Film-fare award winning actor, singer and BSG (Bharat Soka Gakkai) member Ayushmann Khurana of Mumbai talks about the magical transformation he had experienced through his practice of Nichiren Buddhism.

Dum Lagake Daimoku ( Put Your back into Chanting)

FDT: What is Faith according to you?

Ayushmann: Faith to me is tremendous belief in something, anything, that which may not be easy to explain but which gives you great courage, clarity and composure. I have been practicing Nichiren Buddhism for 1.5 years and I have realized that chanting daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) for even 10-15 Minutes when I’m confused about things, brings me immense clarity and confidence.

Gratitude ki Barfi (Sweet Gratitude)

FDT: What prompted you to join Soka Gakkai ( Lay Organisation of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism)?

I am in touch with Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) Members in the film industry like Shashank Khaitan, Nakuul Mehta, Rochak Kohli (also a childhood friend) and Ravi Dube, all of whom are really motivating people to have around. Ravi tried telling me about the practice 10 years ago but I really didn’t get it. Then, in 2017, I felt drawn to the practice when my wife, Tahira, joined BSG. She has cancer and is currently undergoing her seventh chemo. She is simply taking these challenges on the chin while directing her film. I think that’s the miracle of thix`s practice and it feels great to have this faith in our lives.

(Tahira has successfully defeated the Cancer now – This Experience is as of January 2019)

Humanity da Rang (Grey Characters Inspires Creativity)

FDT: The characters you play are grey area presents – neither good nor bad neither hero nor villain and actually a bit of both. What is your motto to choose these roles?

My Motivation is realism. I have been drawn to reality since childhood through my close association with theatre. That’s why I choose to play real, normal, everyday person in my films. I don’t believe that human nature is clear cut, black or white. ‘Real people have ‘grey personalities’, they have complex, hard-to-control desires and feelings, and feelings which can’t be neatly categorized neither good or bad. To be normal is enchanting and I want to portray that every single time. This is very much along the lines that everyone is a Buddha, as they are, whoever they are, whatever they have done.

My films turn socially relevant subjects into normal drawing room conversations. That’s how Vicky Donor, my first film, which had been rejected by most. A-list actors won the National award. It actually became a case study. My films have a common thread in that they aim for a certain kind of value creation, which is conveyed through entertainment.

For example I am totally against body-shaming and I believe that good looks are overrated. We need to gauge the person within because the most attractive aspect of a person is their soul or their kindness and humanity. That’s why Dum Lagage ke Haisa is very special to me. Similarly, Badhai Ho, which is a tribute to all parents. I believe it’s the need of the hour for us to remember that parents deserve our love and respect.

Badhai Ho, Myoho! (Open your life with Myo)

FDT: From Roadie to Superstar, obviously there was human revolution happening even before you joined the practice. How is your Human revolution different now? Please give a BEFORE and AFTER perspective. How is your faith influencing your current choice of films and other career decisions?

Going from Roadie to acting in films, I was definitely evolving as an actor. My first film Vicky Donor was a tremendous success. Interestingly, it was followed by three films that didn’t do well in the box office despite my best efforts. I’ve always been in the habit of learning and improving as an actor but once I started chanting Nam-Myoho-renge kyo I experienced Human Revolution of a different kind. Before joining the practice, I made decisions with my head and I was often very confused about them. Afterwards, which is now, I followed my gut and make decisions with my heart. I’ve magically transformed because of this amazing practice. I’ve been written off many times over the past six years but I’ve simply stopped asking for opinions from even the biggest film mentors and most celebrated personalities in the film industry. Now they are the one who consult me on script decisions, etc. Faith has given me new life because I have begun believing in my own Buddhahood.

Good fortune di Khushboo (Good Fortunes comes Knocking)

FDT: How did the “Human Revolution” result in good fortune?

I’ve realized that human potential is vast and if you have immense faith, you can make anything happen. In 2017, two of my films were released within two weeks of each other. In the history of Indian cinema, whenever an actor releases two films back to back, he stands to fail at both. In my case both the films did really well. The same scenario was repeated in 2018 Andhadhun and Badhai Ho. Trade pundits predicted that at least one of them would be a box office failure since both films would be competing against each other. Everyone said we shouldn’t expect commercial success, but the outcome was a shocker because both films recorded crazy box office numbers. Even Andhadhun which was supposed to be a niche film, has cashed in around 7.1 crores at the box office, which is magical. This has only happened because of daimoku.

Mera Maan Mera Ichinen – (Lean, Learn and Learn)

FDT: What is your determination for 2019 and what message do you have for the Future division as youth growing in a “grey” area world?

My shooting schedule doesn’t leave me with a lot of time to read anything besides film scripts. I do read Sensei’s daily encouragement two to three times every morning and I try to live by it through the course of my day. In 2019, I would like to study more of Soka Literature. An FD (Future Division) Leader recently presented me with a copy of The New Human Revolution so that’s a good place to begin. I think I would be my “New New Human Revolution” resolution this year.

My message to the Future Division is to listen to Ikeda Sensei and just have self-belief, self confidence and follow your passion. Evolve yourself every single day. Be a learner. You can’t stop learning even if you are a teacher. Always be a learner.