I was happier as an anchor: Ayushmann Khurrana

Ayushmann Khurrana has without doubt become one of the bankable stars in the industry. And while stardom and success can change many, Ayushmann believes that in his heart he is still the same guy who struggled for roles when he first came to Mumbai.

Ask him how he manages to keep himself grounded and he says, "I think the basic nature must remain untouched. People now want a piece of me. But my heart is still beating the way it used to. A lot of things have chan-ged, but I still remember the days when I came to Mumbai and auditioned for television at Balaji Films. And back then Yashraj was a distant dream."

Stardom doesn't come without its problems. Ask him how it has affected his personal life and he says, "I was happier when I was an anchor. I used to be free to spend time with my wife for at least 10 days every month."

Also known for his singing skills, the actor has already landed a couple of chartbusters with his previous films. So, was singing his first passion? "As a kid I took singing lessons. But I never took it seriously. I won't call myself an amateur though because when I was doing theatre in Chandigarh my friends and I used to compose our songs and do a fair bit of riyaaz. I've sung live on stage at many events.

But there was no desperation to show my talent as a singer. There were so many other singers around. But yes, I've a long way to go as a singer. I still think I am an actor who sings, and not the other way around."

He adds, "Paani Da was the cult song in our theatre group of 20 boys. When we composed songs in college we did it for the love of music. So I had no agenda when I composed Paani Da. However, I never thought or even hoped it would be in a movie some day."

He is one of the few stars from the television industry who have made it big on the silver screen. Talking about it, he says, "Today, the transition from television to cinema is easier. Even Sushant Singh Rajput is doing well for himself. But I was lucky to have done just anchoring on television.

Anchoring allows you to hold on to your identity on television. But there are no rules for success. You see people who are more talented than you stuck for opportunities while those who are less talented than you doing better than they expect."

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