Ayushmann Khurrana reveals amusing comment he got for 'Shubh Mangal Savdhan'

Ayushmann Khurrana

Ayushmann Khurrana reveals that the first and the most amusing comment he received on the trailer of 'Shubh Mangal Savdhan' was 'he donated so much sperm that now he can't get it up!' Right after the first promo aired, the actor was trolled for playing a character with erectile dysfunction. Trolls had a field day pointing out how Khurrana is obsessed with films that deal with sexual problems - he previously played a sperm donor in Vicky Donor (2012).

"That's exactly the reaction we wanted. This is good trolling," he says, right at the start of the conversation. While some may grimace at the thought of playing such a character, Khurrana feels that it's imperative to talk about sexual problems such as these openly. "In a country where erectile dysfunction is a taboo subject, I am glad that we are putting it out there for the public to discuss it," he says.

Admitting to growing up at a time when there was "no sex education", Khurrana says he doesn't understand why our country tends to shy away from discussing subjects that plague the society, choosing to brush it under the carpet instead. He feels it is up to artistes like him to change the audience view. "After Vicky Donor, life is coming a full circle for me with this film. We are part of a progressive changing society. As young actors, the onus lies on us to choose subjects which must be talking points. Is our work of any value if we don't have an opinion on things?"

He feels part of the challenge lies in the fact that India is predominantly a patriarchal society. "The male ego is so unnecessarily important in patriarchal societies. When a woman cannot conceive, everyone has something to tell her. When a guy can't get it up, it's shoved under the carpet. Sexual health is important to a relationship. In this film, the girl is in love with the guy and we establish the fact that their relationship goes beyond the sexual act. But the girl is emphatic that she wants to have sex."

The comedy sees Khurrana's character being shamed for his sexual problem. The actor is hopeful the RS Prasanna-directed film will be the first step towards societal change. "In this society, chauvinism is mistaken for chivalry. It's tough to change that. This film will trigger change in the right direction."