EXCLUSIVE! Ayushmann Khurrana recalls his first 'almost' meeting with Shah Rukh Khan: 'I waited for 6-7 hours...'

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has never shied away from heaping praise on Shah Rukh Khan. From crediting him to be his biggest inspiration to revealing how even SRK's height was a benchmark for him, Ayushmann has time and again opened up about how the latter has inspired him in different ways.

In an exclusive interview with Times Now Digital, Ayushmann has now opened up about what would have been his first-ever meeting with Shah Rukh. The actor, who was a Radio Jockey then, had to interview Shah Rukh. He waited for 6-7 hours but alas. The interview didn't happen, and Ayushmann, like a true fanboy, just saw Shah Rukh shooting and went back to his studio.

"I remember our first meeting. I was doing radio and I had to interview him. I couldn't interview him because he was shooting for an ad film. I waited for 6-7 hours and then he was busy. I had to do my show, go back to the studio, so I saw him sitting on the set, I saw him shooting," he said.

Ayushmann revealed that Shah Rukh has had a big impact on his life when asked if the latter has impacted his brand of cinema. Apart from Ayushmann's choice of course, Shah Rukh also played a part in how he performed in academics, revealed the Vicky Donor actor.

"He has impacted me in life. I studied mass communication because of Shah Rukh Khan. I wanted to be an actor, I took my studies seriously, I topped in my college because of him," he revealed.

The actor further added that he always thought he needs to be intelligent enough to be a good actor because he isn't a conventional one. Even with his height, he wanted to be as tall as Shah Rukh.

"I am as tall as Shah Rukh sir... my parents are not tall, so for me this height, I am the tallest in my family, my brother is as tall as me. So I am very happy with my height because I am as tall as Shah Rukh Khan, that's my benchmark," he said.

The actor also added that he is very inspired by Shah Rukh's personality, charm and the kind of impact he has on the youth. "He's my icon," he said.

Ayushmann is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Anek. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the film co-stars Nagaland actress Andrea Kevichusa. The socio-political film is set against the geopolitical backdrop of Northeast India wherein an undercover cop is on a mission to restore peace in the said region. About the film, Ayushmann is certain that Anek will be a historic film. The actor says this is the first time something like this is being talked about in Hindi cinema.

"Anek is one of the most inclusive films you will ever see. It's something that is the need of the hour. As I said it's cinema for change and also for me, it is a historic film. It will be known as the first one of its kind, it will age well... If you love your country, you should love Anek," the actor said.