Ayushmann Khurrana is an Indian actor, singer, and television host who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. He rose to prominence as a presenter on radio and television before transitioning to films, and is widely recognised for choosing scripts that engage with social taboos and middle-class subjects in small-town India. He has been a recipient of the National Film Award for Best Actor and has featured on the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2020.
| Full name | Ayushmann Khurrana |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 September 1984, Chandigarh, India |
| Education | St. John's High School, Chandigarh; DAV College, Chandigarh; Punjab University (Mass Communication) |
| Occupation | Actor, singer, television presenter, author |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | Tahira Kashyap (m. 2008) |
| Children | Two |
| Notable awards | National Film Award for Best Actor (shared, 2019); Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut (2012) |
| Debut film | Vicky Donor (2012) |
Ayushmann Khurrana was born on 14 September 1984 in Chandigarh to P. Khurrana, a writer and astrologer, and Poonam Khurrana. His younger brother, Aparshakti Khurana, is also an actor in Hindi cinema. He was schooled at St. John's High School in Chandigarh and studied at DAV College, where he was active in theatre. He went on to pursue a master's degree in Mass Communication from Punjab University. During his college years he was associated with the theatre groups Manchtantra and The Aaghaaz Theatre Group.
Khurrana first came to public attention by winning the second season of the MTV reality show MTV Roadies in 2004. He subsequently worked as a radio jockey for Big FM in Delhi and later in Mumbai, where his shows earned him recognition in the radio industry. He moved to television as a presenter, hosting programmes such as India's Got Talent, MTV Rock On, and Music Ka Maha Muqqabla. He also presented seasons of the cricket-related show Extraaa Innings T20 during the Indian Premier League.
Khurrana made his film debut with Shoojit Sircar's Vicky Donor (2012), a comedy-drama on sperm donation produced by John Abraham. The film was a commercial and critical success, winning the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Khurrana received the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. He also co-wrote and sang the song "Pani Da Rang" from the film, which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
His next few releases, including Nautanki Saala! (2013), Bewakoofiyaan (2014), and Hawaizaada (2015), met with limited success.
Khurrana's career was revived with Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), directed by Sharat Katariya and set in 1990s Haridwar, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The success was followed by a sustained run of commercially profitable films built around unconventional themes:
Subsequent releases include Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020), one of the first mainstream Hindi films with a same-sex romantic narrative; Gulabo Sitabo (2020), directed by Shoojit Sircar; Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021), centred on a transgender protagonist; Anek (2022); Doctor G (2022); An Action Hero (2022); and Dream Girl 2 (2023).
Apart from acting, Khurrana is a playback singer, having lent vocals to several of his own films. He co-authored the book Cracking the Code: My Journey in Bollywood (2019) with his wife Tahira Kashyap. He has been associated with social campaigns including UNICEF India's initiatives against child sexual abuse.
Khurrana married author and filmmaker Tahira Kashyap in 2008; the couple have two children. The family resides in Mumbai.
Khurrana is regarded as one of the leading actors associated with the wave of mid-budget, content-driven Hindi films of the 2010s that found commercial success outside the metro multiplex circuit. His filmography is often cited for engaging with topics such as infertility, sexual health, caste discrimination, body image, and gender identity within mainstream comedic and dramatic frameworks. In 2020, Time magazine included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.