Kartik Aaryan has an air of nonchalance surrounding him as he walks into the opulently decorated show apartments of the anticipated real estate behemoth The Imperial i in South Mumbai. Dressed in an oversized pink t-shirt, a pair of white track pants and a matching oversized cap, his disguise almost works, if not for his big fat entourage. He really does embody the good-looking boy-next-door tag more than coming across as one of the biggest names in the Indian film industry today. But it’s exactly this trademark Kartik Aaryan charm that’s appealed to the masses for the last 15 years.
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His last outing, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, was a major commercial hit and became the second highest-grossing movie of 2024. And for Aaryan, it’s his most successful movie yet. Back when he was cast as “Rooh Baba” for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, he was stepping into some huge shoes with Akshay Kumar’s performance having etched the original 2007 film into the pop culture hall of fame. And yet, here we are—Rooh Baba has a massive fan following not just among the urban and elite but mainly among the masses, who find him to be both relatable and yet, aspirational. After all, he is the quintessential small-town dreamer who turned the universal aspiration of becoming an actor into a dazzling reality. Before this blockbuster, Aaryan had taken a break from his traditional romcom roles and took on a biopic, Chandu Champion, in which he brought the story of India’s first Paralympics Gold Medalist, Murlikant Petkar, to life on screen. The prep to embody an athlete is not easy and Aaryan had to undergo a full body transformation—spending extensive hours at the gym and going through rigorous boxing and martial arts training. Proof that talent and good looks only work when coupled with hard work.
Hailing from the historic town of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, Aaryan’s early life had no makings of superstardom. However, his passion for acting took root in his school days itself—like most of us, he grew up on a healthy dose of Bollywood movies. His parents, both doctors, wanted him to become an engineer. But to give his dreams a chance, Aaryan deliberately chose a college in Mumbai to at least be able to shoot his shot. So, if you too have heard stories about “Kartik was in my friend’s Biotechnology class in DY Patil”, you’re not the only one. If things didn’t work out, he always had his engineering degree to fall back on.
In between classes and lectures, Aaryan began giving auditions without having any connections in the industry, without any guidance, and without telling his parents. The biggest challenge in those days was looking for casting calls and then navigating Mumbai’s labyrinth of local transport to get there, only to be rejected. In fact, he was so new to this world that he didn’t even have his headshots portfolio for the longest time. So, he knew he needed some kind of a road map, which he found by joining an acting course at the Kreating Charakters Institute and paid the fee by taking up small modelling assignments and sharing a cramped apartment with 12 roommates.
But his big break surprisingly came through social media—like most of us on the hunt for a new job, Aaryan was scouring Facebook groups for casting calls one day and he found one for Luv Ranjan’s Pyaar Ka Punchnama. After a grueling audition process, he was cast as Rajat aka Rajjo, the ‘chocolate boy’ of his guy gang. The movie turned out to be a sleeper hit, in large part because of his monologue, which resonated hard with the frustrations of being in a toxic or unhappy relationship. Despite the mixed reactions to the film, it made Kartik Aaryan a household name.
The road ahead wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. His next two films Akaash Vani and Kaanchi: The Unbreakable didn’t perform well at the box office. While this failure was tough to take for a new actor, it didn’t deter Aaryan from continuing to work on his craft. In an interview with this magazine in July 2022, on asking how he dealt with flops and criticism, the then 32-year-old had said, “Learn, and move on. That’s my one and only motto to deal with things that are not in my control. As an actor, I make sure I give my best to the script and the part I have got, the rest is all in the hands of the audience, and no one can control that outcome as for criticism, as long as it is constructive, I will always take it and learn from it, but things that don’t help do not need attention.”
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Soon enough, his first director Luv Ranjan was ready with the sequel to his debut and of course, Aaryan was among the returning cast members. While they tried to replicate the prequel’s success—complete with the monologue—the film received a lot of criticism for its misogynist nature. In hindsight, this is where Aaryan’s tryst with franchises began. To break away from this image, Aaryan’s next few films saw him channeling his versatility. It began with Silvat, Tanuja Chandra’s short film made for the Zeal for Unity initiative aimed at bridging cultural barriers between India and Pakistan. Next, he splashed into familiar territory by pairing up with Paresh Rawal for the comedy Guest iin London, which didn’t end up performing well on the box office.
