EXCLUSIVE: From Stree’s sequel to Luka Chuppi’s raging success, Aparshakti Khurana gets candid about his 2019
In recent times, if there is one actor who has managed to add his swag to lesser known roles in Bollywood, it is Aparshakti Khurana. We caught up with Bollywood’s new Mr Dependable in a candid chat and here’s what he had to say about Luka Chuppi’s success, Stree sequel & Street Dancer 3D.
In recent years, there has been a change in how the audiences perceive actors and their films. Times have changed drastically and instead of actors, content is the new king. One actor who has managed to pick the right content-driven films is none other than Aparshakti Khurana. From being a radio jockey to hosting TV shows to acting, Aparshakti is the jack of all trades.
Be it his role in Stree as Rajkummar’s closest confidants Bittu or his recent rib-tickling and understated humour as Abbas in Luka Chuppi, Aparshakti has managed to win the hearts of the audiences. It would be safe to call Aparshakti as the new Mr Dependable who manages to add quirk in the most serious situations. Be it his innocence as Bittu and his way of showing care for his friend, Vicky (Rajkummar Rao) when he was lost or his way of hilariously supporting his friend Guddu in Luka Chuppi, Aparshakti has surely made his place in the film industry.
With so many great reviews coming in for his recent film Luka Chuppi, Aparshakti is exceptionally charming and humble. Pinkvilla caught up with Aparshakti Khurana in a candid chat to discuss his current state of mind after back-to-back hits with Stree and Lukka Chuppi and also his coming projects in the future like Street Dancer 3D, Jabariya Jodi and Kanpuriye. Here’s what Aparshakti had to say about his journey so far in Bollywood.
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Pinkvilla: Your movie Luka Chuppi has created so much buzz amongst the youth. The film is out now and has done well. How do you feel about it?
Aparshakti: I think Dinesh Vijan has put together a great team, and along with the director Laxman Utekar, they all create a beautiful world. Whenever you make a good world with all honesty, people will connect with it. People will come out with a good experience. Thankfully, we have been able to do that and people have really liked the film touchwood!
Pinkvilla: Seeing the initial reviews on social media, Luka Chuppi is turning to be a great film. It has been a short while after Stree, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Aparshakti: I feel satisfied and content and hope for the best. You feel blessed with what you have done so far and whatever you are learning. 7-8 months back, when we started this film, I was just thinking, ‘Is this the right world to be a part of?’ and thankfully, I made the decision to be a part of the film. Director Laxman Utekar and producer Dinesh Vijan offered Luka Chuppi to me while I was shooting Stree. During the shoot, they told me, ’we have another film for you.’ That is the kind of bond and chemistry that was present between the producers of the film. They knew that I had to be a part of this film. Initially, I was unsure about it, but when I read the script, I knew that I had to do it.
Pinkvilla: We have heard that makers of Stree have confirmed Stree 2 and that the sequel is underway if there is anything you can tell us about that?
Aparshakti: They are planning. It’s not really confirmed yet. They are planning to make a sequel. And if they do, it’s a great franchise to be a part of. And if it comes out, I am sure it will be something very interesting. Till now, people have not really tried the horror-comedy genre yet with real commercial space and talented actors like Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Abhishek Banerjee and me. So, I think, if the second part is in the pipeline, the audiences who have liked the film will turn up and will give us a lot of boost.
Pinkvilla: You have been shooting Street Dancer 3D with Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Remo D’souza and team. How has that experience been?
Aparshakti: Street Dancer 3D is the biggest dance film that India will see. The first two parts were really well-appreciated and we have a big fan following of dance in our country. And Remo D’souza, Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor are pro dancers. And of course, there is Dharmesh, Punit, Nora Fatehi, Raghav, they know what they want from life. It is so difficult to become so big only as a dancer and after that, they do acting and people have accepted their craft & it is so good. I am very happy I have done this film. Unfortunately, the sad part is that my character in the film is not dancing. It’s okay, I can wait for a few more films to dance on screen.
Pinkvilla: So, you have been shooting with Remo, Varun and Shraddha. How would you say your experience has been?
Aparshakti: Whenever I plan to do a film, apart from a good script and other things, my major concerns are based on the fact that how good or bad are the people associated with the film. How happy they are. How positive they are. So, I must say that Remo has been one of the sweetest and down-to-earth persons. And with that kind of quality, I think people normally go a little haywire in the head. But, he is very grounded. Whatever I have seen so far being shot in the film, it is coming out well. And our Punjab stint was great and then we shot in London. I am going back again. Remo is totally sure of what he wants from his actors and dancers. And, I am sure that it will turn out to be a really good dance film.
Pinkvilla: With your line ups for 2019, it seems like it will be a great year for you. There’s Jabariya Jodi with Siddharth and Parineeti & Kanpuriye with Divyendu Sharma and Vijay Raaz. So, could you tell us something about that?
Aparshakti: Kanpuriye is another quirky and different world that I have been a part of. It has 3 parallel stories of 3 boys. One story is with Divyendu and other is with Vijay Raaz and son and one is between my girlfriend and me. They are very different and quirky stories and they all meet somewhere in the middle to put things together in the film. Otherwise, these are three parallel stories and I think the audiences will enjoy. It is a very real film. The kind of background we all come from is very different from each other. But, one thing is in common, more often than not, we all including Vijay Raaz take up quirky things. I think Kanpuriye is also going to be as quirky as it gets.
Pinkvilla: You are working with Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra as well this year in Jabariya Jodi. How is that role in the film? How was your experience while working with Sidharth and Parineeti?
Aparshakti: Sidharth Malhotra and I are almost neighbours in Delhi in GK 1. So, we bonded over Delhi talks a lot. And for Pari, I have known her for a while now, and she is a very, very sweet person and a very good actor. Her best is yet to come. She deserves a lot more in life. She is genuinely a very talented actor. In the film, I play her childhood friend and I am most of the time doing sher-o-shayari around her character.
Pinkvilla: You are delving into different things. Be it hosting, RJing, acting and more. What more is on the cards?
Aparshakti: I have my hands full. There are a couple of more things that I am planning to do. I have recently produced my first short film called ‘Chaabi’ with the writer of Fukrey 1 and 2. He directed it and I produced it. So, I am busy doing a couple of things.