Tusharr Khanna tells us about why marriage is a mere formality, what he would love most from his partner, and his favourite wedding styles

A rank outsider to the film and television industry, who considers Shah Rukh Khan as his biggest idol, Tusharr Khanna was nicknamed ‘Greek God’ after finding success in AltBalaji’s Bekaaboo (Season 2), thanks to his chiselled, camera-loving features. “I’m a shy person so I don’t know how to handle compliments,” says Khanna. “Growing up, I didn’t get a lot of compliments, so I would get a bit awkward. But in front of the camera, it’s about the lighting, clothes, and the character I’m playing, and not me. I’m not anywhere close to being a Greek God, so thank you to whoever thinks that!” 

The Amritsar-born, Delhi-raised actor, who debuted with the television series Piyaa Albela in 2018, had taken to Instagram to post images of himself in colourful anoraks, amidst the frozen splendour of the Chadar Trek in Ladakh. But it's not all holidays and no work: being a part of the film industry, Khanna has immense respect for the hard work and sleepless nights that go into creating a feature film, TV series, or an OTT product. “People see a seamless, finished film on-screen, but behind the scenes, on the messy sets, it’s a lot of labour.” He says he works “all the time” and even if you call him up at 4:00 a.m., Khanna will be available. “You'll find me playing video games, watching a series, or reading self-help books or autobiographies of successful people... they’re a learning for me.” For support and motivation, Khanna turns to his mother. “I speak to her around seven times a day—I can share the most absurd thing with her, and I know she won’t judge me.” 

For this special shoot, Khanna donned the most stylish pieces of the season, some of which cut across gender lines... But how does he like to dress up, when he attends weddings? “My go-to look is a basic black bandghala... I enjoy classic Indian attire,” he says. And Manish Malhotra tops his list of favourite Indian designers. “As a kid, I would watch movies and be fascinated by his work. I truly enjoy his aesthetic.” In fact, Khanna wore a Manish Malhotra outfit to his cousin sister’s wedding. “It was a really special wedding, because we had all come together after a long time, post the pandemic. Family from all parts of the world had flown in...the best of times!” Khanna also counts the creations by Siddartha Tytler, Kunal Rawal, Sandeep Khosla, and Rohit Bal among his other favourites. 

Attending weddings is one thing; being married, quite another. “Marriage, to me, is paperwork,” says Khanna. “I don’t want to offend anyone, but technically, it’s like sealing a contract between two people to have sex and make a family. Families come together and surnames change—maybe not as much now, but society has created the system of marriage so that people live within a social construct. That’s my vague idea of the complicated thing that is marriage, anyway.” 

What about relationships? “A good relationship, to me, is a partnership,” says Khanna. “With great communication, one should be able to freely tell a person how they feel. I don’t expect a lot from the other person and I don’t need them to make me happy. But that said, as an actor, to get support from my partner is very, very important to me, as I didn’t get a lot of it in this industry.” 

Photographs by: Hormis Antony Tharakan

Styling by: Shaurya Athley

Creative direction by: Siddhartha Tytler