Mum Googles my name every day; follows my girlfriends on social media: Kartik Aaryan

Actor Kartik Aaryan might be a heartthrob among girls for the characters he has portrayed on screen in films such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama (part 1 & 2) and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, but back home, he is the doting son who can’t thank his mother enough for “inculcating discipline” in his life and helping him “stay grounded”. On Mother’s Day, Kartik tells us more about his tech savvy mom, how she reacts to his films and the nickname given by her that he disapproves of.

What’s your bond with your mum like?

She is my best friend — the strongest woman I’ve ever known. She’s supportive, independent and since my childhood days, I’ve seen her struggles. I think that has made her stronger. I have adopted the positive attitude she has towards life. I’m a reflection of my mother.

Has she been a strict parent?

She was very strict. While growing up, I used to sleep at 8pm and get up at 4am to study. And this was until I was in class 10, as she wanted me to score high in the boards. But I’d secretly watch wrestling and cricket on TV when she wasn’t around and she used to catch me.

Nicknames that your mum has given you…

She calls me Koki and I hate it. I always ask her the sense behind this name and she’d say she just feels like calling it.

Do you confide in her about your crushes and the girlfriends?

She knows everything about my life — not just career but even my personal life. Whatever girls I was friends with or have dated, she knows them all. She’d add them on Facebook and then starts chatting with them (laughs). Woh sab social media platforms par hain, unhe bahut shaunk hai. She is very informed and she has learned it from me.

Does she get excited when your new films release?

She would specifically go to the theatre and watch my films. She cries seeing an emotional scene and if something bad is happening to me on screen, she takes it to heart. And yeah, she gets very happy whenever there is a conversations happening in the film with my on screen mother. She has loved all my roles and by far, Sonu from SKTKS has been her favourite.

Is she the most honest critic of your work?

Since I am very choosy in terms of my films, she’s the one after my life to do more films. She has suddenly taken interest in my career. Even if she doesn’t understand the logic, she’d still give me advice. For instance, she will give her opinion on why I am doing or not doing a certain film.

Has she ever pressured you to get married after watching you in romantic films?

She’s very chilled out that way and takes it by the day. She has never forced anything on me. As for shaadi, she tells me ‘jab tera mann hoga, jab koi achhi ladki milegi aur jo tujhe sahi lage, ussi se shaadi karna’.

How does your mum react to whatever gets written about you in the newspapers?

I call her every day; rather she makes it a point to talk to me daily. And her point of view changes according to what’s written about me on that particular day. She is watching everything through social media and googling my name every single day. So, before or after films, being a part of a hit or a flop, I’ve been the same because of her. She’s the one who keeps me grounded.

Kartik Aaryan gets pampered by his mother, Mala Tiwari, on Mother’s Day