Exclusive: “Pati Patni Aur Woh is a very progressive film," says Kartik Aaryan

Kartik Aaryan has been working in Bollywood since 2013. He debuted on celluloid with Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2013), but the turning point of his career was the role of Sonu in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), which catapulted him to overnight stardom. He followed SKTKS with yet another box-office success Luka Chuppi (2019) which further cemented his position in the industry.

The talented actor, known for his relatable presence, charming looks and great comic-timing, will shortly be seen in Pati Patni Aur Woh, an official remake of the 1978 hit Hindi of the same name. Besides Kartik, the much-awaited film also features Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday in pivotal roles.

As Kartik Aaryan gears up for the theatrical release of Pati Patni Aur Woh on 6^th December, Eastern Eye catches up with him in Mumbai for a freewheeling chat. In this fun interview, the actor talks about his role in the movie, how it is different from the characters that he has essayed before onscreen and, of course, his forthcoming projects lined-up for release in 2020. Excerpts…

Tell us something about your character in Pati Patni Aur Woh and how it is going to be different than your previous roles?

I think people are going to relate a lot to the character of Chintu Tyagi that I play in Pati Patni Aur Woh. Some people have already started relating to it. A lot of hard work went into etching out this character, and we made sure that it does not go on some different tangent, you know.

Also, I had to work on the dialect to perfect the part. Physical appearance was another thing I had to work on, because I had never looked and been like Chintu in my real life. I also sported moustache. My character works in a PWD office, so I had to gain a little bit of weight as well, because he slips into monotony after a point in his life. He starts living a life where he does not care about himself at all. He does his 9AM to 5PM job, reaches home and just sleeps. So, that is Chintu Tyagi for you. I wore very simple clothes and sported unkept hair in the film. It turned out to be a very different look as you can see. People even made memes after the trailer came out.

How did you react to the script when the makers approached you?

Juno Chopra, who is the creative producer of the film, brought this script to me. After meeting him, I met Mudassar Aziz, the director of the film. Pati Patni Aur Woh is the remake of B.R Chopra’s film of the same name. When Juno came to meet me and narrated the script, I got very excited. It’s an interesting subject. Even the title is so catchy that you would want to watch the film.

It is a first love-triangle film for you.

Bollywood has been making love-triangles for a long time now. What makes Pati Patni Aur Woh special is the fact that it is told in a very comical way. I think Pati Patni Aur Woh is a very commercial film in that sense. The modern take on relationships that this film is something that I am sure you would have never seen before. I am sure people will talk about it after the release of the film. It is also a very progressive film in a way. It has a very strong message. Besides the lead characters, there are several other important characters that are involved in it.

So, I was very excited when this film came to me, simply because all the characters had been written so beautifully. Since the film is based in Kanpur, all the characters are very UP-centric which everyone can understand. After Luka Chuppi, I was not sure of doing a small-town centric film immediately. But the script of Pati Patni Aur Woh was so strong that I could not let go off it. I jumped on it.

Did you see the original film before giving a nod to the remake?

No, I did not see the original film. Sanjeev Kumar is a legendary actor who starred in the original film. The remake is a very modern, new film based on a completely new script. I did not watch the original film because I did not want to get influenced by it. I did not want that film to affect my process of approaching this character. So, if you see my look in the film, it is completely new, something that people may have not expected from me. It was a conscious decision to not watch that film.

With the trailer of the film receiving stupendous response, do you think that half of the battle is already won?

The trailer of the film has indeed garnered great response. After watching the trailer, a lot of people are saying that the picture is blockbuster or an already hit. It’s true that we have been receiving great response, but we don’t want to be over-confident. Having said that, it always feels great when you get positive response from the audience. Everybody is saying that they are planning to watch the film in theatres.

Not just the trailer, all the songs which have been dropped so far have received excellent response from the audience. ‘Dheere-Dheere’ has already become a hit. ‘Akhiyon Se Goli Maare’ is also doing well. ‘Dilbara’ has received some different kind of response. The response has empowered us in a way that we are now promoting the film even more.

Are you happy that people have now started looking beyond the Pyaar Ka Punchnama guy?

I feel I am in a very good space right now, and I want to continue this phase. Earlier, I did not have many choices. I used to audition for films, and if I get any, I would try to give my hundred percent. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), which released last year and went on to do a business of over Rs. 100 crores domestically and around Rs. 150 globally, was a turning point of my career. The success of the film made producers show their belief in me as an actor.

But even after Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, I did not get as many offers as I received after Luka Chuppi which released earlier this year. Luka Chuppi was also a box-office hit which made approximately Rs. 100 crores worldwide. Now people are reacting positively to Pati Patni Aur Woh’s trailer and saying that this also looks a very commercial film.

So, earlier, I did not have many options, but now I have. After Pati Patni Aur Woh, I am doing an Imtiaz Ali film which is an intense romantic story. That is again a very different film for me. You will be surprised. Then I have Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 with Anees Bazmee sir, which is an out-and-out massy film. I don’t want to reveal anything about that character at the moment. What all I can say now is that it will be again a very, very different character for me, but with a relatability factor. Whenever I choose a role, I make sure it has relatability factor and people can relate to it.

Take us through your projects lined-up in 2020. It is going to be an important year in your career.

As I mentioned earlier also, you will see me next in Imtiaz Ali sir’s film. He is one of my favourite directors and working with him changed my entire thought process. He changed me as an actor. He changed the process how I look at a character now. That film is releasing on 14^th February, on Valentine’s Day. It is a character that I am really looking forward to. I have finished shooting for the film, but I do not know what all is going to be there in it. I have not seen it yet. But I had a blast shooting for it.

After that, I have Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, which is going to be a massy film. From head to toe, I am going to be massy in it. My character is a desi ghost-buster that you will see in the movie. After Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 will come Dostana 2. Dostana 2 will push the envelop further. It is something that my audience will ever expect me to do. It is a very unconventional film, yet something which I really feel is the need of the hour. It is that kind of a film.