Written by: Yashaswi KocharWith over 350 films across 11 languages, Ashish Vidyarthi is best known for his iconic villainous roles. But beyond cinema, the veteran actor has reinvented himself as a comedian, storyteller and motivational speaker, proving he is far more than the characters he has played. The Bichhoo, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai and Badal actor, who is also a food vlogger, was recently in Ahmedabad for his show Kahanibaaz. He shares, “Fafda is my favourite Guajarati dish. The way fafda is made—slipped into hot oil and pulled out at just the right moment—is an art. And nothing beats hot fafda with green chillies and raw papaya kachumbar.‘Travelling stops you from being arrogant’Ashish, who married Assam-based fashion entrepreneur Rupali Barua in 2023, says, “I am grateful to the universe for bringing Rupali into my life. She came along at a time when I felt alone, and I have never been someone who enjoys being alone. I believe life is meant to be celebrated with someone, and somehow the universe conspired to bring us together. Today, we travel, discover, and create memories together. We met after the age of 50, which is why I truly believe you should never give up hope or tell yourself it’s too late. Everyone deserves to be happy.”Talking about travelling extensively and exploring different cultures, he says, “It’s exciting to meet different kinds of people. Exploring different cultures makes you realise that there are so many other ways of living, thinking, rejoicing, and finding fulfilment in your life than you thought earlier. It stops me from being arrogant and reminds me to think beyond what I thought was right.”‘I want to keep doing things that are relevant’Talking about staying relevant and the evolution of the audience, he says, “I don’t think about how the audience has changed. I kind of sense what is happening and then modify myself accordingly. So, I don’t sit in judgment of the world. I just want to keep doing things that are relevant. That’s why, apart from doing films, being a speaker and a vlogger, I am also a storyteller, a father and a husband. I love reinventing myself, and that’s why the next project I want to work on is called The Reinvention Project.”He adds, “I want people to know that it is possible to reinvent yourself. Anyone can do it, and it’s needed to feel valued. There’s nothing more powerful than being valued and nothing more disempowering than feeling ki arre yaar mera time chala gaya hai. So, each of the avatars that you see is my willingness to stay relevant and valuable.”‘I am a continuous and absolute dreamer’Talking about the importance of social media, he says, “It allows me to express myself in many ways. There are different aspects of me. I am not only an actor or a storyteller, so social media allows me to bring the other things that interest me to the audience. We all have many hidden layers within us—what I call “hibernating assets” and “hibernating dreams”—and that is what I explore through my social media. The world needs all of us to celebrate life rather than saying we missed the bus. I tell people, ‘If you missed the bus, no problem, what did you do when you missed the bus? That is important.’”
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He adds, “I am a continuous and absolute dreamer. I am living the life I wish to live, and I do not want to make it a unique one; I want people to know that anyone can do it. For me, there is always a bigger dream. Right now, it is the reinvention project. I want to take this to universities, where students are not just taught another subject, but the art of staying relevant, so they can create something meaningful when they face difficulties in life.”‘I am grateful for what I have’Has he ever felt typecast as a villain? He says, “I celebrate whatever I have. I may be typecast this way or that way or not be typecast at all; I am grateful for whatever I have got. We all have different packets given to us. Yours is different from mine, and mine is different from someone else’s. Usually, people look at others’ packets and get upset, but I make sure that whatever is in my packet, I will cherish that.”Ashish carries different stories with him, not just as an actor but as a storyteller. He shares, “There are so many stories I want to tell. I carry more than 200 stories with me. So, every show is different.” Reflecting on the growing sensitivity of audiences and its impact on his performances, he adds, “There are so many things you might agitate people with. I love to not agitate people, I love to allow them to see good in themselves and others and when we do that, we do good with our life.”
