It is very “naive” to expect an artiste to always take a stand or speak up on issues, believes actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who thinks it is best to speak his mind through poetry, music, or films. Ayushamnn, who has done films as different as Vicky Donor, Andhadhun, Article 15, Bareilly Ki Barfi, and Dum Laga Ke Haisha, was recently felicitated with the FICCI Young Leader’s Youth Icon honour along with Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra.
Speaking to the audience in attendance, the 39-year-old actor spoke on his approach to activism and the artist’s role in society. “I am not an activist, I am an actor and an artiste. Whatever I have to say, I say through my poetry, music or films. People expect a lot from an actor or an artiste, about standing up and voicing his or her opinion, which I think is pretty naive because more than IQ, we have EQ.
“We deal with emotions, we sell emotions, we create emotions and that is our core job. But at the same time I try to do my best as a socially responsible leader,” Ayushmann said.
He says his journey started from theater acting, where he would pick on subjects or social issues, not taken in the early days.