Luv Ranjan and Kartik Aaryan’s partnership has been profitable, to say the least. When they joined forces for the third time for Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, the film emerged as Aaryan’s biggest success to date. However, like all their films before, the story was heavily criticised for misogyny once again, with the cast and crew constantly dodging questions about why they seemed to hate women. But regardless of what elite film reviewers and urban tabloids wrote about the film, it was Aaryan’s relatable character that resonated the universal sentiment of having a true friend like Sonu in your life. The commercial success, however, opened up many avenues for Aaryan and his mass appeal in smaller towns in the country attracted the attention of many in the industry. Dinesh Vijan’s Luka Chuppi, his next project, took him back to his roots in Gwalior. The movie got into the nitty-gritties of the relatively modern concept of live-inrelationships and when the film did well at the box office, Aaryan’s formula to success started becoming clearer. We saw the same results with the T-Series backed Pati, Patni aur Woh, starring Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday.
When the pandemic hit and the world stopped, Aaryan began communicating with his fans and followers through social media, often filming relatable reels of him cleaning his home, working out in his living room, playing with his beloved dog Katori. He started a YouTube series where he interviewed COVID-19 warriors like doctors, healthcare workers and survivors. In fact, he even recreated his monologue urging everyone to wear masks. Social media has played a significant role in building Aaryan’s perception among the public and the key to this, according to Aaryan, has been authenticity. He adds, “The best way to deal with social media, I feel, is to be your real and candid self. And I practice what I preach. Everything you see on my social media is all me. There is no team handling what I post. I feel social media is the best platform to connect with your fans faster, and they deserve to see the real you. Also, I get to experience so much love from my fans because of these various social networking platforms. It acts as a constant reminder of the support I have on this journey; it motivates me to work harder.”
As 2022 rolled around, Aaryan had bagged Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. When it released in theatres, it had the biggest box office opening of the post-pandemic era, which meant that Aaryan had been able to draw the audiences back to the theatres—a feat seniors and veterans before him had been unsuccessful in achieving. His mischievous smile and fraudulent strategies, paired with great comedic timing, personified Rooh Baba to a T. With a hook step at hand and a groovy early-2000s remix in tow, Aaryan didn’t leave any stone unturned when it came to the promotions for the film. From TV show appearances to viral reels, he was everywhere. Soon enough, Aryan had earned the reputation of a ‘hitmaker’, who had understood the science behind knowing your audience and catering to them.
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His next film, Freddy, was a psychological thriller that saw him step away from comedy and experiment with darker characters. While it was easy to accept him as a socially awkward dentist, his acting chops really shone through when Dr Freddy was out for revenge. The film demanded that Aaryan go through a physical transformation to fit the role of Dr Freddy, so the actor gained 14 kg, worked on bringing changes to his body language, spent a lot of time in isolation to internalise the character’s loneliness and even underwent basic dentistry training. Since the movie released directly on Disney+ Hotstar; there were no box office collections to gauge its success. But Freddy brought Aaryan a lot of praise for not only stepping away from his stereotypical ‘North Delhi Boy’ roles to something grittier and more serious. Even today, Freddy stands out as one of Aaryan’s finest performances. After all his victories and the year ending soon, Aaryan is showing no signs of slowing down. On the work front, Aaryan’s got some exciting projects in the pipeline. We will see him in Pati, Patni aur Woh 2 next year, as well as in Hansal Mehta’s Captain India, where he will play a pilot leading a thrilling mission. He is also working on Anurag Basu’s next. “I’m gearing up for Anurag (Basu) sir’s film, which is an intense love story. I have been waiting to collaborate with him since a long time and finally, we got this perfect love story to work together,” the actor revealed during this interview. On Christmas, Aaryan announced a new film titled Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. With this, the actor is not only marking a return to the rom-com genre, but it is also his first (and much-awaited) collaboration with Karan Johar. The movie, scheduled for release in 2026, will be helmed by Satya Prem Ki Katha director Sameer Vidwans and produced under the banner of Dharma Productions.
