I don’t want to get carried away: Kartik Aaryan

Kartik Aaryan Speaks To Subhash K Jha On The Joys Of Belated Stardom

Finally it has happened. Has it been a long struggle and did you go through any unpleasant experiences?

I started really young and was youngest actor to debut as a lead in a movie and before entering the industry a senior person had told me once that generally, it takes 7 to 8 years to make your identity in this city, Mumbai. It may sound a long span of time but trust me you won’t even realise and it will go like this. But I feel you need to go through your own journey of struggle. It’s important, its neccesory. It teaches you a lot about life. It makes you to value things in life. I used to travel from Navi Mumbai to Andheri for auditions via local train everyday. I used to get ready in railway stations’ washroom. But I had no option. I didn’t know anyone in the city. But today I feel happy and proud when I look back at those days.

You say your mom is your best friend . But what about that someone special in your life? Are you still single ?

Yes, mom is my best friend till my school days. I share every bit of my life be it personal or professional with her and she always gives me best advice. If you ask about being single, I’m not single at all. I’m in a strong and commited relationship with my audience… my fans. I will keep doing good work to make this relationship stronger.

As an Bollywood outsider what is your advice to newcomers from small towns like Patna and Gwalior?

I always believe that your city or town can’t decide your dreams. I feel small cities have a different kind of driving force, they actually make you dream big. Being in Gwalior, who would have thought that I will be here on big screen. This will look impossible from Patna or Gwalior or any small town of the country but you just have to believe in yourself, you have to have little patience, be focused and work hard. Ziddi bano. Nothing is impossible to achieve in this world.

How has your life changed now? How do you handle all the fan frenzy? Do you get proposals from female fans?

Oh yes… I have become more busy now haha . I get scolded more from my mom now because I’m not able to sleep or eat on time . But I’m enjoying it. Every actor dream for this day and finally, for me it’s here. I enjoy going to theatres to see the audience reaction. I enjoy going out to public places. I feel happy when they shout out my name. I’m enjoying the kind of love and adulation I’m getting from everyone and especially from girls haha . My Insta, Twitter and FB inbox is filled with marriage and dating proposals. I love reading them all.

Strangely the films that you ‘ve done outside Luv Ranjan’s domain have all been failures. How do you plan to change that?

Success and failure is not in anyone’s hand. It’s a by-product. Apart from the Pyaar Ka Punchnaama series and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, if you see, Luv sir and I have done a film, Aakash-Vani together. That’s our favrouite film but it didn’t work .We all do a film if we like the subject and script and believe in them. And then we give our hundred percent to it. Some films do wonders at the box-office and some don’t. And there is no set formula ? Doing good work is in our hands and then it’s upto the audience.

Would you destroy your best friend’s marriage the way Sonu is shown to do in the film?

I wouldn’t say Sonu destroyed his friend’s marriage. I’d say he protected his best friend from a gold digger.And yes, I’d do the same if push comes to shove. I don’t fear being judged as a misogynist.Because that’s my character Sonu they are judging, not me, Thankfully the audience is flocking to see the film without getting judgmental about the gender equations in the film.Would I do another Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety? I’d do it as many times as Luv Ranjan wants me to.”

How are you treated by your friends and family back home in Gwalior? Do you get to go back home?

They are still the same. They still pull my leg and do not treat me as someone who is working in films. I think my family and friends are the ones who keep me really grounded. Few months back I had gone to my hometown and I went out with my friends to eat pani puri from the stall we used to in our childhood. After eating, they looked at me like pay the bill Koki but I didn’t because I never used to do that hehe

There is a lot of debate and controversy over nepotism in Bollywood. Do you think your journey to stardom would have been easier if you had been the son of a producer or actor?

It would have been easier to get the first film but at the end of the day in order to sustain in this industry, its your hardwork and talent. It’s a business and in long run, no one will put money on you just because you are someones son or daughter. I have my own journey and I am really proud of it.

Luv Ranjan believed in you?

Luv Sir stood by me through all these years. It takes a lot of guts to stand by someone you believe in when that someone is not a big star.He very clearly told producers it’s me and Nushrat Bharucha and no one else. I wonder where I’d have been in this lonely city without someone to believe in my talent.Not that I would have ever given up. I believed in myself. You have to believe in yourself only then can you expect others to believe in you.

One ambition this year?

To buy a bigger home so that my family can move in with me. Right now my best friend(Mom)has to keep shuttling between Mumbai and Gwalior because my father and sister are in Gwalior. I want all of us to stay together in Mumbai. It’s my one dream this year.It would be so nice to have my own family to come home to every day. Not that I am without friends in Mumbai. I’ve a very small group of friends.And my best friend lives in New Mumbai.You can say he is the real-life Titu in Sunny’s life.

Are you enjoying your stardom?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the attention. I’ve waited long for this. I now have an insane number of scripts to read. The offers are juicy and tempting. But I intend to move forward carefully. I don’t want to get carried away.