‘NOW, I ENJOY SPONTANEOUS ACTING MORE’

Ayushmann Khurrana says he used to be a method actor when he did theatre but a stint with radio and live television brought spontaneity in his acting style

Remember Vicky Donor (2012), Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017) or Badhaai Ho? Not just his singing talent or histrionic skills, what puts Ayushmann Khurrana in a unique space is his relatable avatars and sheer spontaneity.

Interestingly, however, the actor admits that he has undergone a transformation vis-à-vis his acting skills. “I used to be a method actor when I was in college, especially because I used to do a lot of theatre. So, workshops used to happen by default. Also, (when you do plays), after two or three productions, you start improvising and having fun with the audience. But films are a different ball game,” says Ayushmann.

The Andhadhun actor says that “radio and live television made me a spontaneous actor”. He explains: “I also did workshops because I had to change myself from being an anchor to an actor. Since I was an anchor, I used to talk to the camera but as an actor you can’t. Herein, you have to ignore the camera. So, I did workshops with NK Sharma (veteran theatre director) in Delhi,” he says.

Ayushmann feels he now doesn’t “go on sets with preconceived notions”. “At times, you have to incorporate the milieu and understand the director’s vision. So, I go (on a film set) with a blank canvas and an open approach. Things are more spontaneous like that. With a director like Sriram Raghavan (Andhadhun director), it is very difficult to come on set with a pre-set thoughts. He’s a typical rule breaker,” he says.

With Andhadhun, Ayushmann clearly broke out of his ‘boy-next-door’ image. “It was challenging and exciting to work with Sriram Raghavan but a method actor may find it difficult to work with him. If I was a method actor and had used my old approach, I would have asked him to give me half an hour to rehearse. But as a film-maker, he doesn’t have that kind of time,”says the actor, adding that Raghavan is the “most veteran film-maker” he has ever worked with but his “approach is contemporary”. He says: “The script is in his head. He tells you a story in English and you will get the lines on the set.”

After having experienced method as well as spontaneous acting style, what does he enjoy more? “Honestly speaking, I enjoy this (spontaneous) more. There is very little stress (with spontaneous acting). Of course, as an actor, you are always on and antennas are forever up, but being a spontaneous actor gives you less stress,” he says.