Kartik Aaryan When He Couldn't Afford Portfolios: 'Would Crop My Face Out Of Group Photos'

Kartik Aaryan, who made his debut with the 2011 film Pyaar Ka Punchnama, revealed that he "would crop his face out of group photos" to send to agents when he "couldn't afford portfolios." In a recent post for social media blog Humans Of Bombay, Kartik Aaryan stated how he continued to live with 12 boys in a flat till his third film - Kaanchi: The Unbreakable - released. Kartik said: "I'd travel for 6 hours 3-4 times a week for auditions. At times, I'd be rejected from outside the studio because I didn't 'look the part.' But I still had hope. Soon I got projects like a few seconds in an advertisement and they kept me going. Eventually I rented a flat in Andheri with 12 boys. I had limited finances. I couldn't even afford a portfolio - I'd crop my face out of group photos to send to agents!"

"After two-and-a-half years of struggle, what I had imagined as a possibility was now a reality. After Pyaar Ka Punchnama, there still weren't many opportunities. I stayed in the same flat with 12 boys till my third film!" he added.

Kartik Aaryan has till now featured in over six films such as Akaash Vani, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Luka Chuppi and Guest Iin London.

The actor said that he earlier thought of pursuing career in "engineering" but after he watched Shah Rukh Khan's Baazigar, he "knew he wanted to be on the other side of the screen." Kartik told Humans Of Bombay: "My parents were in the medical field and I was going to do engineering. But in 9th grade, I saw Baazigar and I knew I wanted to be on the other side of the screen. I was unsure of my parents' reaction, so I decided to study till 12th in Gwalior and then go to college in Mumbai. Luckily, I got into a college in Navi Mumbai. I stayed in a hostel and searched for auditions. I had no contacts, so I'd type keywords like, 'Actor needed' on Facebook."

Speaking about how his life changed after Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Kartik said: "Life has come full circle now." He added: "What I have today would've never come my way if I hadn't believed that I'd make it. I'm grateful for where I am and I know I have a long way to go."

Read his full post here:

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"I was born in the small town of Gwalior. My parents were in the medical field & I was going to do engineering. But in 9th grade, I saw Baazigar & I knew I wanted to be on the other side of the screen. I was unsure of my parents' reaction-so I decided to study till 12th in Gwalior & then go to college in Mumbai. Luckily I got into a college in Navi Mumbai. I stayed in a hostel & searched for auditions. I had no contacts, so I'd type keywords like, 'Actor Needed' on Facebook. I'd travel for 6 hours 3-4 times a week for auditions. At times, I'd be rejected from outside the studio because I didn't 'look the part'. But I still had hope. Soon I got projects like a few seconds in an ad & they kept me going. Eventually I rented a flat in Andheri with 12 boys. I had limited finances. I couldn't even afford a portfolio-I'd crop my face out of group photos to send to agents! All the while I'd skip college to give auditions & my parents didn't know about any of this. Once I saw an ad for a film audition & decided to go for it. They liked me & auditioned me many times. My final audition script was the monologue that then became my identity! Finally, when I got the role, I was at Andheri station & immediately called my mom! She couldn't believe it! After 2 & a half years of struggle, what I had imagined as a possibility, was now a reality. After Pyaar Ka Punchama, there still weren't many opportunities. I stayed in the same flat with 12 boys till my third film! At the time, my mom was adamant I finish my degree, so while shooting, I gave my exams-& people in the exam hall were clicking photos with me! But I understood that she wanted my future to be secure. After Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, it all changed! Life has come full circle now-recently when I was in Gwalior, I was invited to my school as chief guest & kids were chanting my name! It was surreal! But what I have today, would've never come my way, if I hadn't believed that I'd make it. I'm grateful for where I am & I know I have a long way to go. Sometimes all of it still feels unbelievable-from this point on, the possibilities just seem endless & my dreams, are just waiting to come true."

A post shared by Humans of Bombay (@officialhumansofbombay) on Dec 2, 2019 at 4:54am PST

Kartik Aaryan's upcoming film is Pati Patni Aur Woh, in which he will co-star with Ananya Panday and Bhumi Pednekar. He has several films in the pipeline such as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Dostana 2 and an untitled movie by Imtiaz Ali.