Indian actor Kartik Aaryan didn’t fear typecasting at the start of his career, rather he welcomed it. Speaking during an “In Conversation” session at the Red Sea Film Festival, the Bollywood star said that in his early years, being narrowly defined felt preferable to not getting any roles at all. “I wanted to be typecast,” he admitted with a laugh. “I just wanted people to watch the film and love it.”
That frank acknowledgment set the tone for Aaryan’s first public appearance in Saudi Arabia. The conversation quickly turned to “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2,” the blockbuster horror comedy sequel that would secure his place as one of India’s most commercially successful talents, though he initially turned it down. Aaryan recalled that he was reluctant to step into a franchise, especially since the offer came without a complete script.
The film’s producer, Bhushan Kumar, later persuaded him to reconsider, a decision that proved career-defining. The film’s runaway success transformed Aaryan into a pop-culture fixture, with fans now referring to him by his on-screen persona. “These films really changed my life,” he said, adding, “I think I’m really fortunate that it turned out the way which we were imagining it to be, and not the way I thought when the opportunity presented itself and I immediately reacted to it.”
Aaryan also discussed “Dhamaka,” the single-location thriller about a journalist who turns threatening calls into an opportunity for a comeback, shot during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With theaters shuttered and no idea of when the industry would come back to life, he sought a project that could be executed quickly and safely. Aaryan recounted how the film, shot in an isolated hotel over roughly 10 days, demanded long monologues and precision. For Aaryan, the experience was a reminder of why adaptability and faith in a director’s vision remained essential.
From there, Aaryan addressed the “overnight success” label that followed “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety,” the 2018 hit he credited as his true breakthrough. The phrase, he argued, erases years of effort. “That night came after seven years,” he said, describing a long stretch of auditions, rejections, and slow progress.
Beyond individual milestones, Aaryan framed his journey through the lens of conviction rather than luck. Asked whether he ever doubted himself early on, he said no, acknowledging that the mindset could be mistaken for overconfidence. “That belief system has worked for me,” he said, crediting passion, patience, and what he described as manifestation. “You have to be a go-getter,” he added. “You have to work towards the dream.”
Aaryan repeatedly described himself as “a proud outsider” — someone whose career was not shaped by family or personal connections. “I’m proud to be that outsider who carved his own audience,” he said, pointing to the increasingly global nature of Indian cinema and the role festivals like Red Sea play in expanding that reach.
Now firmly established as a commercial lead in Bollywood, Aaryan said his choices begin with the script, which he calls “the most important pillar of any film,” followed closely by trust in the director. Whether discussing mainstream entries like “Luka Chuppi,” a romcom in which a couple pretends to be married in order to live together, or more experimental projects still in development, he emphasized the challenge of balancing accessibility with emotional depth. Even in blockbuster cinema, he argued, gravitas matters.
Aaryan closed the conversation by pushing back on the idea of legacy altogether. “This script isn’t completed yet,” he said. “It’s still being written.”
