Ayushmann Khurrana's five releases in one year

After delivering four back-to-back successes, Ayushmann Khurranna is now preparing for the next leg of his career. Believe it or not, but he now has five films in different stages of production, all of which are expected to release in the next 12 months.

These films are Article 15, Bala, Dream Girl, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and Gulabo Sitabo.

“Clearly, he is one of the hottest youngsters around,” comments a trade insider, “Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, both of which released in 2017, were good successes. However, the game changer was the year 2018. He first delivered an unconventional superhit in Andhadhun. This was followed by a blockbuster Badhai Ho, which was again a risky subject. Somehow, Ayushmann is managing to pull it all off. It isn’t plain coincidence or good luck; it is the choices that he is making to bring offbeat subjects in an entertaining manner,” adds the insider.

As a matter of fact, the crowning glory for Ayushmann has been the blockbuster success of Andhadhun in China as well, which has pushed him further into the big league.

“That should now reflect in the next five films as none of them is a conventional Bollywood film again,” a prominent filmmaker observers. “His last four successes have been largely light-hearted, even Andhadhun was a dark comedy. However, Anubhav Sinha’s Article 15 sees him in a no-nonsense avatar as a cop. Then in Bala, he is playing a young man who is fast losing hair. It would be interesting to see how he fights off baldness in this film by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik, who are reuniting after delivering the blockbuster Stree. The shooting is already on,” says the filmmaker.

Dream Girl has Ayushmann Khurranna playing, hold your breath, a ‘dream girl’ no less. One waits to see what he brings on screen in this quirky comedy.

“Something special for her,” our source quips, adding, “It has prolific writer Raaj Shaandilyaa making his debut as a director. Ever since producer Ekta Kapoor released the poster of the film that had a saree clad Ayushmann featuring in it, there is curiosity to check out what he has to offer. From Hemal Malini as ‘dream girl’ to now Ayushmann Khurranna, it is going to be something.”

Not to one to tire after a challenging role, Ayushmann will play a gay lover in Aanand L. Rai’s sequel to Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, which has been titled Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. The teaser of the film is out and has made an instant impression already. Rest assured, Valentine’s Day 2020 will take on a different meaning with this film.

Meanwhile, in the interim period,  Ayushmann will also be seen in yet another film, Gulabo Sitabo. The November release has him share screen space with none other than Amitabh Bachchan. As for the director at the helm of affairs, Shoojit Sircar is bringing Ayushmann in front of the camera all over again, seven years after Vicky Donor (2012).

Guess life would indeed come back full circle for Ayushmann Khurranna with this one. As for the audiences, they will indeed see lots of him on screen.