I wasn’t prepared for the trolls earlier, I’m immune to them now: Aayush Sharma

03/06/2023

Last October, at a TedX talk session, actor Aayush Sharma addressed a range of subjects - from how he gets flak for the privilege that comes with being Salman Khan's jija, to how his wife Arpita gets constantly trolled on social media for her colour and weight.
Recently, clips from that session emerged online again and went viral. In a chat, he talks about dealing with trolls, not being delusional about his privileges and how he's working to prove himself.
'I would get trolled even when I went on vacations with Arpita'
Talking about how Arpita has been the target of trolls, he says, "Arpita is a very strong, confident woman, and it is amazing to have her as a partner. She accepts who she is. This constant trolling hasn't affected us because she's seen this side of showbiz, while I was new to it. What hurt me the most was that the trolls came up with a theory that I married her for money and to become an actor. I loved Arpita and so I married her! The good thing is that she knew it, I knew it, and our families knew it. I would get trolled even when I went on vacations, as people would say, 'He's blowing up Salman Khan's money.' There were stories that Salman Khan gifted a Rolls-Royce to us at our wedding and I am still wondering where that Rolls-Royce is!
'There was constant chatter about my background, marriage and my choice to be an actor'
When asked if he was prepared for such unpleasant reactions and nasty comments when he stepped into the limelight, he says, "I wasn't prepared. I didn't know that this is also one of the sides of being in the limelight. I was getting trolled for all personal reasons. There was constant chatter about my background, my marriage and my choice to be an actor. After my debut film, Loveyatri (2018) released, it went a step further. The film tanked and the noise on social media was as if this is the only film that has ever tanked at the box office. When the announcement of my second film Antim: The Final Truth (2021) happened, people began to troll me and say, 'Yeh sirf SKF (Salman Khan Films) ki hi films karta hai and nobody else gives him work'."
'Salman Bhai told me that the only way you can stop the noise is by doing good work'
When Antim was finally taking off, I knew people would say that I am doing a film with him (Salman) for a career boost, and it would create yet another negative notion about me. When the film was announced, I got trolled and 'Don't Want Aayush Sharma' began trending on Twitter. Bhai told me that the only way you can stop the noise is by doing good work and focussing on what really matters. I am just immune to it (trolling) now because if you are going to be in this industry, it is a part and parcel of it. I am not delusional about the fact that belonging to a film family has its benefits. We have some direct access to people. I can say that because I have been through a phase where I auditioned for roles. How many people can say they got trained under Salman Khan for four years? But now, I am working hard to prove myself to the audience."
'I wanted to do the quintessential SRK-style romance'
I wanted to get into action from the beginning, but I didn't really think I had it in me to do it. I was this typical Bollywood fan and wanted to do the quintessential Shah Rukh Khan-style romance in Switzerland. I tried my luck at it with Loveyatri. I got to do action in Antim and Ruslaan, but that doesn't mean I have locked my genre. I am pursuing other genres too. I do enjoy action and will keep coming back to it.

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