Kartik Aaryan

Here’s a detailed biography of Kartik Aaryan — his life, career, style, and impact.

Kartik Aaryan – Life, Career & Influence

Explore the journey of Kartik Aaryan — from Gwalior roots and struggle days to Bollywood stardom. Read his biography, film milestones, persona, and legacy.

Introduction

Kartik Aaryan (born Kartik Tiwari; November 22, 1990) is an Indian actor renowned for his work in Hindi cinema (Bollywood).

Early Life and Family

Kartik was born on 22 November 1990 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, to Manish Tiwari (a paediatrician) and Mala Tiwari (a gynaecologist). St. Paul’s School, Gwalior for his schooling.

He later moved to Mumbai for higher studies in engineering (biotechnology) at DY Patil University while simultaneously pursuing auditions, modeling work, and acting training.

In his struggle phase, he lived with several aspiring actors, doing odd jobs and auditions, even skipping classes to travel for auditions.

Career & Milestones

Breakthrough & Early Roles

  • Kartik made his acting debut in 2011 with the film Pyaar Ka Punchnama, directed by Luv Ranjan.

  • He followed with Akaash Vani (2013) and Kaanchi (2014), which did not perform strongly at the box office but helped him establish a filmography base.

Rise to Stardom

  • In 2015, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 became a major commercial success and further increased his popularity.

  • His real breakthrough was Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), which became a box-office hit and consolidated his image in romantic-comedy territory.

  • In 2019, he starred in Luka Chuppi and Pati Patni Aur Woh, both commercially successful romantic comedies.

Genre Expansion & Mature Choices

  • Dhamaka (2021) marked a departure: a thriller, released on streaming platforms.

  • In 2022, he starred in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, a horror-comedy, which became one of his highest-grossing films.

  • He played a darker role in Freddy (2022), a psychological thriller, gaining critical attention for stepping out of his comfort zone.

  • In 2023, he appeared in Satyaprem Ki Katha (a romantic drama) and Shehzada (a remake, which he also partially produced).

  • In 2024, he portrayed Murlikant Petkar, a Paralympic gold medallist, in the biopic Chandu Champion.

  • Also in 2024, he reprised his Bhool Bhulaiyaa role in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which became one of his biggest commercial successes.

Other Work & Public Image

  • Kartik has endorsed multiple brands and co-hosted award shows (e.g. IIFA Awards, Zee Cine Awards).

  • He has also been active in social causes and brand campaigns.

  • He’s had some controversies — for instance, he was dropped from Dostana 2 due to reported creative differences.

Personality, Style & Public Persona

  • Kartik’s screen persona often combines charm, humor, vulnerability, and relatability.

  • He is known to be private about relationships, preferring to keep his personal life guarded.

  • He has been willing to take risks—shifting from light rom-coms to darker, more intense roles.

  • His journey is often framed as that of an outsider making it in Bollywood on his own merit, without familial film industry backing.

Legacy & Influence

  • Kartik Aaryan is one of the more commercially bankable young actors in Bollywood, especially in the romantic / youth film space.

  • His ability to pivot into darker or more challenging roles helps avoid typecasting and suggests longevity.

  • For many aspiring actors, his story is inspirational: coming from a non-film background, struggling, and eventually succeeding.

  • Because he has embraced both mainstream commercial cinema and riskier genre films, he may serve as a bridge between mass appeal and more nuanced cinema in Hindi film.