Ayushmann Khurrana: This whole subject of nepotism is done with, it’s talent that thrives

Anek may not have been a box office success, but it has started a conversation about discrimination towards north-east Indians. Ayushmann Khurrana thanks filmmaker Anubhav Sinha for approaching him again for the social drama after the daring Article 15 (2019). 

The actor told Mid Day that after Article 15, Anubhav and he built a strong bond. They were considering many topics for their next meeting. There were a lot of triggers and personal experiences that shaped Anek, says the actor, who got in touch with a lot of people from the northeast.

The film, which focuses on a community's otherization, has arrived at a fascinating time. Recently, there has been a heated dispute in the country about whether Hindi should be declared the national language. When asked about his position on the issue, Khurrana said emphatically that they could not place one language on a pedestal. Every language must be respected. In daily life, one speaks a mix of languages such as English, Hindi, and Urdu, among others. It's unfair to a person who hasn't spoken Hindi since childhood to put the language on a pedestal.

Khurrana has established himself as one of the most dependable performers of the current crop thanks to a string of triumphs over the last few years. But it couldn't have been that simple for him to get to the top. 

On being asked if he was discriminated against in the industry as an outsider, the actor said that he was not treated unfairly. In terms of casting, he believes they have gotten more democratic. This entire topic of nepotism is over; Khurrana believes talent is what survives. Having said that, he is aware of those who are not so fortunate. So there may be a different form of discrimination between the affluent and the less fortunate, but it isn't based on skill.