Ayushmann Khurranna, Rajkummar Rao, Kartik Aryan: The Newest Bollywood Stars On The Block Who Have Defied Nepotism

Badhaai Ho, Stree and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety - Three solid Blockbusters and as a result, three bonafide stars on the block. When Ayushmann Khurranna, Rajkummar Rao and Kartik Aryan had signed up for these films, even they wouldn't have imagined that these would act as doors through which they would enter the 100 Crore Club. However, this is happening and it is no mean feat.

Stree has just now concluded its run with 130 crore been scored at the Box Office. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety had a superb outing of 109 crore. As for Badhaai Ho, it has already crossed the 80 crore mark and it is just a matter of time before 100 crore would be scored by the film.

So what's common between these three films? Well, each of these is essentially a light hearted affair.

Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety came from the house of those who had made Pyaar Ka Punchnama series. As a matter of fact, director Luv Ranjan could well have named this film as Pyaar Ka Punchnama 3, given the fact that the film's core theme was similar and then the cast [Kartik Aryan, Sunny Singh, Nushrat Bharucha] was made of usual suspects too. The film ended up winning hearts of one and all and soon enough entered the 100 Crore Club.

Stree was a unique mix of horror and comedy with latter dominating the proceedings. Even though Shraddha Kapoor was the central element, it was Rajkummar Rao who led from the front, both in terms of screen time as well as screen presence. He gained the most from this Amar Kaushik directed film and one now waits to see how 2019 turns out to be for him.

As for Ayushmann Khurranna, he has been known for making truly offbeat choices which turn out to be commercial. Who would have thought that a film about a young man who is expecting the birth of his sibling would end up scoring so well at the Box Office. However, that is happening currently as the film is the first choice of audiences all over.

Not that it has turned out to be an instant success for any of the three youngsters. It has been years of smart and selective choices that has resulted in the star status that these boys are finally gaining.

Ayushmann Khurranna started with a successful Vicky Donor but then had to go through flops like Bewakoofiyaan and Hawaizaada before scoring well again with Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Shubh Mangal Savdhan, Andhadhun and now Badhaai Ho. With five bonafide successes, Ayushmann deserves a higher pedestal for himself.

Rajkummar Rao had a mild success in Love Sex aur Dhokha to begin with but post that it was primarily a plethora of award winning films that kept him in circulation. He was always admired for his work in films like Shahid, Aligarh and Citylights but commercial successes were far and few in the form of Kai Po Che and Ragini MMS. With more than 30 films behind him, the turning point was Newton which turned out to be his solo success after a hiatus. Critical acclaim of Trapped followed by commercial success of Bareilly Ki Barfi meant that he stayed in circulation.

On the other hand Kartik Aryan has seen a jerky journey at the Box Office. While most of his films with director Luv Ranjan (barring Akashvani) have done well commercially [Pyaar Ka Punchnam, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety], the other two [Kaanchi, Guest Iin London] have flopped. However, he would next be seen in Luka Chuppi and that is expected to be an interesting affair.

One just hopes the same from Rajkummar Rao as well who has a plethora of releases lined up in the form of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Mental Hai Kya, Made In China and Stree 2, each of which appears to be an interesting film in the making. As for Ayushmann Khurranna, he is yet to sign his next film.

That said, three stars have definitely emerged on the horizon and that's good news for Bollywood which always had complaints around nepotism. At least these three kids are bereft of any prior Bollywood connections and have emerged as saleable stars primarily on the basis of their talent and the smart choices been made.