Ayushmann Khurrana says Pati Patni Aur Woh Do delivers classic situational comedy inspired by iconic Bollywood humour and misunderstandings.
In an exclusive conversation with The Brew News Managing Editor Shaneer N Siddiqui, Ayushmann Khurrana shared how Pati Patni Aur Woh Do brings back the charm of classic situational comedy rooted in iconic Bollywood humour, confusion and misunderstandings.
The Brew News: Your character seems to be caught in complete chaos throughout the trailer. What was the most fun part about playing Prajapati Pandey?
Ayushmann Khurrana: At his core, Prajapati is a deeply honest man; his intentions are clean and his moral compass is intact, but his unshakeable self-belief walks him straight into one catastrophic situation after another. That gap between how capable he thinks he is and how spectacularly things unravel is where the laughter lives. You’re not laughing at a bad man; you’re laughing at a very good man who is hopelessly, hilariously out of his depth and refuses to admit it until the chaos is complete.
The Brew News: The film blends confusion, comedy, and relationship drama. What balance were you trying to strike with your performance?
Ayushmann Khurrana: The balance wasn’t something I calculated, it came from the character himself. Prajapati is not a man trying to be funny. He’s a man trying very hard to stay in control and failing spectacularly. The moment I understood that, the performance found its own rhythm. For me, the reference points were always the greats: Sanjeev Kumar and the worlds of Padosan, Chupke Chupke, Angoor and Gol Maal. Humour from that era emerged from misunderstandings, timing and character dynamics. It was never about the “joke”, it was always about the situation and the person reacting to it. Mudassar Aziz has written a comedy of errors in the most classical sense; every misunderstanding compounds the last one and every solution creates three new problems. My job was to stay completely sincere inside that spiral.
The Brew News: Audiences have loved you in relatable comedy roles before. How does this character differ from your previous rom-com performances?
Ayushmann Khurrana: My character in Pati Patni Aur Woh Do comes from a completely different world. His backstory, the way he reacts to situations and the chaos he navigates are all unique to him. That’s why I don’t really see a
comparison with my previous comedy outing. Bala was about a man embracing self-acceptance while dealing with premature balding, whereas Dream Girl 2 followed an impersonator trying to fix his financial struggles.
The Brew News: The trailer hints at a lot of misunderstandings and double lives. What makes the screenplay so entertaining?
Ayushmann Khurrana: To clarify, there isn’t actually a “double life” situation in the film, but the screenplay is extremely entertaining. When I first heard the narration with my team, my manager was in splits. Mudassar is a remarkable storyteller who has picked a legacy subject and ensured the script honours the legacy of classic situational comedies while remaining fresh for today’s audience. It gives people a chance to revisit that golden era of comedy, remembering films like Padosan, Chupke Chupke and Angoor – that kind of cinema.
You will laugh out loud. It’s about how the chaos unfolds as multiple women enter Prajapati’s life while he remains utterly convinced he has everything under control. I’m certain that when Pati Patni Aur Woh Do hits theatres, audiences will love it as much as we did during that first narration.
The Brew News: Did you improvise any scenes or comic moments during the shoot?
Ayushmann Khurrana: Shooting in Prayagraj was a lot of fun; the city is almost a character itself. There’s a very specific dialect to this world and I kept going back to Mudassar for guidance, he’s exceptional with language in this genre. While there was room for improvisation and he was always open to suggestions, we mostly stuck to the screenplay. It was so well-written that it made our jobs seamless. My three leading ladies and I built a real bond on set, and we all wanted to push every scene as far as it could go.
The Brew News: The film has a strong ensemble cast. How did each actor bring a different energy to the story?
Ayushmann Khurrana: Rakul, Sara, and Wamiqa are all exceptional actors who bring distinct energies that reflect beautifully in their characters. Prajapati responds to each of them differently, and it always feels organic rather than forced.
I’ve always enjoyed the element of surprise a co-actor brings, that unscripted moment where they do something unexpected and you instinctively respond. We bonded over food, workouts, and long drives to the location. That warmth translates directly onto the screen. A happy set makes a happy film.
The Brew News: Mudassar Aziz is known for his humour-driven storytelling. What was it like collaborating with him?
Ayushmann Khurrana: Working with Mudassar was a genuinely rewarding experience. His approach to comedy is something you have to witness fi rsthand. He has narrated most of his scripts to me. What stood out was his availability; whenever a scene needed an extra comic edge, he had an instinct for exactly what would work. I also appreciated that it was a two-way street. He would suggest how to land a scene but remain completely open to what I brought to the table. That kind of creative ease only comes from someone who has truly mastered the genre.
The Brew News: If you had to describe Pati Patni Aur Woh Do in three words, what would they be?
Ayushmann Khurrana: Chaos. Conscience. Comedy.
