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Journalism of Courage
Kartik, it has been your year. That amazing transformation for Chandu Champion, so much love for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. And then you got an engineering degree too. So what was the reaction at home to your degree?
I think my mom and dad were more excited than me. But this has been a crazy year for me. I have really enjoyed working in Chandu Champion and then Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The characters in both films were poles apart. These are defining moments in my filmography. And then, of course, getting a degree. I am from DY Patil College in Navi Mumbai. Going as a guest to my college and receiving my degree in front of the students, it all came full circle.
You came to Mumbai to study engineering but your dream was always Bollywood. So, how many auditions and how many rejections did you face?
Countless. For two to three years, I was giving auditions, listening to rejections. Eventually, I got to know about the audition for what became my first film—Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011). I am so lucky that my first opportunity was that film.
How did you deal with rejections and pick yourself up the next day and go for another audition?
I got used to it. I became shameless. After a point, you become numb. But you have to show up. You need a little self-belief. When everyone is doubting you, I think you are the only one who can actually save yourself from that doubt. Even after the biggest rejection, I used to think, what can be worse than this? And I used to feel I would only be going up from here. I have always believed in manifestation. I used to write what I wanted. Everything was written in my notebook. I think somewhere down the line everything started happening.
Let’s jump right into the year you have had—Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. One of my favourite cinematic moments of the year is your extremely empathetic portrayal as the transgender prince at a time of hyper-masculine heroes. We see you dancing to Mere Dholna, which is amazing. It was the emotional quotient of the film and there was also a twist. Nobody expects it. The version of my Dholna which was sung by Sonu Nigam has become a rage. People have connected with it, with their lives, their childhood, their struggles. That climax gave the film a lot of gravitas. That moment was new for me too. I was dancing for the first time.
What’s your take on box-office numbers? How important are they?
They are very important. I mean this is a business module. You are putting in money and you want profits for everyone associated with the film, not just for actors but also for producers and directors, distributors, and exhibitors. Only if your film makes money can you put money in your next film.
Tell us about your journey in Bollywood. You talked about taking auditions but there would have been insiders who would have got a dream launch without giving any audition. So, did you feel that disparity? And does the playing field level at any point?
No, it doesn’t level. But it’s been so many years in the industry that it doesn’t matter. I can’t say everyone gets equal opportunities. I too have felt like maybe I should have gotten the opportunity rather than someone who is from the (film) families. So, it happens but it’s not their fault. But I think it is wrong when you compare two actors and their journeys because the journey of an outsider is very different from that of an insider.
Moving on to your personal life, you have a very impressive car collection. You have a McLaren GT, you have a BMW 5 Series, a Lamborghini Urus, a Mini Cooper and sports bikes. When do you get the time to drive?
After midnight. I love cars. The Lamborghini Urus is my favourite.
And does your mom allow you to drive sports bikes?
She said no, so I stopped buying bikes.
As a celebrity every moment of your life is there before the world. Does that make you vulnerable? I am also asking this in context of the attack on Saif Ali Khan in his home.
It is scary and sad. It puts everyone in a vulnerable state. We are not able to hide from the paps, they know where we are going, what we are doing. It’s a little extreme but they (paps) are doing this for a living and it is a symbiotic relationship between paps, media, actors. So, there is no solution for this yet. But I hope that it doesn’t compromise the safety of people.
What’s on your agenda for 2025-26?
Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, that’s the next one. It is being produced by Namah Pictures and Dharma Productions. I am also doing a film with Anurag Basu sir.
Oh! What should I say about this? I think this is a love-hate relationship. This photo represents that. This is the moment when we signed our first film (Dostana 2 . In 2021, reports claimed Kartik and Karan had a bitter fallout, leading to the actor’s exit from the film). Now I am doing a film with him (Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri). We are working together again and, I hope, he and I will complete it this time (laughs).
This photo is the one which gave me Pyaar Ka Punchnama. This was the only solo photo I had. It felt like a portfolio to me. It was taken at home. I had other photos which were with my friends. In auditions, they would ask for photos or videos and I had these group photos only so I would crop them—someone’s hand would be there, someone’s head. This was a solo photo and because of this one, I was called for the Pyaar Ka Punchnama audition.
I remember this was at a party where I met Shah Rukh sir. I had met him earlier too but this was the first time that I got a photo taken with him. This was my fanboy moment. When I first came to Mumbai from Gwalior, I went to Bandra and stood outside Mannat like many others. It was a Sunday and he (Shah Rukh Khan) came out and waved. I felt so lucky that I had seen him on my first visit. There was a huge crowd and soon there was a lathi-charge. I ran away and got saved. I remember all this vividly.
