Over the last six years Ayushmann Khurrana has come to be associated with slice of life films like Vicky Donor, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. But as a viewer if I saw two more films of the same genre in succession I would wonder if he was playing it safe. “I had to break the mould and surprise my audience. Which is why I reached out to Sriram Raghavan, who is the master of edgy thrillers,” said Ayushmann.
His candour is refreshing, because not many actors would admit to reaching out to directors they want to work with. In fact, Ayushmann also offered to audition for the film. “Sriram didn’t see me in this genre, so I said why don’t I audition and convince him. I read a few scenes with him and then I was onboard. But you have to keep your ego at bay and treat it as a learning experience,” he said.
With films like Ek Hasina Thi, Johnny Gaddar and Badlapur, Sriram Raghavan has mastered the art of keeping an audience hooked with unpredictable twists and turns. “Even the atmosphere on set is like, you never know what he can throw at you. Honestly, I really enjoyed that. It took me back to my theater improv days,” said Ayushmann.
Another major challenge for him was that he played a blind pianist in the film, and even the simplest of actions became difficult. “I tried to eat omelettes blindfolded, I would walk around in my society. That was easy because I knew the space, but on set it became so challenging,” he said.
Ayuhmann is a singer and also plays the guitar but had to learn to play the piano for the film and was trained for it. “The entire preparation took about three months, but it was very very enjoyable,” he concluded.
Andhadhun starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte releases on 5th October.
Camera: Sanjoy Deb
Edit: Veeru Krishan Mohan
Camera Assistant: Gautam Sharma
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