Mumbai: He is an actor, a singer and has
been a VJ in the past but Ayushmann Khurrana says turning
producer was not a part of his career plan.
Ayushmann has donned a producer's hat for wife Tahira
Kashyap's directorial debut "Toffee", a short film set in the
1990s which takes on child marriage.
The "Shubh Mangal Savdhaan" actor said it was the story
of "Toffee" that pushed him to back the project.
"Producing films was not really on my radar. I am more
of an actor and singer and performer. I am more of an artiste.
I don't understand numbers. We needed somebody who is liable
and would do it in a clean, nice manner. So we got Mukesh
Chhabra for this short film," Ayushmann told PTI in an
interview.
The idea to turn producer was purely a creative decision
for Ayushmann and he felt a story on the issue of child
marriage was the need of the hour.
Ayushmann revealed that the idea of a short film struck
Tahira's during her childhood when she came across a girl
named Ritu, who was married when she was 15-year-old.
"It was a real life situation for Tahira that triggered
her to do something about it. That time she did not think of
making a short film. These kind of things are rampant in our
country. We are trying to pass on the message that child
marriage is not the right thing," he said.
For Ayushmann, acting and singing are his priorities and
he would only produce films if the story is interesting.
"If there is something interesting which is not too
production heavy and is simple, easy, small budget then why
not. I need to pad up with certain people who know the craft
of production very well," he said.
The actor said he and his wife have always been
"creatively" involved with each other's career choices.
"I will be creatively involved with her scripts. She also
has been creatively involved with my work. She is the one who
acts like a scanner for my scripts. We take decisions
collectively," he said.
The short film will premiere on Eros Now.
PTI
