro-mantic hero to a romantic hero. Luka Chuppi is also changing people's perception about me and the way in which the industry sees me. I am looking for content, I am looking for different characters to play, and I will continue doing that.

When you started out, what was your definition of success, and do you think you've achieved it?

I don't think I will ever be content. Right now, sitting here, if I think about the struggles I faced when I started out in the industry, I feel really happy thinking that I am now doing a successful interview talking about my last two hits. I have actually had a 100 crore film; my latest film is doing very well at the box office. I am working with the kind of directors I really wanted to work with. So, I should be really happy and content. But sitting here, I am also thinking about the future and about achieving more. Right now, I am an option for directors; but I want to be in that place where directors are writing roles for me. The aim changes after every achievement. So, when I look back, of course I feel happy, but then I also have a sense of reality that this is temporary. It changes every Friday and you just have to keep working very hard and also adapt with time.

You have a very strong fan base. There are videos of them crying and going gaga over you. How do you stay grounded seeing this kind of thing every day, especially now in the age of social media?

I have been on the other side too. I have been that crazy fan, so I know how it feels to actually see the actor you have loved so much on screen. When I came to Mumbai, on my first Sunday here, I went to Bandstand and stood outside Mannat because I had heard that Shah Rukh (Khan) sir comes out to greet fans on Sundays. So, I know what it feels when you want to see that actor you love.

Now, when I see girls crying for me, I don't know how to react. I feel sad that I can't express how I feel. I just say sorry and thank you, because they are crying tears of happiness. It's weird in a way. I completely understand it. I always try to be there when they want to click selfies with me. I want them to click more and more selfies and stick them up on their walls. I never feel like not meeting my fans (Chuckles).

Coming back to films, how do you think you have evolved as an actor?

A lot has changed in real as well as reel life. As an actor, I keep working on my craft. I do many workshops before and after each film. From my first film to now, one change is that I now concentrate more on the nuances of a character. At first, I didn't have the option of picking characters that I could explore, but now I am finally getting those chances. Now, you can see me in different avatars. There have been other changes also, including grooming. But the one thing that has stayed intact is my roots. I am still a Gwalior boy who lives with his family and talks in a particular manner.

Sitting here today, what message would you want to give to the Kartik Aaryan starting out seven years ago?

(Laughs) Well, what worked for me was that I was always patient. I never lost hope and that is something I really believe in. Another thing that was really important was rejection. The number of rejections you get can make you lose hope, make you think that there is something wrong with you. That is one thing that I never allowed myself to believe. I always told myself that if they are rejecting me, then it is their loss and they are making a mistake. After getting rejected, I used to work harder on myself but at the same time, I used to believe that I could have done this better. I would never let my confidence break with rejections. That is one thing that everyone should believe in; believe in themselves. Maybe that character was never yours. There will be one audition where your capabilities will be proven and then everything will change for you.