Gwalior’s Kartik Aaryan completes 10 years in #Bollywood, has a lot riding on him in films and endorsements.

Kartik Aaryan has managed to find his industry status elevated to being a bonafide star and it is indeed one heartfelt journey that the young boy from Gwalior has enjoyed.

Today is a special day for Kartik Aaryan. It was back on May 21, 2001, that #PyaarKaPunchnama released, and managed to find a cult status for itself over the years. 10 years later, one of the three leading men from the film, Kartik Aaryan, has managed to find his industry status elevated to being a bonafide star. Considering the fact that only a handful of actors manage to find standing for themselves over a period of time, especially when they are rank outsiders, it is indeed one heartfelt journey that the young boy from Gwalior has enjoyed.

To think of it, Kartik had barely stepped out of teens when he managed to bag a three hero and three heroine film in the form of Pyaar Ka Punchnama. With each of the six leads pretty much finding equal prominence in the Luv Ranjan directed film (who was making his #debut as well), it must have been a battle of nerves for each one out there and make an impression.

Everyone did indeed; however, the man who emerged as a complete star was Kartik Aaryan.

It hasn’t been an easy #journey for the boy either, who turned 30 only late last year. His immediate next release #Akaashvani (Rs 2.25 crore) disappeared without a trace while a special appearance track in Kaanchi (Rs 4 crore) was not noticed at all (just like the film as a whole). Thankfully though, he had Pyaar Ka Punhnama 2 to back him up and the Rs 64 crore run at the box office as also the fact that he was the only one from the three leads to be retained in the sequel ensured that he stayed in the circulation.

There was a dip again though in the form of Guest Iin London (Rs 10.75 crore) but soon after that things started looking up for Kartik Aaryan. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (Rs 109 crore) with Luv Ranjan again was a bonafide blockbuster and this time around he had family audiences rooting for him. Luka Chuppi (Rs 95 crore) and Pati Patni aur Woh (Rs 97 crore) followed in the subsequent year as back to back superhits and though both missed the 100 Crore Club entry just by a whisker, the boy had arrived and was hailed by the industry wallahs as a star.

No wonder, ever since then he has also been the darling of the endorsement world. With close to a couple of dozen brands in his kitty, Kartik is finding himself in a solid position in the industry that #carefully decides on whom to put their money on. Well, it is apparent that they have Kartik high there on the priority list amongst the likes of Akshay Kumar and Virat Kohli. Otherwise, despite Love Aaj Kal (Rs 35 #crore) not really doing well commercially, there is no dearth of advertisers and brands who want him to be the face of their campaigns.

He is balancing it all out. Right from footwear to electronic gadgets to apparel to cosmetics to cell phones to food products to body products and a lot more, Kartik is going all out to make sure that his popularity, especially amongst the youth, is leveraged to the fullest. The fact that he is also finding good base amongst family audiences (post-#LukaChuppi and Pati Patni aur Woh) and kids (after Sonu Ke titu Ki Sweety) is only allowing him further footing amongst those who matter.

Had it not been for the pandemic, one would have already seen his Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 last year itself. Now it would be arriving this winter if things get better. Meanwhile, he has already been paid a bomb for his Netflix film #Dhamaka which is scheduled for this summer. Though Dostana 2 is unfortunately not happening anymore, there is Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo remake which is set to go on floors this summer. Moreover, there are also strong whispers about him teaming up with Sajid Nadiadwala for an intense love story.

In the midst of this all, there is strong connect that Kartik has developed with his fan base right through the year gone by. From hosting his talk show ‘#KokiPoochega’ to sharing cute videos involving him and his sister as well as mother to striking poses that are sometimes stylish and sometimes candid to making sure that he aids in the ongoing Covid relief to even designing a long #monologue earlier last year that warned people against the pandemic and called for staying home, Kartik has managed to enter the household of a common man as if he is their own.

It’s this very virtue that can well take him forward for another 10 years as well, by which time one can well be assured of his #superstar status. While that happens, one wishes him luck for months and years to come.

By Joginder Tuteja/Money Control