After the thumping success of Thamma, Ayushmann Khurrana is in a reflective mood proud of his performance and hungry for evolution. While the film’s numbers have thrilled him, it’s the artistic transformation he underwent in the story’s second half that has truly stayed with him.
“The change my character goes through in Thaama’s climax was very new for me,” he explains. “In the second half, I transform into a Betaal something completely unexpected. I’ve never done this much action before. It was intense and physical, but also emotionally challenging.”
Known for his grounded, relatable characters, Ayushmann says Thamma gave him a chance to channel a more aggressive side — something he had explored only during his theatre days. “Back in college, I used to play intense, aggressive roles on stage,” he recalls. “Doing that again on screen felt refreshing. It’s an aspect of me that audiences haven’t seen much.”
With this success, the actor feels ready to take another leap into the world of morally complex, grey characters. “I’ve mostly played sweet, boy-next-door characters,” he admits. “Even in Andhadhun, my character had slight shades of grey, but I’ve never played a fully grey role. That’s something I really want to explore now something dark, complex, yet human.”
He’s also overjoyed with how Thaama has connected with younger audiences especially children, who have rarely been his primary fanbase before. “The most heart-warming response has come from kids,” he says. “Most of my films have dealt with mature or social subjects, but Thaama is a pure commercial entertainer. For the first time, very young audiences even the Gen Alpha crowd have loved it. That’s a new and beautiful experience for me.”
As for what’s next, the actor says Thaama has expanded his horizons, giving him confidence to try out bold new ideas.“I’m proud of Thaama,” he says. “It’s given me courage to experiment even more whether it’s with genres, characters, or tones. Audiences are ready for new things, and so am I.”With a renewed creative fire, a blockbuster behind him, and a hunger to break type, Ayushmann Khurrana seems poised to enter a daring new chapter one that may finally introduce fans to his long-awaited “grey” side.