‘I do what the script demands’: Ayushmann Khurrana on playing Pakistan agent in ‘Udta Teer’
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says he had no hesitation in playing a Pakistani agent in his upcoming spy comedy “Udta Teer”, describing himself as a “director’s baby” who surrendered to the script and the filmmaker’s vision.
Directed by debutant Akash A Kaushik, the film follows Pakistani spy Bilal Ahmad (Khurrana), who enters India but loses his memory after an accident and mistakenly believes he is an Indian spy.
Addressing the “Pakistan zindabad” dialogue in the film, Khurrana said it was part of the script and that he was willing to take on the demands of the role.
"It was part of the script. As an actor, you are ready to do anything. This is a spy comedy, it is a patriotic comedy, it is a genre bender. I do what the script demands, I’m a director’s baby. It is a fantastic script," Khurrana told reporters at the trailer launch of “Udta Teer” here.
The actor credited Kaushik with developing what he described as a unique premise and called the film India's first patriotic comedy.
"You must have watched spy films and they’ve their own take. But we haven’t seen a film like this (‘Udta Teer’) and this story is Akash’s brainchild,” he said.
Khurrana, whose filmography includes “Thamma”, “Article 15”, “Andhadhun” and “Vicky Donor”, said he has always been willing to experiment with different genres and subjects.
He described Bilal as one of his most challenging characters because of the need to maintain a straight face while chaos unfolds around him.
“It is the most difficult character because things were happening around him. I had to have that straight face; though there were moments when I felt like laughing but I couldn’t. I had to be normal while there was chaos happening around me,” he said.
Sara Ali Khan, who stars opposite Khurrana, said the unusual premise attracted her to the project.
“When I heard the story, I so wanted to be part of this world. It is a unique and fresh film. The character is not like my real self and hence it was exciting for me to do it,” she said.
Producer Guneet Monga Kapoor said the film is neither a spoof nor slapstick comedy, describing it instead as situational entertainment.
“This film has everything. It is classic family entertainment, there’s confusion, love, mystery, laughter, emotion, patriotism, it’s a whole mix. But this is not a spoof, it is situational comedy, not slapstick,” she said.
The film also features Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar, Gulshan Grover, Raghubir Yadav, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Smita Tambe and late actor Mukul Dev, among others.
Khurrana paid tribute to Dev, whom he described as an exceptionally talented actor who had been underutilised by the industry.
“He was one of the brightest and brilliant talents in our country. A film titled, ‘Omerta’ had come out a few years ago, and it was his brainchild, he had written that. I think he has been underutilised. And you will see him for the last time (in ‘Udta Teer’), this is like a swansong and a tribute to Mukul Dev,” he said.
Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain, “Udta Teer” is scheduled to release in cinemas on October 9.
