I’ll sing songs that are of my zone: Ayushmann

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana talks about juggling his career as a singer and actor, and what playing a blind character taught him

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana often sings for his own films, but he has no qualms about passing on the microphone to others, especially when the songs are “heavily classical”.

Back in 2012, he made his debut in Bollywood as an actor and a singer with Vicky Donor, for which he sang Pani Da Rang. His new films Andhadhun and Badhaai Ho also feature him as an actor and a singer.

“I will sing songs which are of my zone. Love ballads and soft romantic songs are my zones. I can’t do a qawwali or a heavily-classical song,” Ayushmann says.

Asked about lip-syncing, he says, “It really depends on the zone. If the other singer is dong a better job in that genre of music, then why not? For example, the climax song of Andhadhun has been sung by Arijit Singh because he was best suited for that song.”

“I have lip-synced to Arijit’s voice twice. First one was Hareyaa (Meri Pyaari Bindu; 2017). It’s an honour to have a good singer giving voice to you,” he adds.

What about non-film songs? “I just did Chan Kitthan. I cut singles when there is a gap between two films, but right now, a lot is happening. I am singing for my films; so, I don’t think I will be doing a single anytime soon,” shares the Yahin Hoon Main hitmaker.

Currently, he is garnering positive reviews for his latest release AndhaDhun.

“I am glad that people have liked it. I am seeing four star reviews after four years. Both Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017) were between three and three-and-a-half stars.”

Speaking further about the rating for Andhadhun, he says, “This one got a four star. I am really glad because if it is a four star, it becomes cult of sorts or maybe a film with a good shelf life.”

This is his first attempt at the thriller genre. “I had to do a lot of homework... In Andhadhun, I play a blind pianist. I had to take piano lessons, meet blind people, have a certain body language, and act like a blind person,” he explains.

In the process, the artist ended up learning about life in general. “I met people who were blind since childhood and those who recently became blind. People who recently went blind were slightly depressed and needed counselling. Those who were blind since childhood were happy. They lived in an imaginary world. Probably, the world that they imagine is more beautiful than the world is right now. So, it was very heartening to get in touch with blind people,” adds the actor.

He has also learnt a lot from his films that didn’t work. “You know what probably went wrong or you know how to approach a certain project... It gears you up for life in general and makes you more humble, too,” he says.

Love ballads and soft romantic songs are my zones. I can’t do a qawwali or a heavilyclassical song. The climax song of And hadhun has been sung by Arijit Singh as he was best suited for that song.

ACTOR

AYUSHMANN KHURRANA

PHOTO: VIDYA SUBRAMANIAN/HT