Interview: I want to be known for my work, not for factionalism – Kartik Aaryan

Apart from 'Chandu Champion', Kartik Aaryan also talked about his stardom and struggle and factionalism in Bollywood. Exclusive interview with him.

Being an outsider, you faced lobbying, factionalism and bias in the industry, how did you handle it?

-I have always had a never-say-die attitude. Whatever difficulties I faced, I faced them with my work. If I work in a film, I remain associated with it from the first day to the last day, all the makers see this. I make my identity not by words but by my work. I stay away from bias. I want to be known by my work, not by any group or faction.

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You are from Gwalior. When did you first feel the presence of stardom in your city?

-I remember. My film 'Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety' had been released. After some time, the shooting of my film 'Luka Chuppi' was going on and coincidentally this shooting was happening in Gwalior. I was happy that I would be able to spend time with my parents, but at that time I realized that it had become impossible for me to even stay at home. There was such a long queue of people coming to meet me at my house. My family members got upset. Eventually I had to go and stay in a hotel in my own city. This time there was a sea of ​​crowd at the trailer launch. Not only in Gwalior but in different cities of the country, I have felt that people connect with me that this boy is one of us, who has been able to reach there.

You struggled a lot before this stardom. What is that incident which you have not forgotten till date?

– I still remember my train journey, when I used to take only one pair of clothes with me. Many times I used to wash and change clothes at the station itself, but the most painful thing was when I would reach for the audition after a journey of two and a half hours in a local train and would get rejected on the basis of just one look. Many times I did not even get a chance to stand in the queue and would get the answer from outside that 'I am not fit for the audition'. That journey was also very expensive for me in terms of expenses. In those days I lived a life of borrowing. I used to borrow a lot from friends. To repay one loan, I would borrow from another and this cycle never ended. Because of this I used to be very sad and troubled.

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Being a star, how does it feel to be followed by cameras and paparazzi day and night? Even if you yawn, it becomes news?

-That is the situation, but I think everyone is doing their job. They give us a lot. They also take it to the masses. I won't lie, sometimes it's too much, sometimes it's nice. But it's very important that it's balanced. Their interference in everything seems excessive. But if you are a star, it's a part of this industry. You have to take it with a pinch of salt.

You lost 18 kilos to become 'Chandu Champion', what was the most challenging thing for you in this process?

– I have always been a foodie. I never thought in my life that I would diet, not eat sweets after meals. I hate the word diet itself. But when I had to give up my favourite food completely for Chandu Champion. Doing this for two years was the toughest for me. My way of going to the gym also changed. I started with everything basic and started eating all alternative foods. I used to eat cold coffee, tea, sweets, chips etc., so I had to give up everything. Changing my eating habits and learning boxing, swimming etc. was also a task. Initially, I got depressed after giving up sweets, but later when I started counting my calories while exercising, I gave up everything. I used to put in a lot of willpower for this.

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What are your expectations from the theatrical release of your film, as biopics like Sam Bahadur, Mission Raniganj, Maidan have not been running for a while now?

-Many times many films are not understood. Actually, there are many factors for this, like what is the mood of the public? But I will definitely say that if a good film is made with commercial aesthetics then it becomes a hit. If the film does not work then it means that it could not connect with the audience. Biopic is a very difficult subject. After a long time, the trailer of a biopic has received such a good response, so I can only hope that all the people who have responded after watching the trailer must come to the theatre.

Earlier actors used to do light entertaining films in the beginning of their career and after becoming senior, they used to turn towards issue based films or biopics, but in today's time, heroes like you have turned towards serious cinema right from the beginning?

-I don't think about my career in this way. I mostly choose my films based on the script. I move forward on the script that I like, without worrying about the genre. Anyway, good scripts are rare. Satyaprem Ki Katha and Chandu Champion are such scripts that I want to do. My way of working is different. Many times people keep doing films with concepts or move forward by getting stuck in a zone, but I get good scripts and that zone breaks automatically. I did films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Freddy, Dhamaka, Satyaprem Ki Katha and now I am doing Chandu Champion.

On the love-romance front

What's happening? You have ignored that aspect for a long time? How do you prevent mascara stains from entering the room?
-(Laughs loudly) I am safe from the stains of the kajal room right now. It takes a lot of willpower. This may sound like a cliché to you. But it suits me perfectly right now. I am in a relationship with my work. This has been my situation for the last two and a half years.

what kind of boyfriend do you want?

-He should also be dedicated towards his work like me. There should be mutual respect in our relationship. The other two-three things that you think about are that there should be honesty in the relationship.