It’s exhilarating to be part of the film world: Aparshakti

RJ, Host, Cricketer, lawyer, foodie —  Aparshakti Khurana is a man of many parts. And acting is his focus now.

“It's been six years since I have been in films. Movies have always fascinated me and to be able to be a part of them is exhilarating,” he shares.

Also, “I have been hosting shows for as long as I can remember,” he smiles, adding, “Hosting is something that brings me immense joy and helps me stay rooted. It is an art and I think there’s something to learn from every art form.”

Aparshakti learnt team work during his stint on the Haryana U-19 cricket team. And, as captain of the team, he honed his leadership skills. “Every sport teaches us discipline, conviction, resilience, leadership, accountability, patience and most importantly a team sport teaches you teamwork. What I learnt as part of the U-19 team I implement on the sets today,” he says.

He briefly worked as a lawyer before coming into films. “I have been trying my hand at different things,” he says. “These different fields gave me a great opportunity to be resourceful,’ he adds.

But being the son of an astrologer, did he ever ask his father what profession he would settle on finally, we want to know. “Not really!” the actor replies. “My father doesn’t guide me as an astrologer but he has always guided me as a father.”
Aparshakti himself became a father recently. He and his wife Aakriti Ahuja Khurana had a baby daughter (Arzoie) last August. “Being a father is the best feeling ever. All my worries vanish when I see my little draamebaaz,” he smiles.

Although the actor has been travelling constantly for his assignments, he ensures that he spends as much time as he can with his baby girl. He says he took inspiration from his elder brother Ayushmann and his sister-in-law Tahira Kashyap about parenting. “Bhaiya (Ayushmann) is a great father and I have observed him for years and taken notes silently,” he smiles.

Aparshakti is now working on a spy thriller film, Berlin. “It was beyond my comfort zone which made it thrilling for me to work on it. The film is an effort at a new genre of story-telling,” says the actor, whose upcoming projects include Saurabh Shukla’s directorial Jab Khuli Kitab with Pankaj Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, apart from Dhokha with producer Bhushan Kumar. “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with R. Madhavan and Khushalii Kumar — this film is a great journey which I can’t wait for the audience to experience,” he says.

He recently returned from Sri Lanka, where he was shooting for director Vikramaditya Motwane’s yet-to-be titled period drama, and he’s charmed by the country and its people. “I strongly believe that the heart of any place is its food, and I used to go out to savour the local cuisine every time I got a chance to,” says the actor, who describes himself as a food lover.