Long before he became a successful Bollywood actor, Kartik Aaryan was just another young dreamer trying to survive in Mumbai. Coming from a family of doctors with no connection to the film industry, Kartik quietly pursued acting while studying engineering in college. He reportedly attended auditions in secret and informed his parents about his plans to become an actor only after signing his first film.
Life during his struggling days was far from glamorous. In interviews, Kartik Aaryan has spoken openly about the challenges he faced while trying to make a place for himself in Bollywood. He revealed that he lived in a small flat with 12 boys, where four people shared one room. Most of them wanted to become actors, while others hoped to work as writers or directors. During that phase, everyone shared responsibilities, including cooking meals and managing household work together.
Kartik Aaryan’s big break came with Pyaar Ka Punchnama, directed by Luv Ranjan. Although the film had a slow start at the box office, it later became hugely popular among young audiences and earned cult status. Kartik’s famous long monologue about relationships became one of the most talked-about moments in Bollywood pop culture and instantly brought him recognition. Even after 15 years, fans still consider the film a turning point in his career.
Recalling those difficult years, Kartik Aaryan once shared that he travelled in crowded local trains, changed clothes for auditions in railway station washrooms and spent days moving from one audition to another. Despite signing Pyaar Ka Punchnama, he remained uncertain about his future in films and reportedly did not even tell his flatmates about getting the role until the movie was completed.
Over the years, Kartik Aaryan strengthened his position in Bollywood with successful films like Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Luka Chuppi and Pati Patni Aur Woh. These movies performed strongly at the box office and helped him emerge as one of the most dependable young stars of the industry.
One of the biggest milestones of his career came with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Released after the pandemic, the horror-comedy became a blockbuster and played a major role in bringing audiences back to theatres for Hindi cinema. The film’s massive success firmly established Kartik Aaryan as a commercially successful leading actor.
Perhaps the most emotional moment in his journey came years later, when he reportedly bought the same apartment where he once lived with fellow strugglers.
Currently, Kartik Aaryan is preparing for his upcoming film Naagzilla, a fantasy entertainer based on shape-shifting snakes inspired by Indian folklore. The film is produced by Karan Johar, Mahaveer Jain, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and Neetu M Jain, and is scheduled to release in theatres on February 12, 2027.
