Cracking the Code- My Journey in Bollywood
Ayushmann Khurana & Tahira Kashyap
2015
Rupa
pp. 158
I am not a movie buff and I am not an aspiring actor. I do not get inspired to read biographies of famous people. Yet, I picked up Khurana’s (& Tahira’s) book. This should be an indication that I really like Ayushmann Khurana. Most people become fans of actors after watching their movies. I become a fan when I watch their interviews. When you read his book, you will actually be able to visualise him giving an interview. It is straight from the heart. The content, that is.
I am sure that there are portions that he would have edited out. Of course there will be instances that are deeply personal that he is not ready to share with the world, yet. But it is replete with incidences that he has shared that he could have left out. His sharing these instances shows the comfort that he feels with himself. The honesty about his relationships indicates making peace with the challenges that life unfolds.
And although I am reading it as just another book, I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for fame, success and/or a career in cinema. You will do well to benefit from his pearls of wisdom. His is not a fairy tale to success, but a grounded story of an uphill climb that is continuing. He knows he is still arriving. And I appreciate his honesty in making an effort to stay rooted.
What I missed was his usual poetic style. This book is too straight jacketed in its writing. I have read his blog, couplets on social media, he has poetry in him. This book did not bring that. Perhaps, he is better at writing in Hindi. And I think it is fair to say I would have enjoyed reading his Hindi more. Maybe in his next book.