Ideas Of India: Ayushmann Khurrana Speaks About 'Risk Se Ishq'; Admits That Never Been Looked Down Upon As An Outsider

During the session on 'Mr. Original', Ayushmann Khurrana talked about choosing different roles and changing the typical definition of a ‘Hero’.

According to Ayushmann, he takes ‘One day at a time.’

ABP Network Ideas Of India Summit 2023: Ayushmann Khurrana is one of the most in-demand actors in Bollywood. The multi-talented actor, who had a breakthrough performance in the critically acclaimed and award-winning ‘Vicky Donor,’ reflects on the importance of his first film. In addition, he talked about his penchant for risk-taking, which he referred to with the phrase "risk se ishq," in the second edition of ABP Network Ideas of India. The session on 'Mr. Original' was moderated by senior journalist Rubika Liyaquat.

As the actor sang the songs 'Nazm Nazm' and 'Pani da Rang,' he captivated the crowd. He also recited a poem titled ‘Ardh Nirmit’, which he wrote 7 years ago.

Ayushmann Khurrana On Choosing Unconventional Roles

Talking about starting his film career, the actor said, ‘I was not at all scared.’ He said that he was aware that the first step has to be good because he won’t get a second chance as an outsider. He said that sometimes the audience surprises us since he didn't anticipate that his first movie, ‘Vicky Donor,’ would be a commercial success.

As Ayushmann Khurrana changes the perception of the typical Bollywood ‘Hero’, he says ‘Mujhe kuch alag karna tha…’ (I wanted to do something different).

He also said, "I Can't Leave My Staple Genre," when asked about his role selection process. “Experiment kiye bina mai nahi reh sakta. Jab tak mai risk le raha hoon, tb tk mai chal raha hoon, jis din mai risk lena band kar dunga, uss din mai khatam ho jaunga” (I can’t live without experimenting. As long as I am taking risk, I am alive. The day I stop taking risks, that day I will be finished), the actor added.  

Later, he talked about how his father pushed him to become an actor. He said that he had always had faith in him.

Ayushmann also talked about his wish to do even a small role in his wife, Tahira Kashyap’s movie. 

On Future Plans

According to Ayushmann, he takes ‘One day at a time.’ His only wish is to do something different and explore different stories. As an artist, he wants to keep fulfilling the social responsibility of an artist. 

On Being An Outsider

He said that today is the best time to be an artist. He believes that you can shine if you have talent because today there’s a lack of opportunists. He also emphasised that the casting system in movies has been streamlined now. For an outsider, he believes that it’s the best time to be successful. 

He later advised the youth to be persistent and consistent. He said even talent is overrated if one is consistent.

In response to a question concerning whether or not outsiders are treated poorly or looked down upon, he said "Not anymore." He said that Yash Raj Films manages him and has never been looked down upon. The actor said, “Aditya Chopra is my mentor and I respect him. I have done 2-3 films with him. 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' was a great film which was very unlike Yash Raj Films and I am really proud of it since it’s one of the most beautiful films in my filmography. So, if a studio that is built on its legacy and has helped an outsider like me, it's a big deal.”

On Nepo Kids

He admitted that star kids get the opportunity easily, and the talent follows afterwards. He said that they start at 100, so we have to start at zero. On the other hand, he believes that he and those like him have nothing to lose since they are the ones who will have to create their own legacy.

As Rubika complimented his optimistic attitude, he remarked, “The Universe has been very kind to me.”

On Love For Music

“I can live without films but I can’t live without music,” he answered that there’s a fight between an actor and a singer. Furthermore, he compared singing to acting and thought the latter is easy. He said that acting is subjective while music is objective. According to the actor, “Acting is a habit, but music is a lot of hard work.”

Ayushmann also talked about his love for Malayalam cinema and Fahadh Faasil. He said it’s wrong to generalise south films. He also spoke about the wave of OTT and the difference in ‘feel’ between OTT and theatre. 

Fanboying over SRK, he said that the actor inspired him. He called Shah Rukh Khan, an aspiration and intelligent star. He also called the success of SRK’s latest film, ‘Pathaan’ a “personal victory.”

Talking about his upcoming work, he said that he is in ‘Self-discovery’ mode right now. The actor wants to do ‘Bharat Bhraman’ on his bike along with his friends.

He concluded the chat by stating that he can make the changes he desires via his film.

To catch highlights of Ayushmann Khurrana's conversation, click here.

Ideas Of India Is Back 

ABP Network Ideas Of India Summit is back for its second edition. On February 24 and 25, eminent personalities from all walks of life will share their thoughts on pertinent topics and issues, ranging from climate catastrophe to India’s position as a new global power player.  

This year's speakers will share their thoughts on what constitutes ‘Naya India’, and how our country, now the fifth-largest economy, can position itself as a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of independence. 

This year, the ABP Network Ideas Of India summit — co-presented by Dabur Vedic Tea and co-powered by Dr Ortho, Gallant Advance, and Rajesh Masala (driven by Maruti Suzuki and with tech partner Panasonic) — will see notable speakers such as Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Minister Of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, musical artists Bickram Ghosh and Shubha Mudgal, authors Amitav Ghosh and Devdutt Pattanaik, actresses Sara Ali Khan, Yami Gautam, Asha Parekh and Zeenat Aman, actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Manoj Vajpayee, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, sports stars Jwala Gupta and Vinesh Phogat, and many more.