I have known Kartik Aaryan from the time he was seen for the first time in Pyaar Ka Punchnama. Director Luv Ranjan who is now working with Ranbir Kapoor, had arranged a screening of the film for me. We were all there, to watch what Ranjan (I can’t bring myself to call him Luv) described as a sock-in-the-guts film. “Sir, aapko bahot achcha lagega. Specially watch out for that boy Kartik Tiwari (I think that’s what Kartik was initially known as). He will surprise you.”
Luv Ranjan, I knew from the time he assisted Suneel Darshan. It’s hard to believe Ranjan comes from Suneel Darshan’s school of filmmaking. To call them poles apart would be an insult to the pole. Just as calling Kartik a revelation would be an understatement. As Rajat “Rajjo” Kartik was sensational. He took over the screen in the way Rishi Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor did in Bobby and Refugee,respectively.
Considering the boy came with no filmy connection, Kapoor or otherwise, I identified with him and his struggle. I still remember one editor counselling me, “Why don’t you write in Hindi? Since you are from Bihar your Hindi must be far better than your English.”
I wish it was. I’ve been working on it over the years. My regular conversations with my Goddess Lataji helped me get comfortable in the rashtra bhasha. Listening to her songs for at least two hours every day for the last 50 years has also improved my Hindi considerably.
For some strange reason it took six years and the hit Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety to strengthen Kartik’s position as a bankable star. Prior to Sonu Ke whatever, when I praised Kartik the cynics in the film industry said, “He has Luv Ranjan to support him.”
Right. But Nushrat Bharucha also has Luv Ranjan to support her. By that reasoning, she should have been a superstar by now. Support or sugardaddy-ism doesn’t work if you don’t have it in you. Chetan Anand gave Priya Rajvansh classic after classic to showcase what he thought was her great talent. People remember Chetan Saab’s Hanste Zakhm and Haqeeqat. They would rather forget Ms Rajvansh (God bless her soul).
No actor can be thrust on the public. If the audience doesn’t connect with an actor he or she is as good as gone from the the onset.What worked in Kartik’s favour was the ‘IT’ factor that distinguishes the also-rans from the running-fullon. Kids love him. Kids’ moms love him. Kids’ moms’ moms love him too.
