Published By: Sayan Paul

Ayushmaan Khurrana Turns 40: Did You Know The Actor Used To Sing In Trains For Pocket Money?

Besides being a successful actor, Khurrana is also a gifted singer with many hit tracks to his credit.

They said, a "Hindi film hero" should look like a hero on the screen - with all that quintessential charm, perfect looks, and larger-than-life presence. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana challenged this very idea with his debut film itself, 'Vicky Donor', in 2012. With this film (based on a subject that's considered taboo in Indian society), he brought something absolutely unique, not to mention revolutionary; for which Bollywood wasn't even prepared for. And he went ahead from strength to strength, playing diverse and complex characters that others wouldn't dare to touch. From 'Shubh Mangal Savdhan' to 'Bala' to 'Badhaai Ho' to 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' to 'Andhadhun' to 'Article 15' and more - Khurrana's filmography proves that he is the "most risk-taking actor" in the industry. Now people say that he is the "content king" who can rarely go wrong!

However, beyond all these, what also sets Ayushmann Khurrana apart is there's much more to him than his roles. Specifically, he is as good a singer as an actor, with several successful tracks to his credit. His song "Pani Da Rang", featured in 'Vicky Donor', earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Some of his other notable songs are "Saddi Gali", "O Heeriye", "Mitti Di Khushboo", "Yahin Hoon Main", and "Maafi" among others.

"Music is my life. I can't operate without music. I can live without films, but not without music." - Ayushmann Khurrana

A recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award, Khurrana celebrates his 40th birthday today. On this occasion, we share an interesting fact about him that you probably didn't know.

Ayushmann Khurrana Used To Sing In Trains For Pocket Money

Yes, you read it absolutely right! Khurrana used to do everything from theatre to live concerts to stand-up comedy and more during his college days. And what may come as surprising to many is that he, along with his friends, used to sing in Express Trains (Delhi to Mumbai) to collect money. Thanks to their brilliant performances, they managed to collect quite a handsome amount of money at that time.

As the actor later shared in an interview, "During my college days I used to do a lot of theatre, live shows, street plays etc. so did not get much time to run after girls."

 

(Credit: Bollywood Reporter)

"In fact, I want to share how we used to perform in trains. During my college days, there was a train named Pashchim Express that used to go from Delhi to Mumbai. So I, along with my friends, used to get onto the train and we used to go to every coach to sing and perform. Passengers used to give us money which we used to collect. We used to earn so much that we managed to sponsor our Goa trip from it! So yes, you can say I am a train singer."

What All Ayushmann Khurrana Did Before Becoming An Actor

Khurrana took on various jobs before stepping into Bollywood as an actor. At the age of 17, he appeared in the 2002 Channel [V] show Popstars. However, he came into the limelight two years later with his appearance on the MTV show Roadies, where he emerged as the winner. This paved his way for many other shows such as 'MTV Fully Faltoo Movies', 'Cheque De India', and 'Jaadoo Ek Baar'. At this time, he started hosting live and television shows, gaining a solid fan base across the country.

 

(Credit: HT Entertainment)

He got his first full-time job as a Radio Jockey in Big FM Delhi, where he hosted the show Big Chai – Maan Na Maan, Main Tera Ayushmann. He won the Young Achievers Award in 2007 and was also the youngest recipient of the Bharat Nirman Award in New Delhi.

Life was quite sorted for Khurrana at this time. However, he knew he was meant for something bigger. Hence, he quit his job and moved to Mumbai to pursue an acting career. Finally, in 2012, he made his debut with Shoojit Sircar's romantic comedy 'Vicky Donor', co-starring Annu Kapoor and Yami Gautam. The rest, as they say, is history!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Khurrana. Thanks For All The Amazing Films!