Kartik Aaryan says contrary to popular belief, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is not a recreation of Pyaar Ka Punchnama

There are very few actors in Bollywood whose very first film catapults them to stardom for reasons other than their acting prowess. Kartik Aaryan happens to be one among them. His diatribe against the fairer sex was an instant hit when his debut film Pyaar Ka Punchnama hit the theatres. The effect was so profound that people talked more about his monologue than his acting calibre. Does he still check the number of hits the clip has garnered on YouTube? “Earlier I used to keep a tab but now no more. People often request me to say the monologue at gatherings. I feel very happy that I got such a dialogue at the start of my career which most actors crave for. There are very few actors who got such a terrific sequence or dialogues in their profession which remained a highlight throughout their career. I am grateful that I have two such iconic scenes,” says an elated Kartik.

Kartik Aaryan. Image from Twitter/@TheAaryanKartik

With Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Kartik is once again in a familiar zone –a yuppie surrounded with close friends. To put it more succinctly, the film is a battle between bromance and romance. This is also the fourth time that Kartik will be showcasing his acting talent under the baton of director of Luv Ranjan. So has he become Luv’s muse now? “I have always been his muse. This is my fourth film with Luv so now there is no need to spell out things. I am really lucky for his belief that together we can achieve something. He knows the pulse of the youth. Though it took time for me to get my start but I was lucky that PKP was my debut film and thankfully the journey is still on.”

Despite the success he has delivered with his repertoire of films, Kartik has often been accused of doing stereotypical roles in his films. He admits that he is often asked this question. “I don’t see a point. Whenever I meet someone there is always a smile on his/her face and that’s because they love my work. Box office is something that is not in my hand but I do want to work in an earnest manner. It’s not like we have recreated Pyaar Ka Punchnama again in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.” Kartik emphasizes on the fact that it’s a different film and is not part of any franchisee film. “You do get a glimpse of PKP in the trailer but still both are poles apart. I have just started and I don’t see any point in changing my dimension. If I were to do variety of roles, then there is a possibility that people may start thinking that I am trying too hard. The point is I can’t make everyone happy and at the end of the day I too, have to be happy. If the script of SKTKS is appealing, then why should I say no to the film” reasons Kartik.

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With raging debates on nepotism engulfing the industry last year, Kartik can pat his back and take pride in being someone who is a self-made actor. Despite being an outsider, Kartik has now established his credentials as an actor with his usual share of struggle. How difficult was it to get work before PKP happened? “I faced a lot of difficulties initially and I have had my share of regrets and rejections. Even before PKP I was offered few films which never took off. I have stayed with a dozen people in a small flat during my struggle days as I had no money. I have seen those days and now I feel proud of my struggle. In retrospect, it gives me some satisfaction that I started my journey from there and now I have reached a certain point. It’s a tough industry to crack and to sustain it is far more difficult.”

Kartik holds an engineering degree in biotechnology. Hailing from a middle class family based out of Gwalior, Kartik appeared only in those entrance exams which guaranteed admission in Mumbai as he wanted to pursue his tinsel town dreams simultaneously. “I consider myself an educated actor. I would have quit studies midway after I bagged my first film but I paid heed to my mother’s advice and finished my degree. Acting in film was the core reason to make Mumbai my base. I come from a middle class family and my parents too wanted to see me become an engineer or a doctor.” After Kartik made it to DY Patil College in Navi Mumbai, travelling from Nerul to Andheri and back in a local train became everyday routine for him. The two-hour journey is an arduous task to say the least but the yearning to learn acting and look for opportunities was overpowering. “I also joined an acting school and the teachers there saw some potential in me and thus started giving me free acting lectures. In a span of two years I must have given more than 100 auditions and somewhere down the line I was also losing hope to make it as an actor as nothing was materialising. I finally got an opportunity with PKP, the auditions for which lasted six months. I was given the monologue in the final phase of the audition and the very next day I was given the contract. I have no regrets that I could not become a full-fledged engineer as that was never the motive."

About SKTKS, Kartik believes that the film is very close to his heart and is something that has never been attempted before by the industry. He believes that it’s a non-cliché film and sooner or later will definitely get its due. So will we see a monologue again? “That you will get to know only on 23 February, I simply can’t reveal anything.” Is it the non-disclosure agreement effect?