Childhood Friends Ayushmann-Yami Back Together

MUMBAI: Ayushmann Khurrana's next film would feature him in a role inspired by Dev Anand in Vijay Anand's 'Guide'. It's the role of a tourist guide who loses his values in the quest for affluence and success. John Abraham will again produce the film.

If Salman Khan is going all-out for debutant Pulkit Samrat, John Abraham has pitched his might behind Ayushmann Khurruna. After producing Ayushmann's debut film 'Vicky Donor' John is all set to produce the newcomer's next feature film.

Following the exceedingly favourable response to debutants Ayushmann Khurrana and Yami Gautam in this week's release 'Vicky Donor' Director Shoojit Sircar quickly gets into his next project, a rom-com entitled 'Hamara Bajaj', featuring the Donor duo Ayushmann and Yami in the lead again.

Says Ayushmann, "Yes, Yami and I are getting together again for Shoojit's 'Hamara Bajaj'. It's again a gregarious aggressive North Indian character. But very different from 'Vicky Donor'. In 'Hamara Bajaj' I play a tourist guide in Agra who becomes a big Bollywood star. So there's a very wide arc to my character's graph."

Ayushmann also reveals his long Yami connection. "I know her from the time she was a school girl and I was a college student in Chandigarh. Her father headed the Zee Punjabi and I did a biographical film on the poet Bulleh Shah for the channel. I played Bulleh Shah. I know Yami from back then. She was just a school girl then. She's a very sweet girl."

Ayushmann is married and has been in a committed relationship with his wife Tahira from the age of 16. So the female attention that he's currently enjoying is no threat to his domestic life. Trying not to sound immodest Ayushmann says, "Tahira who's a writer and has just completed a book, has been in my life from the time when I was 16. Even at that age I was no stranger to female attention. She has seen me interact with female friends. Now she sees how casually I handle female fans. Tahira knows I'm totally committed to her."

About his triumph as the sperm donor in 'Vicky Donor' Ayushmann says, "It was the way the character was written. I modelled him on four of my friends in Delhi. You see, the one good thing that I did after I won the Roadies contest was to take a 4-year break to learn acting. So I know my chops."

Interestingly Ayushmann's role in 'Hamara Bajaj' would be inspired by Dev Anand in Vijay Anand's Guide. The young anchor-actor is a huge Dev Anand fan. Adds John Abraham, "Yes I'm producing 'Hamara Bajaj'. Ayushmann is truly talented. When people ask why and how I'm not insecure about new talent I say we need a lot more talent in the industry. I believe in Ayushmann. He's a lovely boy, and so talented.I've got his back covered completely. I'll make sure he makes the right career moves."