Ayushmann Khurrana

Ayushmann Khurrana, born Nishant Khurrana on September 14, 1984, is an Indian actor, singer, and presenter who primarily works in Hindi cinema. He is widely recognized for portraying ordinary men confronting challenging societal expectations and unconventional personal issues. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including a National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards. His prominence in the entertainment industry earned him positions on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list in 2013 and 2019, as well as a inclusion on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

Raised in Chandigarh by his parents Poonam and P. Khurrana, his original first name was changed to Ayushmann when he was three years old. He grew up alongside his younger brother, Aparshakti Khurana, who also became an actor. Khurrana attended St. John's High School and DAV College, later earning a degree in English literature and a master's degree in Mass Communication from Panjab University. During his college years, he actively participated in theatre for five years, co-founding the Chandigarh performance groups Aaghaaz and Manchtantra, while performing at the Gaiety Theatre in Shimla and winning a college festival acting award.

After completing his studies, Khurrana began his professional career as a radio presenter for BIG FM in Delhi. He expanded his media presence by winning the second season of the reality show MTV Roadies in 2004. He subsequently built an extensive career as a television host, anchoring talent competitions, youth programming, and cricket broadcasts, including shows such as India's Got Talent, Music Ka Maha Muqqabla, and Extra Innings T20. During this period, he also made his television acting debut in the 2007 series Kayamath.

Khurrana made his feature film debut in 2012 with the romantic comedy Vicky Donor, playing the main role of a sperm donor. For this performance, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. He also co-composed and sang the track "Pani Da Rang" for the film's soundtrack, earning the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Following subsequent screen roles, Khurrana co-authored his autobiography, Cracking the Code: My Journey to Bollywood, with his wife Tahira Kashyap in 2015, the same year he achieved further success starring in the romantic drama Dum Laga Ke Haisha.

Between 2017 and 2020, Khurrana established himself through a series of commercially successful comedies and dramas, including Bareilly Ki Barfi, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Badhaai Ho, Dream Girl, Bala, and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. His performance as a blind pianist in the 2018 thriller Andhadhun won him the National Film Award for Best Actor alongside a Filmfare Critics Award. He received another Filmfare Critics Award for playing an upright police officer in the 2019 crime drama Article 15, and also starred in the direct-to-streaming comedy Gulabo Sitabo.

In addition to acting and providing playback singing for his films, Khurrana maintains a Hindi blog and was named a national UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for India in February 2023. His later screen appearances include roles in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Anek, Doctor G, and An Action Hero. He experienced renewed commercial success with the 2023 comedy sequel Dream Girl 2, followed by a starring role in the 2025 romantic horror release Thamma.