Ayushmann Khurrana’s achievement story can have a film made approximately it. From an RJ, a VJ to an actor and singer, he has carved out a unique space for himself inside the amusement industry, receiving reward for his performances in films like Vicky Donor, Andhadhun, Dream Girl, and plenty of greater blockbusters. As he celebrates any other 12 months around the sun, right here are 5 interesting takeaways from his audiobook ‘Cracking the Code’, in which the actor candidly reflects on his embarrassing moments, errors, and learnings throughout his professional and personal journey. 

 
Starstruck and Speechless: The Shah Rukh Khan Interview That Never Happened
Before turning into the acclaimed actor he is these days, Ayushmann commenced his profession as a radio jockey at Big FM. While running as an RJ, Ayushmann had the possibility to interview Shah Rukh Khan, but nerves were given the better of him! Recalling the instant, he stocks, "I became anxiously ready outdoor his conceitedness van to interview him... Simply the reality that I become respiration in the equal air as him became enough to present me a high." Ayushmann, overcome by the incident, sent an emotional letter to SRK, recounting their previous experience in Kasauli years before. He also asked the celeb for the possibility to paintings with him. However, after reading the letter "100 times," he opted against offering it to SRK and left without accomplishing the interview. Despite this neglected opportunity, he fondly recollects how clearly being in Shah Rukh's presence brought him pleasure—a fanboy moment he continues to snicker approximately even today.
 
Ayushmann’s Showdown with Balaji Telefilms

Not the entirety became clean sailing throughout his TV career either. Ayushmann recounts his tumultuous revel in with Balaji Telefilms while working on the serial Qayamat, where he faced pressure to sign an extended-time period contract in exchange for his pending price. “They threatened me that if I didn’t sign, I could never get the money,” Ayushmann recalls. Despite desiring the money, he stood his floor, a selection that didn’t take a seat nicely with Balaji's head, Ekta Kapoor. He says, "When I left without signing the settlement, I located out that Ekta threw a match and smashed her smartphone by hurling it at the govt manufacturer's face." They couldn't pursue criminal motion towards me due to the fact I hadn't signed the contract, however the amount of threatening cellphone calls and messages I acquired from them was quite terrifying. I became told that my career changed into completed, that I ought to now not live in Mumbai and absolutely p.C. My baggage and move back to Chandigarh” which Ayushmann says left him unfazed. His determination to live proper to his values, regardless of external strain, has been a recurring theme in his adventure.
 
Battling Language Bias and The “Uncool” Label at MTV

Ayushmann’s stint as a VJ at MTV additionally got here with its set of demanding situations. He says “During my teething section at MTV, there have been a number of people who had a problem with me beginning my display with ‘Namaskar’ and signing off with ‘Ayushmannbhava’.” His selection to host indicates in Hindi turned into taken into consideration “uncool,” and he changed into even sidelined first of all for talking within the language. However, as opposed to giving in to the pressure, he embraced the section as a studying experience. “I started out writing Hinglish scripts because it took me time to transform my mind into English before pronouncing them out loud,” he says. Eventually, this approach helped Ayushmann stand out, as MTV later adopted Hindi as one among its number one languages, speak about timing! He says, “Finally! Besides the numerous troubles I faced, I also observed that, for the primary six months at MTV, my profile wasn’t positioned up at the channel's internet site. Bani, José and all people else have been featured but now not me. It stays a mystery to me. I have to confess that I used to be pretty a nerd, or ‘uncool’ as they say it whilst it got here to garments, pointed shoes, loose trousers, spectacles… A catastrophe. My styling step by step modified by means of staring at the uber-sublime crowd round me.” 
 
A Role That Got Away: How Ayushmann Missed Out on ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’

Even after establishing himself as a rising famous person, Ayushmann faced professional disappointments! One such instance became missing out on the opportunity to bag the lead function in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. He auditioned for the position of Milkha Singh by recording a self-taped audition, “I grew my beard and tied a turban on my head, locked myself in a room, and recorded the audition on my Handycam. I suppose Tahira puzzled if I had surely lost it by way of then…I did get a name publish the audition telling me that Rakeshji had liked it,” Ayushmann recollects. However, the role sooner or later went to Farhan Akhtar, who, as Ayushmann graciously admits, “did whole justice to the function of The Flying Sikh.” Though disappointing, it didn’t deter him from pushing forward, as he continued to chase roles that challenged his creative variety.
 
The Mentor Who Taught Him How to Be a Gentleman, Nikhil Chinappa

Throughout his career, Ayushmann has drawn inspiration and guidance from numerous mentors. One of them was VJ Nikhil Chinappa, with whom he co-hosted India’s Got Talent. Ayushmann reminisces about the classes he learned from Nikhil during their time together, saying, “Nikhil is that this extremely shrewd man or woman; he is full of expertise, worldly understanding, and enjoy. He taught me the smallest of factors, like the art of tipping, gents’s etiquette, and appreciating one-of-a-kind cultures. To existence training in widespread. On IGT, I perhaps had a slight part over him due to my fluency in Hindi. But, in life, I still have loads to research from him, that's why, each year, Teacher’s Day starts offevolved with me wishing him.” To discover greater about his reflections, song into ‘Cracking the Code’ on Audible.