Behind the scenes of the shoot as well, Aaryan’s always making moves and getting things done—after a brief chat with the photographer and stylist regarding his shots on our set, the actor logs in to a zoom meeting as he gets in the make-up chair. Post this shoot, he has three other commitments to wrap up before taking a flight to Chennai the next morning. As he preps to pose for his first shot, he says, “Come on, let’s do this. You guys will get what you need in the next few shots” and stays true to his word. Having spent 15 years in front of the camera, he almost instantly adapts to the task of being Man’s World’s January 2025 cover star. About 10 seconds and 20 poses later, Aaryan proved himself right. As he inches closer to the photographer’s screen to see the outcome, he flashes his signature smile—one that seems so familiar, it makes me think about where I’ve seen it last.
A moment or two of contemplation later, I realised that the shape of his nose and the way his lips curl when he smiles is akin to my brother’s. Why am I telling you this? Because this is a sentiment that is not unique to me. Aaryan’s success in a large part can be attributed to how much he reminds you of someone in your life. “So many people have told me that I remind them of their son, or brother, or someone they know, and that really touches me. I just think that real connection and dedication to work is what has worked for me.”
Over the last few years, while Bollywood has largely failed at bringing interesting new stories that resonate with the times and audiences, Aaryan’s movies have been able to be the exception. “I have been a part of the crowd, the audience. Coming to the other side has given me a different perspective but it has not changed me, and that is what helps me connect with my fans—I know very well how it is to be on that side of the fence,” Aaryan had reasoned in 2022. Two years later, we finally had a chance to chat with one of Bollywood’s brightest stars once again.
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It’s been almost 15 years since your debut. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
My journey has been one of resilience and faith in an industry that’s not very forgiving. I would tell my younger self to enjoy every moment of the journey, no matter how uncertain things seem. I would say, ‘stay true to your passion and don’t let the fear of failure hold you back. Believe that hard work, patience and passion will eventually pay off.’
Fresh off the success of one of the highest-grossing films of the year. On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about your career right now?
A solid 10! It’s been an incredible year. First, I ventured outside my comfort zone and pushed myself as an artist with Chandu Champion and the reception I received for my performance was overwhelming. This was followed by the maddening box office success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The film earned more than 400 Cr globally. I’m grateful for all the love and support I’ve received. It’s the only motivation I need to keep pushing boundaries.
How do you pick your projects? How much does its commercial value matter?
I choose projects that make me feel something on an emotional or creative level. I follow my gut instinct; I focus on the story and the script and do everything possible to make my work reach as many people as possible. Of course, the commercial aspect matters because filmmaking is a collaborative effort. Everyone who has invested in me and in a project, needs to get their money’s worth.
You’ve been part of quite a few franchises. What are the pros and cons of the familiarity?
The biggest pro is the connection audiences already have with the franchise, which adds to the excitement. The characters become iconic and develop their fanbase, who look forward to their return. The biggest challenge is the pressure to meet or exceed those expectations, but I thrive on that challenge. I believe franchises like Bhool Bhulaiyaa succeeded by staying true to its essence while introducing fresh elements. The blend of horror, comedy and nostalgia appealed to both longtime fans and new audiences.
Which character have you most resonated with? Which one did you learn the most from?
I feel Murlikant Petkar from Chandu Champion is a character that I learnt so much from. It will always be a special character to me. His resilience, persistence and never-say-die attitude is something that resonated with me. These are the very principles I based my career on. As an industry outsider, I had to work hard, I had to be resilient and tried to never let any setbacks stop me from achieving my goals.
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Which movie is the closest to your heart and why?
