Entertainment / Wed, 20 May 2026 News18

He Changed Clothes At Railway Station, Lived In A Small Room With 12 People, Is Now A Top Actor

Last Updated: May 20, 2026, 20:10 IST1 / 9 Before becoming a bankable Bollywood star, Kartik Aaryan lived the life of a struggler in Mumbai. In one of his interviews, he had said, “I used to live in a flat with 12 guys in the beginning. ADVERTISEMENT3 / 9 The actor’s breakthrough came with Pyaar Ka Punchnama, directed by Luv Ranjan. “I travelled in trains, changed clothes for auditions at railway station washrooms, lived in a small room with twelve people and auditioned tirelessly,” he said in an interview. ADVERTISEMENT5 / 9 Even after bagging Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Kartik remained unsure about his future in films.

Last Updated: May 20, 2026, 20:10 IST

1 / 9 Before becoming a bankable Bollywood star, Kartik Aaryan lived the life of a struggler in Mumbai. Coming from a family of doctors with no film background, he secretly attended auditions while studying engineering in college. He travelled across the city chasing opportunities and reportedly informed his parents about his acting dreams only after signing his debut film.

2 / 9 Kartik often spoke about the hardships he faced during his early days in Mumbai. In one of his interviews, he had said, “I used to live in a flat with 12 guys in the beginning. There would be 4 boys in one room. Someone wanted to be a writer or director, but most of us wanted to be actors.” During those days, he reportedly also cooked meals and shared responsibilities with fellow strugglers.

3 / 9 The actor’s breakthrough came with Pyaar Ka Punchnama, directed by Luv Ranjan. Though the film started slowly at the box office, it later achieved cult status among young audiences. Kartik’s long monologue about relationships became a massive pop-culture moment and instantly made him a household name. As the film completes 15 years, fans still remember it as a turning point in his career.

4 / 9 Recalling his struggling phase, Kartik once revealed how difficult auditioning was in Mumbai. “I travelled in trains, changed clothes for auditions at railway station washrooms, lived in a small room with twelve people and auditioned tirelessly,” he said in an interview.

5 / 9 Even after bagging Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Kartik remained unsure about his future in films. He once admitted, “I didn’t tell my flatmates that I had been given a part in Pyaar Ka Punchnama… I thought of better telling them once the film got completed.”

6 / 9 After his debut, Kartik slowly strengthened his position with 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 in Bollywood.

7 / 9 Kartik achieved one of the biggest milestones of his career with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Released after the pandemic, the horror-comedy became a blockbuster and revived theatrical footfalls for Hindi cinema. The film’s massive box office success established him as a commercially successful leading actor.

8 / 9 One of the most emotional chapters of Kartik’s journey came years after his struggle phase ended. After becoming successful, he reportedly bought the same apartment where he once lived with other strugglers.