The Drama King

For millions of Bollywood aspirants in the country, Ayushmann Khurrana spells hope. In 2004, when he won the second season of MTV Roadies, he inspired many young minds to chase their dreams. This year, when he bagged the most number of promising newcomer awards for Vicky Donor, he proved that an industry lineage or a filmi surname, isn't, after all, necessary.

"What one does require is perseverance and hard work. It may seem that I have achieved too much too fast, but one forgets that I have been around for four years, and I have struggled my way through in this industry," says the 28-year-old.

A successful debut also meant that he would be noticed by more filmmakers and get offered a variety of characters. But the true test for Khurrana comes now. "Long before Vicky Donor, I was approached by various filmmakers for roles ranging from the heroine's brother and the hero's best friend. I refused these films hoping to bag a full-fledged role one day. Now that I have a successful film behind me, I need to make the most of it," he says.

Khurrana is treating his second release Nautanki Saala, directed by Rohan Sippy, as an opportunity to cement his place in the industry. The film is a story of two friends, the other played by Kunaal Roy Kapoor, and based on the premise of a comedy of errors. "The fact that the role was different from what I have done in Vicky Donor, was challenging as well as interesting," says Khurrana.

John Abraham, who produced Vicky Donor, believes that the actor's second film will decide his position in the industry. "I had told Ayushmann that it is important to stay grounded. In Bollywood, hits and flops often decide an actor's fate. One needs to tread cautiously," says Abraham.

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