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    EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                          MAY 01, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 34

                                                    AYUSHMANN KHURRANA

                    How Smart Choices and Versatility

               Made Him Bollywood’s Bankable Star

                 With a carefully curated mix of storytelling and risk-taking, Ayushmann Khurrana has built a
                                    career where credibility translates into consistent box office trust.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                                At the same time, Khurrana is
                                                                                                                  not limiting himself to one genre. His
            Mumbai
                                                                                                                  collaboration with veteran filmmaker
               n an industry often driven by for-                                                                 Sooraj R Barjatya in Yeh Prem Mol
               mula and star power, Ayushmann                                                                     Liya signals a strategic alignment with
            IKhurrana has quietly carved out                                                                      legacy storytelling. Produced by Ra-
            a unique space—one where content,                                                                     jshri Productions, the film marks the
            relatability, and versatility intersect to                                                            return of the iconic “Prem”  charac-
            create one of Bollywood’s most bank-                                                                  ter—a staple of Barjatya’s cinema.
            able stars today. His upcoming slate                                                                      For Khurrana, stepping into this
            of  films  in  2026  is  not  just  another                                                           role is both an opportunity and a test
            busy year; it is a reflection of a strat-                                                             of his adaptability. The film, slated for
            egy that has steadily built audience                                                                  a November 27 release, positions him
            trust and commercial viability.                                                                       within a tradition of emotionally root-
                With three distinctly different                                                                   ed, family-centric narratives while al-
            films—Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, Udta                                                                     lowing him to reinterpret a beloved
            Teer, and Yeh Prem Mol Liya—Khu-                                                                      character for a new generation.
            rrana is once again leaning into diver-                                                                   Simultaneously, projects like
            sity,  a  hallmark of  his career.  Each                                                              Udta Teer promise a more disruptive
            project occupies a different narrative                                                                and unconventional tone, ensuring
            space, from comedy and relationships                                                                  that  his  portfolio  remains  balanced
            to quirky storytelling and traditional                                                                between mass appeal and creative ex-
            family values. For Khurrana, this is                                                                  perimentation.
            not  a  calculated  attempt  at  variety,                                                                 What ties all these choices togeth-
            but a natural extension of his instincts.                                                             er is a consistent philosophy: story-
               “I’ve never really approached my                                                                   telling first. Khurrana’s insistence on
            career with the intention of ticking                                                                  selecting scripts that are entertaining
            boxes or consciously trying to appear   Actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi on the set   yet meaningful has helped him main-
            diverse,” he said. “For me, it has always                                                             tain a strong connection with audienc-
            been about instinct and the kind of sto-           of their film Pati Patni Aur Woh Do (ANI photo)    es. “I also want to stay true to the kind
            ries that move me as an audience first.”                                                              of cinema I believe in, starting with
                That instinct-driven approach has   love dynamic involving three women.   this, he said, “I’ve been incredibly for-  stories that are entertaining but also
            proven to be a winning formula. At a   Set in Prayagraj, the film blends con-  tunate that audiences have embraced   have something to say,” he noted.
            time when audiences are increasing-  fusion, humour, and situational come-  my family comedies over the years. I   As Bollywood navigates shifting
            ly  selective,  Khurrana’s  filmography   dy, reinforcing Khurrana’s stronghold   have worked very hard to build this   viewer preferences and increasing
            stands out for its ability to consistent-  in the family entertainment genre.  credibility with the content that I have   competition from digital platforms,
            ly deliver novelty. His understanding   The project also highlights his   tried to pick to entertain people.”  actors who can guarantee both en-
            of audience psychology—particularly   commercial appeal. Backed by major   This credibility translates directly   gagement and relatability are becom-
            the demand for freshness—has been   production houses like T-Series and   into  business  confidence.  Producers   ing invaluable. Khurrana’s career tra-
            central to his rise.              B  R  Studios,  the  film  is  positioned   and studios are increasingly willing   jectory suggests that bankability today
               “I’ve always  believed  that  audi-  as a theatrical crowd-puller. The re-  to back his projects because his films   is less about spectacle and more about
            ences today are extremely intelligent,  cently released song “Roop Di Rani,”   come with a built-in audience expec-  substance.
            as they don’t want to see you doing   with its celebratory vibe and wed-  tation of quality and relatability. His   “If this journey is being seen as ‘di-
            the same thing again and again. They   ding-ready choreography, signals the   emphasis on making films that fami-  verse’, I’m grateful for that,” he said.
            want to be surprised,” he explained,  kind of mass appeal that has become   lies can watch together has widened  “But for me, it’s really about staying
            underlining a philosophy that has   synonymous with Khurrana’s cinema.  his reach in a diverse market like India.  curious and honest to my choices.”
            shaped his choices.                   Yet, what makes him bankable     “I like my films to be clean, keep-  That honesty—and a sharp un-
                This  emphasis  on  novelty is evi-  is not just box office pull—it is cred-  ing in mind that an entire family, from   derstanding of what audiences want—
            dent in his 2026 lineup. Pati Patni Aur   ibility. Over the years, Khurrana has   anywhere in India, can sit down to-  has  turned  Ayushmann  Khurrana
            Woh Do, set for release on May 15, re-  cultivated a reputation for clean, fam-  gether to watch it in theatres,” he   into not just a versatile performer, but
            imagines a familiar relationship trope   ily-friendly entertainers that resonate   added. “Maybe that’s why they always   a dependable business proposition in
            but raises the stakes with a complex   across  demographics.  Reflecting  on   show up for my family entertainers.”  modern Hindi cinema.

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