Kartik Aaryan: Navigating Bollywood’s Highs and Hurdles at 34

MUMBAI, October 6, 2025 – As the credits rolled on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 last year, Kartik Aaryan solidified his place among Bollywood’s reliable crowd-pullers. The horror-comedy, which raked in over ₹417 crore worldwide, marked his second consecutive blockbuster in the franchise and underscored a career built on relatable everyman roles laced with sharp comic timing. Yet, for every euphoric box-office win, Aaryan’s path has been dotted with professional setbacks, public spats, and the relentless scrutiny that defines stardom in India’s film industry. At 34, the actor from Gwalior stands at a crossroads: a proven commercial force eyeing dramatic depth, amid whispers of selective projects and a guarded personal life.

Born Kartik Tiwari on November 22, 1990, in the modest confines of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Aaryan grew up in a middle-class household shaped by discipline and ambition. His father, Manish Tiwari, is a paediatrician, and his mother, Mala Tiwari, a gynaecologist—both pillars of the local community who instilled in him the value of education over fleeting dreams. Schooling at St. Paul’s in Gwalior was unremarkable, but college at DY Patil University in Navi Mumbai flipped the script. Enrolled in a biotechnology engineering program, Aaryan harbored a clandestine passion for acting. He skipped lectures to audition in Mumbai, funding his trips with part-time modeling gigs. “I lied to my parents about extra classes,” he later admitted in interviews, a confession that highlighted the chasm between his stable upbringing and the precarious allure of showbiz.

Graduating in 2011 at his mother’s insistence, Aaryan had already inked his debut by then. The surname change to Aaryan came in 2013, a strategic pivot to stand out in an industry teeming with Tiwari surnames. Those early years were a grind: living in cramped Andheri digs with fellow strugglers, cooking communal meals to scrape by, and enduring hundreds of rejections. His breakthrough audition—for Luv Ranjan’s Pyaar Ka Punchnama—came via a Facebook casting call, a low-tech stroke of luck in 2010. Six months of persistence landed him the role of the exasperated Rajjo, delivering a four-minute monologue on modern relationships that became an instant viral sensation.

Released in 2011, the film was a sleeper hit, grossing modestly but earning Aaryan cult status among urban youth. It was the start of a fruitful collaboration with Ranjan, whose scripts played to Aaryan’s strengths: boy-next-door charm masking quiet frustrations. But Bollywood’s volatility struck early. Follow-ups like Akaash Vani (2013) and Kaanchi (2014), both dramatic turns, bombed at the turnstiles, leaving Aaryan questioning his viability. “There were days I thought of quitting,” he reflected in a 2019 chat, a rare peek into the isolation of failure.

Resilience paid off with Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 in 2015, a raucous sequel that amplified his comic flair as the hapless Gogo. Budgeted at ₹22 crore, it netted over ₹88 crore, catapulting Aaryan into the A-list conversation. The real explosion came three years later with Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), where he essayed the loyal, bromance-obsessed Sonu. Directed by Ranjan, the film dissected male friendships with irreverent humor, grossing ₹153 crore domestically and becoming one of the year’s top earners. Critics praised Aaryan’s ability to humanize flawed protagonists, though some accused the genre of perpetuating regressive tropes on gender dynamics.

Aaryan’s mid-2010s to early 2020s run leaned heavily on romantic comedies, a formula that minted money but invited typecasting barbs. Luka Chuppi (2019) and Pati Patni Aur Woh (2019) both crossed ₹100 crore, with the latter—a remake of the 1978 classic—drawing flak for its infidelity plotline amid #MeToo sensitivities. Then came the pandemic pivot: Love Aaj Kal (2020), a nostalgic romance opposite Sara Ali Khan, fizzled out with ₹38 crore against a ₹60 crore budget, marking his first major post-debut dud. Off-screen, Aaryan’s link-up rumors with Khan fueled tabloid frenzy, though he has since dismissed such speculation as “distractions.”

Controversies have shadowed his ascent, often amplifying perceptions of him as Bollywood’s “reluctant rebel.” The most publicized rift unfolded in 2021 during Dostana 2‘s shoot. After 20 days on set with Janhvi Kapoor and producer Karan Johar, Aaryan was ousted amid claims of “creative differences” and unprofessionalism—allegations his team rebutted as scheduling clashes. Johar later alluded to “ego clashes” in a podcast, while Aaryan maintained silence until 2024, when he quipped, “I don’t chase controversies; they find me.” The fallout, detailed in industry whispers, reportedly strained ties with Dharma Productions and cast a pall over his “outsider” narrative. Earlier, a 2020 lockdown video joking about his sister’s cooking skills sparked misogyny accusations, forcing a public apology. These episodes, while fleeting, have painted Aaryan as polarizing: adored by fans for authenticity, critiqued by insiders for perceived entitlement.

Undeterred, Aaryan diversified into OTT with Dhamaka (2021), a tense thriller that showcased his dramatic chops as a disgraced journalist, earning solid reviews despite no theatrical run. Freddy (2022), a dark romantic tale, followed suit on Disney+ Hotstar. His return to cinemas with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) was triumphant: as the faux-tantric Rooh Baba, he helmed a ₹185 crore earner that revived the slumping horror-comedy genre. The sequel’s 2024 iteration, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, amplified the stakes with dual roles and Vidya Balan’s return, clinching ₹417 crore and an IIFA Best Actor nod for Aaryan.

Not all risks panned out. Shehzada (2023), his maiden production, remade a Telugu hit but stumbled to ₹40 crore amid plagiarism lawsuits and poor word-of-mouth. Chandu Champion (2024), a biopic on Paralympic boxer Murlikant Petkar, aimed for gravitas but underperformed commercially at ₹90 crore, though Aaryan’s physical transformation drew acclaim. These mixed results highlight a selective streak: Aaryan now prioritizes “content over quantity,” as he told a media roundtable last month.

Note: Figures approximate based on industry trackers; verdicts per trade analysis.

On the personal front, Aaryan remains an enigma. Single as of mid-2025, he has batted away dating rumors involving Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, and others, insisting privacy is non-negotiable. An eggetarian who unwinds with football—captaining the All Stars Football Club for charity—he balances stardom with grounded routines, often spotted gymming or family dinners in Mumbai. Endorsements for brands like Manyavar and Fair & Handsome have padded his net worth to an estimated ₹100-120 crore, per recent filings, placing him in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 orbit.

Looking ahead, Aaryan’s slate signals evolution. Tu Meri Main Tera, a quirky rom-com, hits screens later this year, while an untitled Anurag Basu drama with Sreeleela wraps filming in 2026. He co-hosted the 25th IIFA Awards in Abu Dhabi this July, trading barbs with Varun Dhawan in a nod to his comic roots. Yet, as Bollywood grapples with streaming disruptions and audience fragmentation, Aaryan’s next act hinges on shedding the “safe bet” label. His journey—from Gwalior’s quiet lanes to multiplex marquees—mirrors the industry’s own tumult: rewarding grit, punishing hubris, and forever testing reinvention.

In an era of fleeting fame, Aaryan endures as a study in contrasts: the monologue maestro who still stumbles, the star who shuns the spotlight off-screen. Whether he cements legacy or fades into formula remains the unfinished reel.

Last Updated on: Monday, October 6, 2025 11:01 pm by News Week India Team | Published by: News Week India Team on Monday, October 6, 2025 11:01 pm | News Categories: General, Entertainment

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