Ayushmann Khurrana’s journey from meeting SRK to lessons learned

Ayushmann Khurrana’s success story could make for a movie. From DJ to VJ, actor and singer, he has carved out a unique space for himself in the entertainment industry, receiving praise for his performances in films like Vicky Donor, Andhadhun, Dream Girl and many other blockbusters. As he celebrates another year around the sun, here are 5 interesting takeaways from his audiobook ‘Cracking the Code’, where the actor candidly reflects on his embarrassing moments, mistakes and learnings throughout his professional and personal journey.

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Before becoming the acclaimed actor he is today, Ayushmann started his career as a radio host on Big FM. While working as a radio host, Ayushmann got the chance to interview Shah Rukh Khan, but the nerves got the better of him! Recalling the moment, he shares, “I was anxiously waiting outside his van to interview him… just the fact that I was breathing the same air as him was enough to give me a rush.” Ayushmann, overwhelmed by the incident, sent an emotional letter to SRK, recounting his previous experience in Kasauli years earlier. He also asked the superstar for a chance to work with him. However, after reading the letter “a hundred times”, he opted not to present it to SRK and left without conducting the interview. Despite this missed opportunity, he fondly recalls how just being in Shah Rukh’s presence brought him joy – a fanboy moment that he continues to laugh about even today.

Ayushmann’s clash with Balaji Telefilms

It wasn’t all plain sailing during his television career. Ayushmann recounts his tumultuous experience with Balaji Telefilms while working on the series Qayamat, where he faced pressure to sign a long-term contract in exchange for his outstanding payment. “I was threatened that if I didn’t sign, I would never get the money,” recalls Ayushmann. Despite needing the money, he stood his ground – a decision that didn’t sit well with Balaji boss Ekta Kapoor. He says, “When I left without signing the contract, I came to know that Ekta flew into a rage and smashed her phone by throwing it in the face of the executive producer. They couldn’t take legal action against me as I hadn’t signed the contract, but the number of threatening phone calls and messages I received from them was quite scary. They told me that my career was over, that I shouldn’t stay in Mumbai and just pack my bags and go back to Chandigarh,” which Ayushmann says didn’t faze him. His determination to remain true to his values, despite external pressure, has been a recurring theme throughout his career.

The fight against linguistic bias and the “uncool” label on MTV

Ayushmann’s stint as a VJ at MTV also brought with it a number of challenges. He says, “During my initial phase at MTV, there were a lot of people who had issues with me starting my show with ‘Namaskar’ and ending with ‘Ayushmannbhava’.” His decision to host shows in Hindi was considered “uncool”, and he was even initially sidelined for speaking in the language. However, instead of caving to the pressure, he embraced the phase as a learning experience. “I started writing scripts in Hinglish because it took time to translate my thoughts into English before saying them out loud,” he says. Over time, this approach helped Ayushmann stand out, as MTV later adopted Hindi as one of its primary languages. Talk about time! He says, “Finally! Apart from the many problems I faced, I also noticed that, for the first six months at MTV, my profile was not posted on the channel’s website. Bani, Jose and everyone else were featured, but I wasn’t. It remains a mystery to me. “I must confess that I was quite nerdy, or ‘uncool’ as they say when it comes to clothes, pointy shoes, baggy trousers, glasses… A mess. My style was gradually changing as I observed the ultra-chic crowd around me.”

A role that got away: How Ayushmann missed out on ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’

Even after he had established himself as a rising star, Ayushmann faced professional disappointments. One of them was missing out on the chance to land the lead role in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. He auditioned for the role of Milkha Singh by recording an audition that he recorded himself: “I grew a beard, tied a turban on my head, locked myself in a room and recorded the audition with my Handycam. I think Tahira wondered if I had really lost him by then… I got a call after the audition telling me that Rakeshji had liked me,” Ayushmann recalls. However, the role eventually went to Farhan Akhtar, who, as Ayushmann graciously admits, “did complete justice to the role of The Flying Sikh.” Although it was a disappointment, it did not deter him from moving forward as he continued to seek out roles that challenged his artistic range.

The mentor who taught him to be a gentleman, Nikhil Chinappa

Throughout his career, Ayushmann has received inspiration and guidance from several mentors. One of them was VJ Nikhil Chinappa, with whom he hosted India’s Got Talent. Ayushmann recalls the lessons he learnt from Nikhil during their time together and says, “Nikhil is an extremely intelligent person; he is full of knowledge, worldly wisdom and experience. He taught me the smallest things like the art of tipping, gentlemanly etiquette and appreciation of different cultures, and life lessons in general. On IGT, I perhaps had a slight edge over him due to my fluency in Hindi. But, in life, I still have a lot to learn from him, which is why, every year, Teachers’ Day begins with my well wishes for him.” To hear more of his musings, tune into ‘Cracking the Code’ on Audible.

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