Mumbai: Known for portraying ordinary men, often flawed and insecure with almost no one character being similar to the other, Ayushmann Khuranna stated that novelty of any kind inspires him.
He said: "Novelty inspires me, any kind, any shape or form. It could be the first attempt in Hindi cinema. That inspires me."
"Any person living a mundane life, 9 to 5, and still motivated to live, that inspires me, because as an artist you have a very vibrant life. You live a different character each day," Khurrana said in a literary festival in Kolkata on Thursday.
"It's a journey. I am learning every minute," he said.
Speaking about his preparations for each of his vastly diverse roles, he said that it has been possible only by being with the milieu. His exposure to Hindi theatre and his convent education have also added to his proficiency.
He said: "The idea is to be one with the milieu, get a grasp of the colloquial jargons, twangs, and India is a country where every ten kilometres, the dialect changes. I am glad that I have done Hindi theatre, Hindi public speaking, though I was convent educated. So that made me quite a linguist. That exposure was quite early in life."
READ | Ayushmann wishes wife Tahira in most adorable way on b'day
From essaying the role a sperm donor in his debut film Vicky Donor to depicting a man with erectile dysfunction in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan or a blind pianist in the 2018 thriller Andhadhun, Khurrana has been hailed for having "cornered the market when it comes to playing flawed, insecure men with confidence issues."
The films, generally set in small towns amid middle-class environs, have time and again dealt with taboo subjects and are sprinkled with liberal doses of wit, humour and comic situations.
"By default, these characters are set in a middle class, small towns. That's where the conflict is there. In urban centres, like Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata they are receptive to taboo subjects. So where is the conflict then?"
"In the middle-class society, we're like the flag bearers of morality, that's where the humour emanates, when you are stuck in that conventional dogma. And we are not trying to make people laugh as the situation is funny. For the male lead or the main lead, it is tragic," he said.
The 35-year-old actor is happy that his films themed on progressive subjects are being received well by the audience.
He said: "The choices I am making are going down well with the audience. Audience is also evolving and receiving well these subjects which are progressive."
"Earlier these used to be for art-house cinema stuff. But now these middle of the road cinemas - a great collaboration of content and commerce - are evoking good responses," he concluded.
With inputs from IANS.
