Kartik Aaryan born as Kartik Tiwari is the roaring example of how perseverance and hard work eventually pays off. Not to mention if you are 6 feet tall with a charming personality, it gets a tad bit easier. While Bollywood has finally opened its arms to his chocolate boy looks, Kartik’s entry into the glitzy glamorous world was not an accident by any chance.
Born to a family of doctors, Kartik Aryan harbored the dream of becoming an actor since his teenage days. The actor landed in Mumbai all starry-eyed in the hope of living his dreams; and live he did! Kartik is currently one of India’s most sought after actors. Despite years of struggle and unrecognized talent, he managed to swoop in the audience with his performances, good looks, and the boy next door charm. Kartik has also featured in Forbes India Celebrity 100 list. Today, we take a dive into the Bollywood journey, childhood, and love life of India’s current man-crush.
Did You Know? Kartik is a real-life Kumbh Ke Mele fame Lost and Found kid. The actor was found after 4 hours of the Police search in Delhi’s Karol Bagh.
From Gwalior to Bollywood
Kartik Aaryan is perhaps one of the most real and relatable Bollywood celebrities right now. However, it may come as a shock to his die-hard fans that that isn’t his real name. Kartik Tiwari who became famous for his four-minute monologue in Pyaar Ka Punchnama changed his name in 2013. The actor in an interview said he did not like the abbreviation KAT.
Hailing from a small town in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Kartik initially wanted to become an astronaut. However, he later became passionate about acting. He enrolled in DY Patil College, Navi Mumbai while secretly harboring his dreams of making it big into Bollywood. Due to financial restraints, Kartik used to live in an apartment with 12 other boys. He also revealed that he made money by cooking for them. After three years of multiple rejections and unsuccessful attempts, Kartik finally made his debut with Luv Ranjan’s “Pyaar Ka Punchnama“. While the movie garnered rave reviews from critics, Kartik’s four-minute monologue became a huge hit.
Did You Know? Kartik had a terrible accident and injured his leg just after he signed Pyaar Ka Punchnama.
Career Hits and Misses
After the release of Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Kartik did not receive any offers for two years. He once again teamed up Luv Ranjan and Nushrat Bharucha in Akaash Vani. The film explored domestic abuse and male chauvinism. A year later Kartik got a brief role in Subhash Ghai’s Kaanchi: The Unbreakable. However, both Akaash Vani and Kanchi failed to create a wave at the box office leading Kartik to question his career choice.
Did You Know? Kartik Aryan’s inspiration to join the film industry was none other than Shah Rukh Khan. His first introduction to Mumbai was King Khan’s Mannat.
Kartik finally began to gain recognition in 2015 after he delivered a 7-minute long monologue in Pyaar Ka Punchnama’s sequel. Despite mixed reviews, the film was his first major commercial success at the box office. Kartik went on to win a Stardust Award for Best Actor In A Comic Role. The following years saw some hits and miss from the actor with Silvat and Guest inn London.
Bollywood Breakthrough
Kartik Aaryan got his major breakthrough with Luv Ranjan’s Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety in 2018. The film reunited him with Nushrat Bharucha for the fourth time. While the film was majorly criticized for its misogynistic theme, it managed to create a wave, unlike his previous films. With earnings of ₹1.5 billion, the film finally put him on the Bollywood A-list map. With the success of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Kartik got a chance to choose from an array of roles. In 2019, he starred in Lukka Chuppi alongside Kriti Sanon and later in Pati Patni Aur Woh alongside Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Pandey. Both films garnered ₹1 billion worldwide.
Did You Know? Kartik Aaryan was ranked 8th in India’s Most Desirable Men List in 2018.
Kartik Aaryan Upcoming Movies
In 2020, Kartik Aaryan starred in Imtiaz Ali’s romantic drama Love Aaj Kal. The movie paired him opposite Sara Khan who in an appearance on Koffee with Karan admitted to having a crush on him. The film, however, failed to impress at the box office.
Did you Know? Kartik Aaryan was in a serious relationship before his girlfriend dumped him when he chose acting as career choice.
Kartik’s upcoming movies will be standalone sequels to the 2007 comedy horror film Bhool Bhulaiyaa and the 2008 romantic comedy Dostana. He will also be playing a lead role in an untitled action film directed by Om Raut.
From a small-town outsider to one of India’s most successful actors, Kartik Aaryan is proof that dreams do become reality.