TELEVISION PRESENTER TURNED actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who is all set to make his debut with Vicky Donor, says he is proud to play a sperm donor in the film.
Ayushmann, 27, said he approached his character in a realistic yet light-hearted way so that he could connect with the youth.
“Sperm donation is the central theme of the film but that doesn’t mean that we have made it sound like a serious issue.
“This is the reason why I am not at all embarrassed to play such a character because we have given the entire thing a light-hearted take. I seriously feel that Vicky Donor could turn out to be a National Award-winning film,” Khurrana said.
“My parents have thoroughly supported me despite (starring in a film with) such a unique subject. They were okay with me when I donated sperm during the Roadies show and that too on national television.
“They are more than happy to see me on the big screen. People have changed their thoughts and thankfully there are no apprehensions or inhibitions about something as important and topical as this,” he said.
Ayushmann said it wasn’t a small responsibility to star in his debut film as a protagonist.
“Shoojit (Sircar, director of Vicky Donor) left me alone completely. He never gave me any specific instructions on the sets. It was up to me to go ahead and shift gears - unlearn a lot of things which I have learnt through the small screen,” he said.
“Anchoring is a different ballgame altogether because there you have to talk to the camera. Here in the film, I had to actually ignore the camera. Thankfully, the character of Vicky is also very much me. I come from the North and while playing Vicky, I kept four of my friends in mind. I also brought in some of my own traits from my growing up years in Chandigarh.” PTI
‘John my god-brother’
BOLLYWOOD NEWBIE AYUSHMANN Khurrana seems to be in awe of his producer.
“John is my god-brother in this industry. He can’t be my god-father, he is too young.”
“He is like a buddy. Both of us don’t have anybody in the industry. It feels great that I am starting my Bollywood career with John’s home production.”
The actor says John played his part as the film’s producer very well, and refrained from interfering in creative decisions.
“John never took any creative calls. It was the director (Shoojit Sircar), who was in charge of the creative department. There were no interferences from John’s end. He used to guide me and tell me how to project myself as an actor in the industry,” said Ayushmann. IANS
‘Star kids deserve to get opportunities’
Ayushmann says the journey of an outsider has never been easy in films and feels that star kids very much deserve to be in the industry.
“I think if I was a star kid I would have made by debut four years back. But I don’t have a godfather in the industry and I have made my own niche and I am proud of it. But that is ok, star kids deserve to get opportunities because their parents worked really hard,” Ayushmann said.
“There are a lot of star kids who are doing well like Ranbir Kapoor. I think he is the flag bearer of R K Films...he is brilliant as an actor. And gradually he wants to become a director and revive R K Films banner and that is really commendable. He is a superstar. I think even Arjun Kapoor is looking very good in Ishqzaade. I think they all deserve to be there,” he said.
Musical debut
Vicky Donor not only marks Ayushmann’s acting debut, but also his introduction as a singer.
Ayushmann has composed and even penned the lyrics of the song titled, Paani Da Rang. The song is a Punjabi ballad that he had written while in college.
“I wrote this song with a friend of mine. We were looking for the perfect launch pad. I used to take classical training as a kid.. that inclination towards music is from my family who love music. If I do more films, I will sing for myself, I write (lyrics) also. I write poems in Hindi,” Ayushmann added.