Ayushmann Khurrana: I am a linguist. I like learning new languages

Ayushmann Khurrana talks about the languages he can speak, Burma connect and more.

Ayushmann Khurrana has played various characters on screen such as a quintessential boy from Haridwar (Dum Laga Ke Haisha; 2015), a Maharashtrian boy (Hawaizaada; 2015) and now a Bengali in an upcoming movie. Ask him if it’s his Indian appeal that has earned him such roles, and he says, “I think it is because of my theatre background. We’d travel across the nation doing street plays and interact with people belonging to different backgrounds.”

Ayushmann says he is well-versed in Sanskrit. He adds his Hindi is stronger than Punjabi. (HT Photo)

Apparently, the actor has a penchant for languages. “I am a linguist. I like learning new languages and have a knack for it. I play a Bengali in my next film. So now, I can understand Bengali completely,” says Ayushmann, who is well versed in Marathi too.

“It has been eight years in Mumbai; I can understand the language. It’s because my Sanskrit — the root language for every Indian language — is very strong. So, it really helps me. In fact, my Hindi is stronger than Punjabi,” says the actor whose childhood days at home were full of “references of Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Munshi Premchand”.

The actor will next be seen in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Meri Pyari Bindu, and Bareilly Ki Barfi.