Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has created a unique and nuanced space for himself in the industry. Ahead of the release of his upcoming political thriller, the actor said the credibility of the content in his movies is more important to him than commercial success.
The Vicky Donor-fame has always chosen projects that reflect society and do not rely on the typical Bollywood hero. Cinematic sensibilities of the mainstream industry have never been part of his career. The actor says there is a conscious choice behind this graph because he believes in 'cinema for change'.
Khurrana is currently busy promoting Anek, a film exploring the less-discussed, often swept-under-the-rug geopolitics of the northeast region of India. The trailer of the movie has sparked conversations on how the minority communities are treated in the country.
This is the second collaboration of Ayushmann Khurrana and director Anubhav Sinha. The duo earlier delivered another cinematic gem 'Article 15', a movie discussing the caste system in north Indian villages. The actor said he wants his movie to age well and do socially relevant stories.
He added that art historically has been hardwired with rebellion. Calling on the controversial lives of notable literary figures like poet Sarojini Naidu, playwright Saadat Hasan Manto, and satirical painter Banksy, Ayushmann considers art always has a relationship with rebellion.
However, he does not want to wait for a revolution to create something unique. "People romanticise that art is an instrumental factor in rebellion. But, I think we cannot really depend on revolution and wait for it to create something great. You can also create something unique without the need of a revolution". He added that associating the creation of art with a destructive mode is a pessimistic mindset.
Ayushmann is a firm believer in cinema being a medium to bring change in society because the star value plays a key role in driving the message of a film. He asks: If a film has not reached a lot of people then what is the use of a social message? The actor also noted that every adult has an essential responsibility to make changes at the grass-root level.