Kartik Aaryan has opened up about the ‘ups and downs' of his Bollywood journey
The ‘Shehzada’ has revealed that he often felt powerless in Bollywood and had no choice but to accept it with a grain of salt.
At the trailer launch of Chandu Champion in Gwalior on Saturday, the 33-year-old actor reflected on his journey in the industry, mentioning that there were many instances when he felt helpless, but he has learned to take it with a pinch of salt.
When asked if he ever felt "handicapped" at the beginning of his career, the Shehzada actor exclaimed, “Not the handicap, but I would use the word helpless. Sometimes it’s natural to feel helpless. And that happens with everyone in life."
“Everyone had their ups and downs, everyone had their struggles including myself. But if you ask if I would like to change anything about my journey."
"I won’t change a single thing. If given a chance, I would relive the same journey leading up to this point. I would not change a thing."
Looking back at his journey, the actor said:
“Yes, there were many instances when I felt helpless but I have observed my father and mother, their hard work, their passion, their struggles. And I have learnt a lot from those things. I think there is no gain without pain. If I am standing here and If I am bringing such a fantastic movie, a lot of pain and strength has gone into making it possible. It required a lot of sacrifices which I am proud of. Helplessness occur sometimes but you have to take everything with a pinch of salt.”
Kartik found acclaim in Bollywood with his role in Luv Ranjan's Pyaar Ka Punchnama, going onto feature in projects such as Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Luka Chuppi, Pati Patni Aur Woh and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.
His upcoming film Chandu Champion based on the life of Murlikant Petkar, India's first Paralympic gold medalist, is scheduled to hit theaters on June 14, 2024.
For the film, Kartik has undergone a physical transformation. He didn’t have sugar and followed a strict diet for over a year.
“I didn't eat sugar for a year, and there was a time when I was having just one meal a day. I didn't do any other film for one and a half years. I had become like a robot, a machine. I would just wake up and do what Kabir sir instructed and this is the one film in my career that I'll always be very proud of," he shared.
"I couldn't believe at first that the story of Chandu Champion was real. I asked Kabir Khan twice if the story was real… Because facing so many hurdles in life and still being so strong feels impossible to me. But Murlikant Petkar did it,” Kartik said while talking to the media at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium.
Petkar excelled in multiple sports, especially wrestling and hockey. Chandu Champion also marks Kartik’s first collaboration with Kabir.