Grateful to choreographers for giving me hook steps that go viral: Kartik Aaryan

“Amdavad ne maro khub, khub, khub prem. Thoda samajh mein aati hai Gujarati,” says Kartik Aaryan, who was in Ahmedabad recently to promote his film. The Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri actor, who shot for Satyaprem Ki Kathain the city in 2022, talks about how he chooses roles, Salman Khan appreciating his dance steps and more. He says, “My character in Tu Meri Main Tera… was something I was doing after a long time. So, I was very involved during the making of it. The last time I played a similar character and genre was in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018).”‘I am a very go-with-the-flow kind of person’Kartik’s recent filmography suggests a pattern where a serious role is usually followed by a light-hearted one. For instance, Chandu Champion was followed by Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Is it a conscious choice? “There is no strategy like that, ki ek serious, message-driven film ki, toh ab ek light-hearted film karunga. Every genre is entertaining in some way, so I don’t plan anything like that. I am a very go-with-the-flow kind of person. I listen to the story, and if I connect to it, I say yes. I don’t see the genre or character,” he says. And does he share his inputs about the script with makers? He smiles, “Yes, I share my opinions. It is very important for the entire team to be on the same page. I discuss a few things with the writers and directors. But if my suggestions don’t fit, I do what the director says. It is ultimately the vision of the director and the writer. After so many years, you learn to trust them, and you have to. Everyone brings something to the table – be it the technicians, DOPs, or HoDs – and it is a collaborative effort.”‘Feels special to know people abroad love Bollywood films’Kartik attended the Red Sea International Film Festival for the first time in December. Sharing his experience, he says, “I really enjoyed myself there. While I knew some people there, it was the first time I was exposed to such a foreign crowd. I was happily surprised to see so many Indian fans and know that they love our films so much. There were people from different countries, and the way they talked about our films was an eye-opener for me. To know how much they love Bollywood was special.”‘Each film has its own space and audience’Talking about films releasing on the same day, Kartik shares, “Each film has its own space and audience, and they cannot be compared. The viewers decide which film to watch once they see the trailer. It’s not like ek badi film hai, toh dusri nahi chalegi. It is all about connection. If the audience connects with a film, it will work. If they don’t, it won’t.”Does he share his feedback with industry colleagues about their projects? He says, “I haven’t watched a lot of projects recently due to my hectic schedules. But whenever I watch something, I send a text or call that artiste. I tell them how I loved their work, or what I felt could have been different.” ‘Thankful to choreographers for hook steps’ I was ecstatic when Salman (Khan) sir said, ‘Every film of yours has a hook step that goes viral,’ on a show. I am thankful to the choreographers who give me hook steps that go viral. They should be getting all the praise, kyun ki woh hi humein seekhate hain, and we do that on the screen.