'Our country is homophobic' - Ayushmann Khurrana....

'Our country is homophobic' says Ayushmann Khurrana as he talks about the failure of his previous three films

Ayushmann Khurrana is one of the actors from Bollywood that are capable enough to keep the audience interested in the movie just by their presence. The film fraternity almost always has high expectations from his releases.

However, in the previous two years, Ayushmann Khurrana has appeared in three major releases and all three of them failed to make a mark at the box office. Ayushmann even speaks about the failure of his romantic comedy film ‘ Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui ’ (2021) and names the reason for its disappointing performance to the ‘country’ by calling it ‘homophobic’. Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui only managed to earn a little over ₹40 crores from its worldwide box office collections.

In a recent discussion Ayushmann spoke about his previous and what led to their failure, “In fact, my last three films, including an LGBTQ film (Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui), really don’t do well commercially because, unfortunately, our country is homophobic. Then there was Anek, a docudrama that was a very niche in terms of the tone of the film. Doctor G was an A-rated film, and given the kind of certification it got, the film did decently well in theatres. For a while, that was my learning for making a film.”

He further added, “If I stop taking risks, I will be conventional. I have always been unconventional, and I make those choices. I will be taking them in the future as well, regardless of success or failure".

Ayushmann is planning to treat his one more time before we move on from this year. His upcoming film ‘ An Action Hero’, which is directed by Anirudh Iyer, who has previously worked as an assistant to the director Anand L Rai on his films ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ (2015) and ‘Zero’ (2018).

The film’s script is written by Neeraj Yadav, and it will also feature actor Jaideep Ahlawat alongside Ayushmann Khurrana. Malaika Arora is also going to feature with her dance number and Akshay Kumar will also make a special appearance in the movie.

https://mirchi.in/stories/celebrity/our-country-is-homophobic-says-ayushmann-khurrana-as-he-talks-about-the-failure-of-his-previous-three-films/95581215

Absolutely right. A MILLION % true. The kind of deep- seated homophobia that exists in india, all S. Asian countries, actually the whole world!!! Is incredibly saddening & supremely dangerous. I’ve queer friends who want to live & prosper in India but know it really won’t be possible. They also don’t come from money or any sort of privilege so their fight is even harder. 

India is homophobic.

But that's not why Ayushman's last 3 films failed. He can't keep doing the same shtick. 

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

India is homophobic.

But that's not why Ayushman's last 3 films failed. He can't keep doing the same shtick. 

Came here to say this 😆 

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

India is homophobic.

But that's not why Ayushman's last 3 films failed. He can't keep doing the same shtick. 

Agreed ....Aayushman is a one trick pony....he just recycles the same stuff......but its the truth that majority of us are homophobic.....this forum is a good example.....where people use it as an insult and to make fun......BW movies are no less.....thankfully ab thoda sudhar rahe hain...

Originally posted by: Mallika-E-Bhais

Absolutely right. A MILLION % true. The kind of deep- seated homophobia that exists in india, all S. Asian countries, actually the whole world!!! Is incredibly saddening & supremely dangerous. I’ve queer friends who want to live & prosper in India but know it really won’t be possible. They also don’t come from money or any sort of privilege so their fight is even harder. 

It is sad that we are in 2022 and homophobia still exists....

Most of the world is homophobic. It is only recently that a lot of folks have started to embrace it but it is still very very niche. Hollywood and tech are promoting it but it is less than 1 % of it.

India is mostly clueless than homophobic. Straight sex in itself is a taboo here inspite of being the second largest populated country. 

In fact before 1000 years most of the Indian society was inclusive and the LGBTQ community lived as a part and was not excluded.

With too much Victorian influence, is the reason 

Having said that, the fact that Ayushman films have not done well is nothing to do with homophobia.

Ayushman strength was social relevant topics made in an entertaining manner, the last few films have not had entertainment and to be frank have become boring and repetitive. 

Do not blame the audience if a film does not do well, push it in ott or reduce the budget or better still make better films and make it entertaining.

Films are for entertainment period. There are podcasts and documentaries for awareness and if you want to build in awareness do it in films but in an entertaining way 

Originally posted by: cts22

India is mostly clueless than homophobic. Straight sex in itself is a taboo here inspite of being the second largest populated country. 

In fact before 1000 years most of the Indian society was inclusive and the LGBTQ community lived as a part and was not excluded.

With too much Victorian influence, is the reason 

This is not true.

There is a trend these days to claim India has always been this virtuous and accepting country until *wink, wink* the *others* arrived. If such talk is to be believed, India was woker than woke back in the Iron Age. Feminism, wide acceptance of LGBTQ etc. 

Dharmshastra acknowledged existence of homosexuality.

EXISTENCE is different from ACCEPTANCE.

Dharmashastra also fined homosexuality.

Manu Smriti considered homosexuality a pollution and has recommended penance.

Arthashastra fined only certain types of homosexuality. But it also recommended fining some types of heterosexuality, so Chanakya was an equal opportunity finer. 

Mahabharata has Shikhandi treated miserably because of sex/gender. To the point that the homophobe Bheeshma refused to admit it was Shikhandi who defeated him, not Arjuna, but Mahabharata itself has the likes of Krishna and Satyaki admitting Shikhandi killed Bheeshma. Not become a reason. Actively killed. Shikhandi felled Bheeshma, without which act Pandavas would not have won. And what's his place in history? To begin with, he was robbed of his birthright as heir, chased out of home, mocked as a woman. He continues to be mocked to this day. 

Arjun was cursed to be trans woman, key word is cursed. Ie, it was considered a curse. 

Homophobia has existed in India from ancient times just as it existed in the rest of the world. 

I haven’t seen the movie, but Vaani’s character in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui was a trans woman right?  So then it’s failure can be attributed to transphobia not homophobia.  There’s a difference and that distinction is important in this context because we must accept and recognize the character as female.  For Ayushman himself not to be able to make that distinction and then complain about a homophobic society seems kind of hypocritical.  Generally speaking he is correct about India (Central Asia and Middle East really) being a homophobic country, but his failure to make the distinction between a trans and a gay person makes him part of the problem he’s complaining about.  

He seems rattled by the back to back flops and is trying to find justifications for them and kind of sounds contradictory in his reasonings.  

While I agree with most folks that his movies can be repetitive, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui was actually a really well made and performed movie. 

The main reason for its failure was the taboo theme of transgender relationship. Same with Badhaai Do - that was a really good movie too, judging purely based on the quality of the feature film. 

Regardless of the reason, the back to back failures seem to have really impacted Ayushman to be openly making such statements (so far he has usually stayed away from controversies)