In the weeks leading up to the release of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Kartik Aaryan and the film’s team made several efforts to avoid a clash with Rohit Shetty’s tent-pole cop drama Singham Again. It was obvious that both films would eat into each other at the box office, and the makers of the horror-comedy had announced their release date first
We planned it as a Diwali entertainer much before they did,” Aaryan says, reclining on a plush couch by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his Juhu penthouse, the golden hues of the winter sun casting long shadows across the room.“We genuinely requested them to push it. But they had their own internal issues and couldn’t. Unfortunately then, both films were released on the same day. We were up against a huge, giant multi-starrer, and nobody—not even those of us who worked on the film—expected it to do this well,” he says. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the year, and its success was a much-needed fillip for an industry that has faced a turbulent, challenging 2024. Its performance has also cemented Aaryan’s place as a leading man.
Earlier this year, Aaryan appeared in Kabir Khan’s Chandu Champion and while the film didn’t set the box office ablaze, the actor’s performance was heartfelt and moving, showcasing a depth and versatility that transcended the formulaic roles he had been associated with. “That film gave me so much validation, so much confidence as an actor. I needed that.” While earlier the only pressure on him was to perform the role he had been cast into, as he didn’t have the liberty of choice, these days it’s about ensuring his choices pay off. “Which is why I tend to involve myself in departments outside my own—whether a film is being written correctly, is being shot well, how the edit is coming along.”
It sounds like a slippery slope. Given how movies are largely a director’s vision, a star’s feedback could be seen as interference. “I get that, but I can offer creative suggestions only when others are receptive to it...and when others think I’m creative enough to give those types of suggestions,” he laughs. “I’m aware that there’s a boundary that I can’t cross. Otherwise it will strain the relationship.”
Aaryan says that what he cares most about is the script and the director he’s working with. “I’m very adamant about this because, in the past, I’ve done films without reading the script and it’s really backfired. When I’m committing a year of my life to a film, I need to be completely convinced about the project. I don’t think that’s an unfair ask.”
There’s a shift in the room as Aaryan opens up about how he perceives his reception from the industry. “I’m a lone warrior. This house that you see today—I bought it with my own money. I’ve fought like crazy to reach here. And it’s not done yet—I know for a fact that I won’t get any industry support for the road ahead.” Pausing for a second, he continues, “And I’ve come to terms with the fact that despite delivering a monster hit in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, nobody will rally behind me. I still have to hustle for my next film.”
Does he think there are people out there who are waiting for him to fail? “Yes—and I feel everyone can sense that. There are some wonderful people I’ve met over my journey, but the main section—and it’s a large section—I will never win over. And I don’t have any desire to win them over. The only people I want to win over are my audience. Because they’re the only ones supporting me. That’s the only validation I need.”
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