'In Mumbai, bachelors don't get a house on rent.'
'If the house owner gets to know that you are an aspiring actor, things become even more difficult.'
'I didn't get one for the longest time.'
Kartik Aaryan seems to have a large fan following inside as well as outside the film industry.
Young actresses like Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Pandey already seem to be nursing a crush on the rising star, and Kartik is enjoying all the attention.
The Pyaar Ka Punchnama actor, who was known as the 'monologue-wala actor', feels Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety gave him a career rebirth of sorts.
He will now be seen in Luka Chuppi opposite Kriti Sanon -- a small town film with a rather modern subject.
"The paparazzi was least interested in me before Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety; I would pray that they click my pictures! Now, after getting recognition, I am not praying in reverse," Kartik tells Rediff.com Contributor Ramesh S.
You have become a bankable actor after Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.
Finally! It's not like Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is my first; there was Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 before that, which did more than Rs 70 crores of business.
The recognition came after Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.
Before that, no one probably even knew my name and called me the monologue-wala actor.
The movie gave my name a kind of rebirth.
Do you regret getting recognition so late?
I used to get sad earlier -- it's not like I haven't delivered hits! -- but now, it's all good.
Audiences have always loved me, be it female or male. This was actually huge because of Pyaar Ka Punchnama.
I became a household name because of my Sonu character in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.
The film was loved by a family audience, it had major hit songs... my character was like the quintessential hero.
You have quite a large female following.
I am flattered!
I wish it continues.
Male audiences have also appreciated my work through the characters I have played, especially my monologue.
They believe my character has shown his side of pain in a funny way!
Your films Akaash Vani and Guest In London didn't do well.
Although Akaash Vani was a beautiful film, it didn't do well at the box office.
The film did receive its appreciation later, but I didn't feature on the favorite lists.
Sometimes, something just doesn't work on your favour.
But there were no film options, and I was literally surviving on limited things.
I was just doing my best in whatever I was getting offered.
When films like Akaash Vani and Guest In London didn't work, I realised something was wrong and that I needed to fix it.
Luka Chuppi has been shot in your hometown, Gwalior. What was that like?
It's a Mathura-based film, but the shoot happened in Gwalior because Kriti's character and mine decide to live in that city after being in a live-in relationship.
Since our families stay in Mathura, it wasn't possible for us stay there.
I do not play a Delhi boy in the film, so the character was quite different for me to play.
I had fun playing Guddu Shukla in Luka Chuppi, who is lovable, innocent and straightforward.
He gets trapped in various situations resulting in a comedy of errors.
The prime element in this film is the family, and every member has his own agenda. Because of this, the film gets hilarious as it unfolds.
How was your experience working with Kriti Sanon?
Kriti is wonderful!
We did not need any ice-breakers because of our chilled out nature.
In fact, Kriti and the others still call me Son of Gwalior.
It so happened that when we went to Gwalior for the shoot, people put out several hoardings with my picture and wrote, 'We welcome son of Gwalior'.
The picture in those hoardings was quite old, bad and a bit tacky, so I was confused whether to show people those hoardings or hide them!
Everyone laughed about my situation, and that's how I was nicknamed.
What is your idea of a live-in relationship?
Marriage is a very important decision in one's life.
If two people want to spend time together before tying the knot, there's no harm.
If two people have decided to be in a live-in relationship, they can. And the two people can be from same sex as well.
In my case, I don't mind if someone who loves me wants to be in a live-in relationship.
What about Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Pandey who spoke about you on Koffee With Karan?
They said about going on a date, not for a live-in (laughs)!
Are you open to dating actresses?
I am open to dating anyone and wouldn't mind if she is an actress.
I don't have any kind of negativity towards my profession.
The most important quality should be trust.
Our industry has a lot of busy schedules, so one should have that kind of trust, especially if s/he is an actor.
I am an honest person in real life and will take care of my partner.
It is rumored that you were dating Nushrat Bharucha.
No, never! We have always been friends.
Actors work together in several films, so it has become a cliché to assume that they dating each other.
In metro cities, the idea of a live-in relationship is relatively acceptable, but it is different in smaller towns. What's your take on that?
And it's because of this that our film has a satire take on it!
To be honest, a live-in is complicated in metro cities as well.
In Mumbai, even bachelors don't get a house on rent -- I didn't get one for the longest time.
To add to that, if the house owner gets to know that you are an aspiring actor, things become even more difficult.
Luka Chuppi gives you a message in a light and entertaining manner.
Are you aware of the Kartik Aaryan haircut?
I got to know about this recently (laughs).
Such a trend was there in our earlier days, and my mother has told me some stories. I remember the Sadhna Cut was quite famous.
I am happy that it's happening today with the Kartik Aaryan haircut.
Have you followed any hair trends?
In my childhood and school days, I followed Shah Rukh Khan's -- the messy look.
I have also followed Salman Khan's style from Maine Pyar Kiya.
Does the paparazzi worry you?
No. I don't mind if my picture gets clicked.
The paparazzi was least interested in me before Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety; I would pray that they click my pictures!
Now, after getting recognition, I am not praying in reverse.
I enjoy the attention.
Can you go and watch a film in a theatre?
It's not easy, but I still manage somehow.
I watch movies because I simply love watching them.
Earlier, I would spend the entire weekend watching films, but now, I do not get that much time.
Now that you are successful, is there any pressure to choose the right projects?
People will judge me more because they know I have a choice of scripts now, which was not there earlier.
Also, before choosing a script, I act like the audience and choose the right one.
Was it a conscious decision to break your image by choosing Luka Chuppi?
I was doing bromance kind of movies earlier, but now, I have shifted to romance.
There's also a family angle in this film, which will help me create a different image.
It was not a conscious decision because if it was Pyaar Ka Punchnama 3, I would have done that too.
I liked the script of Luka Chuppi because everything was new and challenging for me.
Your next film Pati Patni Aur Woh is also a family drama. Was that a conscious decision?
I have always felt four tickets are better than two! (Laughs)
Any tips from your friends in the industry about how to deal with stardom?
Most of them said stardom should not go to your head.
Every newcomer fears the same and so everybody gives advice to be the same person that you were before.
