At the heart of Dream Girl 2, the sequel to Ayushmann Khurrana’s 2019 film Dream Girl, lies comedy. The actor asserts that the movie is a complete entertainer that caters to diverse audiences.
Ayushmann has tackled various societal and taboo subjects in his filmography, addressing issues such as sperm donation in Vicky Donor, body shaming in Dum Laga Ke Haisha, erectile dysfunction in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, and premature baldness in Bala.
In contrast, Dream Girl 2 maintains a similar tone to its predecessor. “It’s a slapstick film, meant for the frontbenchers, a massy film. We’re not delving into any serious issues here. It’s a movie that doesn’t require much thought while watching. It’s not a socially conscious film,” Ayushmann told PTI during an interview.
“Dream Girl gave me the highest box office figures in my career. It set the right tone, and we’ve carried forward that vibe. So, this film caters more to tier-2 or tier-3 audiences, not just in multiplexes but also in single-screen theaters,” he added.
Directed by Raaj Shaandilyaa, Dream Girl featured Ayushmann Khurrana as Karam, a man who makes a living by impersonating a female voice named Pooja. The film, also starring Nushrratt Bharuccha, Annu Kapoor, Manjot Singh, Vijay Raaz, and Abhishek Banerjee, emerged as one of the highest grossing movies of 2019.
Four years later, Ayushmann and his team return with the sequel, posing the challenge of surpassing the excellence of the first part. “The primary inspiration for this movie was the audience’s love for Dream Girl. And, of course, that compels you to explore something more or take it to the next level with greater stakes and improvements. We kept thinking, how do we achieve that? Raaj came up with the brilliant idea of revealing Pooja in flesh and blood, not just her voice but also her appearance in the film. That’s the next level we’ve achieved with Dream Girl 2,” he explained.
In Dream Girl 2, set to release in theaters on August 25, Ayushmann reprises his role as Karam, who decides to cross-dress as Pooja to earn enough money to marry his love interest, portrayed by Ananya Panday.
Ayushmann Khurrana, 38, highlighted that he aimed to strike a careful balance in portraying his character, ensuring he doesn’t come across as insensitive to the opposite gender with his cross-dressing role. “I approach a character by trying not to overdo it. I aim for realism, while being mindful of sensitivities. Ultimately, entertainment matters. We’re not belittling anyone, and that’s our goal with this film. But the core of this film is comedy.”
The Chandigarh-born actor humorously shared that the women in his family found him “pretty” as Pooja. “They found me really pretty, and my mom always wished for a daughter. So, her wish has come true. Every boy has a childhood photo, especially me, where my mom dressed me in a frock. I have a picture like that, and I think I’ll share it on Instagram soon,” he quipped.
Ayushmann also revealed that the sequel has been created on a grander scale. “When the first film succeeds, you allocate a larger budget. This film looks bigger; the production value has escalated. The star cast is expanded, including prominent actors like Paresh Rawal, Seema Pawar, Asrani, and Rajpal Yadav. The film features more characters, which was a lot of fun,” he concluded.
After a challenging 2022 for the Hindi film industry, back-to-back box office successes such as Pathaan, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Satyaprem Ki Katha, and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani have seemingly rejuvenated the industry. Ayushmann’s theatrical releases Anek, Doctor G, and An Action Hero faced challenges last year, with An Action Hero gaining appreciation upon its streaming debut on Netflix.
Ayushmann believes that the evolving taste of the audience is a positive change. “The phase of watching movies from home has passed; people want to come out and watch on the big screens. I’m glad that even mid-budget films are working; this shift is a welcome change. It encourages me because my films usually have smaller budgets but focus on content,” he affirmed.
Dream Girl 2 Trailer
