Indus Age Exclusive: “I want people to take away the surprise factor, the shock value and entertainment,”says Ayushmann Khurrana who plays a blind pianist in upcoming thriller film Andhadhun

Interview with Ayshmann Khurana

Ayushmann Khurrana’s innocent eyes, charming looks, natural acting skills and superbly melodious singing talent made him an instant hit when he debuted as a sperm donor in 2012 with his film Vicky Donor. The young, dynamic actor known for his raw and unique approach on-screen has gone a long way since then with critically acclaimed films such as Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) and very recently Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. This Bollywood heartthrob is all set to cast his charm on screen with yet another film Andhadhun, where you will see Khurrana in a completely different avatar, that of a blind pianist. Nidhi Kumari from Indus Age caught up with this star where he talks about growing as an actor, playing a visually impaired pianist, working with Tabu and more. Read on:

Ayushmann, you are an actor since your theatre days and you’ve been a part of the Indian film industry for more than 6 years now. How do you think you’ve grown as an actor?

 I think I have become more organic as an actor because, I used to be a method actor, coming from theatre, you are used to a lot of rehearsals and workshops. Over the years I have done live radio, live television. I have become more natural as an actor. I don’t adhere to certain methods. I read the lines, understand the character and whatever comes natural to me, I just say it infront of the camera. I think my method has changed.

 Ayushmann you come from a non-film background and, in such a short span of time you’ve carved a niche for yourself. You enjoy a huge fan following. What do you’ve to say on that?

It is overwhelming. The kind of cinema that I am choosing, it is very different, novel. I am glad that we belong to this era where people are interested in different and quirky films.

 The trailer of your upcoming film Adhadhun is receiving rave reviews already. Tell us what motivated you to take up this project?

My motivation was to work with Sriram Raghavan, another motivation was to do something different, other than the slice of life which I have been endorsing since past 6 years. This is the first time I am making this shift with a thriller that too with the master of thriller, Sriram Raghavan.

 In the trailer of your upcoming film Adhadhun, we see that you’re playing a visually impaired pianist. Is your character, related to one of the greatest pianists of all time, Beethovan?

No, not really, it’s a different story altogether.

It’s a story of a blind pianist who witnesses a murder and that is the real theme of the film which makes it interesting as a plotline.

 Playing a visually impaired person and getting into the skin of the character must’ve been challenging, so tell us how you have been able to do it?

I met a lot of blind people , I visited the blind school in Worli , Mumbai. I came across a lot of different people, you cannot really categorise or generalise that they are blind. Each person is different.

Every person is different. Knowing that I also met people who were recently blinded and some who were blinded since childhood. I noticed them and observed them as acting is a lot about observing.

I also met a blind pianist, noticed his body language, the way he approaches a piano, sits and marks his fingers and reaches the middle point and starts playing. All these nuances are incorporated in the film and it really helped me……

Given to the fact that director Sri Ram Raghavan is known to make use thriller elements and this film looks like a murder mystery where a blind man has been dragged. So, is this film going to be a suspense thriller or a psycho-thriller?

It is going to be a quirky thriller. It is not a dark thriller, it is a very unique genre. You will see something that hasn’t been shown on Indian cinema. That’s why the trailer has garnered crazy reviews and comments. People are getting gaga over it as it is a very interesting space that we have cracked. I am very proud to be associated with this film.

 You’re working with Tabu for the fist time, one of the most versatile actors of the film industry? Share your experience and if there’s anything that you learnt from her.

Absolutely , she’s a very natural actor. Coming from the 90s where the tonality of the film is higher than right now. She blends in different characters effortlessly, so, I think she is one of the most versatile actors and also a veteran. At the same time she’s amazing.

Since, you are a terrific singer, have you lent your voice in Andhadhun?

Yeah, I will be singing one song in the film for sure.

 What is it that you want the audience to take away from Andhadhun when they leave the cinema hall?

The surprise factor, the shock value, entertainment actually. Every film which works has to be entertaining, whatever genre it caters to so, entertainment , surprise, suspense and a question mark in the end.

Any memorable moment during the shoot of the film that will stay with you.

I think it’s the texture of the film. I have worked really hard on all the piano shots. I had a piano teacher Akshay Verma who taught me all the pieces. All the shots with piano are memorable.

Also, tell us your experience of working with Radhika Apte, who is again known as the queen of method acting.

She is brilliant as an actor. The kind of stuff she does, she’s very radical in her choices, which is great for an actor and in this film it is going to be different as she’s playing a love track also which of late she hasn’t done. That’s the newness in her character.

 Any dialogue from the film that you want to share.

More than the dialogues there are moments in the film. For example the last scene where I tell Tabu that ‘Piche Aishwarya Rai ka poster laga hai kya?’ There are moments in the film like where I eat the popcorn in a theatre or the shadow piano playing. It is more about the situation than the dialogues. I like Radhika’s line, “Ki kuch cheezein adhuri hoke bhi puri hoti hai”, that’s beautiful.

 You don many hats that of an an actor, singer, composer, anchor, VJ, in a way you are a complete package. If I had to ask you, to pick any one of these, which one that would be?

Of course actor, definitely an actor. I took up these vocation or careers because I wanted to be an actor. If I was a star kid, there would’ve been a launch of me without me being a VJ or a radio presenter or a theatre actor. All of these parts are leading me to be an actor. That’s the main thing. Apart from that, I also wanted to be an actor-singer, always wanted to lend my own voice to the character I am playing.

 Being a youth icon, what is it that you really like about the youth of today.

Message would be that they should be passionate about the craft, and focus is very important, have a lot of self-belief , even if you think you’ve the average talent. Hard work always surpasses a big talent. So, success is where preparation meets opportunity. There’s no dearth of opportunity right now. The preparation is what comes to the fore and you’ve to come prepared a lot.

 What is your message for your fans in Australia?

Thank you Australia for supporting me , thank you for supporting the kind of films I am doing. I hope you watch Adhadhun and the film does well in Australia. Thank you for your gratitude.

 (Andhadhun is a thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan with star cast- Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte in the lead. The film hits screen this October 5).