It's impossible to pick just one, but Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is one which is very close to my heart, it gave me my first taste of stardom. And recently, Chandu Champion really pushed me as a performer, emotionally, physically and was a turning point of how people saw me as an actor.
Which is the most surreal experience you’ve had after becoming a celebrity?
Every time I see fans waiting for hours just to catch a glimpse or scream my name during promotions, it feels surreal. I witness fans outside my building, waiting to see me or click a picture with me. All kinds of love I receive, whether small or grand is always equally touching and humbling.
What is the one thing about the film industry that surprised you, and what is the one thing you still find yourself coping with?
I was surprised by how much teamwork and hard work goes into making a film—it takes an army. I personally believe, the film is as much mine, as it is every professional’s that has worked on the film. What I still cope with is balancing personal and professional life—it’s a constant effort. I wish I had more time to spend with family and friends in the midst of my schedule.
What’s next on the work front?
I’m gearing up for Anurag (Basu) sir’s film, which is an intense love story. I have been waiting to collaborate with him since a long time and finally, we got this perfect love story to work together. There are some other scripts also which I have liked and soon there will be official updates on them.
Take us through your morning routine. What is the first thing you do after waking up?
I start my day by waking up to Katori [his dog]. She keeps waiting outside my door till I wake up and as soon as I open my door, she jumps into my bed to play. After that gym is compulsory for me. I don’t like to miss my workout and Katori follows me to the gym, which is on a different floor in my house. Then, I head for the set.
You had quite the physical transformation for Chandu Champion. What are some forms of exercises you’re enjoying currently? Can you take us through your daily diet?
I’ve been enjoying functional training with some compound movements along with boxing. My diet is a balance of proteins, carbs, fat and fibre with an occasional indulgence. I have a huge sweet-tooth which I try and control. But other than that, I just follow a balanced diet. Restrictive diets are very hard for me to follow, unless my film demands it. But, when it’s the need of the hour, I go all out.
On your cheat days, what is the one food item you have to have?
I love chhole bhature. So, the day I want to have a cheat meal, my mom makes it for me and of course, rasmalai, which is my weakness (laughs).
What is the one part of your job that was the most difficult to explain to your family?
The erratic schedules and long hours! Sometimes, it’s hard to convey why I can’t make time for personal commitments. But my family has been extremely supportive and I’m grateful for how much they accommodate my schedule. Since they moved in with me here in Mumbai, things are a lot easier to explain and understand.
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Who do you rely on, among your friends and family, to give you honest feedback and criticism?
My mom and my sister, Kittu. They are my biggest fans and my harshest critics. They don’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s exactly what I need. Their honest feedback keeps me grounded and helps me grow as both a person and an actor.
You could be considered one of Bollywood’s most eligible bachelors. How has your perspective on love evolved over time? What are some qualities you would look for in a partner?
Over time, I’ve realised the importance of compatibility, space and mutual respect in a relationship. I value kindness and someone who shares my sense of humour. My ideal partner should be someone who I can just be my true, authentic self with—a partner who understands the ups and downs of this profession and is there for the real me.
Describe the perfect day off…
A perfect day off would be spending time with my family and Katori, playing FIFA with my friends, may be going for a long drive, followed by indulging in my favourite food!
Credits:
Editor: Shivangi Lolayekar (@shivangil23)
Writer: Vrutika Shah (@vrutika)
Photographer: Sahil Behal (@behalsahil)
Senior Art Director: Hemali Limbachiya (@hema_limbachiya)
Creative Producer: Suprit Parulkar (@supritparulkar)
Stylist: Ruhani Singh (@ruhani_s)
Assistant Stylist: Marzia Tyeby Bhobe (@marziatyeby)
Head of Production: Manav Lundia (@manavlundia)
Set Assistant: Prachi Singhal (@prachi.singhal)
Hairstylist: Milan Kepchaki (milankepchaki)
Make-up Artist: Vicky Salvi (@vickysalvi22)
Location: The Imperial i (@theimperialcollective.in)
Location PR: Tandem Communication (@tandemcommunication)
PR: Spice (@spicesocial)
