Ayushmann Khurrana, in a new interview, said that post the success of Dream Girl 2, he can comfortably get back to doing ‘progressive’ films. But, he also added that he may probably do away from taking up taboo subjects as he doesn’t want to cut off his family audience.
After an unconventional debut with Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Donor in 2012, Ayushmann Khurrana went on to become the poster boy for mid-sized, critically acclaimed films and established himself as one of the most versatile performers in Hindi film industry.
However, in the last two years, Ayushmann saw four of his films (Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Doctor G, Anek and An Action Hero) underperforming at the box office. The actor recently ended that dry spell with with his last release Dream Girl 2 which earned good numbers at the ticket windows.
Talking about his “biggest hit post pandemic”, Ayushmann told Indian Express in an interview called it a “great sense of validation.” The actor said that his motive with Dream Girl 2 was to reach out to a wider section of the audience and added that he was the only one among his contemporaries, who had to “shift gears” in terms of tonality of films.
The actor told the publication, “My films were always middle of the road, always critically loved but also loved by the audience. But I had to make it massier. I was the only one who was required to shift gears out of all my contemporaries. With this (film), I had to do it. There was no other option, so that I can do my kind of cinema again.
He continued, “The numbers make you a bankable star, gives you the power to select scripts which are of your palate. Do your kind of cinema, but that too in a wider way. It is tricky. But I am glad that cinema is changing again, people are coming back to theatres, the small and mid-budget films are working. Hopefully this era continues.”
Ayushmann told the portal that even though most of post-pandemic releases were well received, it was only the box office that eluded him as there were “cheerleaders” even in his low phase. He shared that this kept him going that at least his films were being loved on a different platform.
But this time we made the film more massy, more commercial. Even though it is not a progressive film, far from it, but the love from people who loved and supported me, that kept me going,” the actor said with respect to Dream Girl 2. He said that post the film’s success, he may comfortably slip back to doing ‘progressive’ films.
“I only have to make them wide. I can’t be cutting off family audience, I need to reach a wider section of the audience. There is no rocket science. I would still go for unique scripts, but may probably do away with taboo. That may cut the (family) audience. But I will try to make the films as wide as possible, in my space,” Ayushmann revealed in his chat with the publication.
Dream Girl 2 also featured Ananya Panday, Annu Kapoor, Abhishek Banerjee, Paresh Rawal, Seema Pahwa amongst others.
