Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has opened up about his admiration for late Bollywood legend Sanjeev Kumar, calling him a benchmark of subtle yet commercially successful acting. The remarks came as Ayushmann promoted his latest film, 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do', which releases as a spiritual successor to the 1978 classic that starred Sanjeev Kumar himself.

What Ayushmann Said About Sanjeev Kumar

'He had superb expressions,' Ayushmann said. 'To give such naturally endearing expressions, that too in the 1970s. It was very different.'

The 'Dream Girl' actor went further, pointing to a specific moment in the original film: 'The way he notices the lead and blinks his eye. Every movement was so measured and yet so natural. I think only Sanjeev Kumar could have done that. He was one of the subtle actors of that time, yet commercial at the same time. So, he has set a benchmark.'

The Legacy of Sanjeev Kumar

Sanjeev Kumar, celebrated across decades of Hindi cinema, appeared in landmark films including 'Sholay' (1975), 'Trishul' (1978), 'Angoor' (1982), and 'Khilona' (1970), among many others. He passed away on 6 November 1985 at the age of 47 following a massive heart attack, leaving behind a body of work that continues to influence generations of actors.

The original 'Pati Patni Aur Woh' (1978), directed by B. R. Chopra, featured Sanjeev Kumar alongside Vidya Sinha and Ranjeeta Kaur. It was later remade in 2019 by director Mudassar Aziz, with Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ananya Panday in the lead roles.

About Pati Patni Aur Woh Do

The latest iteration, 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do', casts Ayushmann as Prajapati Pandey, a married man who finds himself entangled with not one or two, but three women — a premise that sets the stage for chaotic and comedic consequences.

Backed by T-Series and B R Studios, and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Renu Ravi Chopra, and Krishan Kumar, the film arrived in cinemas on 15 May and opened to mixed reviews. Ayushmann's public tribute to Sanjeev Kumar adds a layer of lineage to the project, framing it as more than a remake — a conscious engagement with a cinematic legacy.

Why the Comparison Matters

Notably, Ayushmann himself has built a career on nuanced, character-driven performances — making his reverence for Sanjeev Kumar's measured naturalism particularly resonant. Both actors occupy a similar space: commercially viable yet artistically restrained, at a time when mainstream Hindi cinema often rewards excess. The comparison, whether intentional or not, positions 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do' within a tradition of understated storytelling that the original helped define.