Ayushmann Khurrana returns to theatres with Dream Girl 2 today. The follow-up to the smash-hit comedy Dream Girl, released in 2019, has Ayushmann once again slipping into playing ‘Pooja’ in the Raaj Shandilyaa-directed film which boasts a strong ensemble cast and introduces Ananya Panday into the mix. A chat with Ayushmann on the film which has t2 as a media partner.

What can you tell us about Dream Girl 2?

The expectation from the film is that it will deliver pure comedy. It’s a massy, commercial, frontbencher kind of film. We are, of course, carrying forward the tonality of the first film. I am glad people have liked the trailer and the songs and also my look, which is quite different from what I have done in the past (smiles).

When you look back now, what do you think made Dream Girl such a big hit?

I think it was the pure entertainment quotient of the film. It was not about giving out a message... we did not get serious in any of the scenes. It had only one motive — to make people laugh. We had ample laugh-out-loud moments in the film.

The star cast also worked. We had a great talented bunch of actors... Vijay Raaz, Annu Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Manjot Singh, Abhishek Banerjee... Seema Pahwa has also joined the sequel.

Do you sometimes get nervous doing comedy with such bona fide comic talents?

I get nervous with actors who don’t have a sense of comic timing! (Laughs) Those who are good at it simply raise the bar, they make it more exciting. Film-making is like a sport... you need to have the best team in order to be able to win. And we do have great talent in this film.

Your filmography comprises extremely challenging roles. You have stated on record that the two Dream Girl films have been your “most challenging yet”. Why?

The change in physicality plays a big part in making this role challenging. That is also accompanied by the internalisation process of the character. When I am in that costume and with hair and make-up on, I become the embodiment of a woman. And it provides a platform to internalise that character better.

Comedy calls for a certain suspension of disbelief. We had to make sure that this woman (Pooja) is very attractive because eight guys are after her! (Laughs) For me, the inspiration for this character was Madhuri Dixit. I wanted to reach that benchmark with all the adaas and nakhras. So the challenge lay in both the physical aspect as well as the internalisation of the character. It was very tough and I do think it’s the most challenging role of my life.

Growing up, were you a Madhuri Dixit fan?

Big, big Madhuri Dixit fan! Tezaab (1988) was the first film I watched in the theatre. Seeing Madhuri Dixit dance to Ek do teen was a life-changing moment for me.

Has playing Pooja over two films made you more empathetic towards women?

There is a line in the film: ‘Ladki bann na muskhil hain lekin ladki hona usse bhi zyada mushkil hain’. Since it’s a comedy, we haven’t really dug deep into empathising with the character. But yes, I have always been a feminist. I am surrounded by strong, righteous women and I am very proud of that. I was already empathetic towards women and playing this character has added another layer to it. The physicality part adds to it because I was shooting at 45-degrees in Mathura with heavy clothes, a wig and a lot of make-up. But I took that as part of the characterisation.

That also happened with Bala (2019). I had to shoot in the raging summer of north India with a tight skull cap on. But then again, it was par for the course. I have always questioned toxic masculinity and I have been a part of a lot of progressive films, but Dream Girl 2 is not that film. It is a massy comedy film. It has no hidden message or subtext. It operates on the framework of broad strokes of cinema... we are not being woke here. The Dream Girl films are very different from the others in my filmography.

On a lighter note, does it make you understand the predicament of your female co-stars who have to wear heavy costumes and do hair and make-up on a daily basis?

It’s different. For this film, I was wearing padded bras, I had a padded butt! I had to be completely assembled, from top to bottom! (Laughs) I also had a very heavy wig on, much heavier than what women generally wear. It wasn’t the same... there is no analogy there.

I believe that when you first signed on for Dream Girl about five years ago, you were strongly advised by some to not do the part. Did you ever have any apprehensions yourself?

I come from a theatre background. I have always been able to demarcate an actor from the character that he/she is playing. For me, the character always takes priority. The audience needs to have fun and I can go to any limit to provide healthy entertainment to viewers. Till the time that we are not crossing the line, it is all cool.

After a long time, we are seeing audiences flocking to theatres. What does this mean to you as an actor and what implications does it have for Dream Girl 2?

It’s a very, very encouraging sign. The last three-four months have been great for Hindi cinema. All the (box-office) records are being broken. I am glad that I am going in this Friday with a comedy which is also part of a franchise. It’s a healthy sign that people have again inculcated the habit of getting out of their homes and going to theatres. It’s always been a curve, you know. I am glad the tide has changed. We are looking at a healthy opening. The predictions for Dream Girl 2 are good as of now.

You have the most credible filmography among most of your contemporaries. What is the kind of work that you are looking at doing in the next few years?

I just have to keep the basics right, I feel. I will always go with the novelty of a subject and with something that is clutter-breaking and which is also for the wider audience. In the last two years, one of my biggest learnings has been that I have to cater to a wider audience. I want to do films with not just a message, even the entertainment quotient has to be higher. I want to do films which make for healthy entertainment for the film. I also want to be experimental and I would love to do OTT as well.

You have steered clear of doing remakes. Has that been deliberate?

It’s been a conscious decision, for sure. In fact, I am very proud to have a filmography where my films like Article 15, Badhaai Ho, Vicky Donor and Andhadhun have had their remakes made in the south. It’s been the other way around.

The only remake I have done is Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, but that was made by the same director (R.S. Prasanna). I have always been attracted to fresh, new concepts and at this point in time, I am not looking for remakes.

Content, these days, has become language-agnostic. If a film has good content, it will do well. For example, Kantara became a phenomenon everywhere despite being a regional film. My film Andhadhun made a crazy amount of money in China... it is one of the most successful films in China to date. It’s unbelievable!

After a long gap, you released your single Raatan kaaliyan this year. Is it acting over singing for now?

I will always be more of an actor. My singing career is driven by my actor status. It really helps me to go more pure and heartfelt with my music. But I do have plans of doing different singles and collaborations at least thrice a year.

Twelve years as an actor later, do you think you would have done anything differently?

I could be a better multitasker. I am still learning...

You are a multi-hyphenate talent! There are very few who multitask better than you...

I am pretty self-critical (laughs) so I always feel I can do better!