Ayushmann Khurrana: Pati Patni Aur Woh Do is a pati-verse, not infidelity

While social media has already begun debating whether Pati Patni Aur Woh Do is “promoting cheating”, lead star Ayushmann Khurrana insisted that audiences are missing the point entirely. According to the actor, the film is less about betrayal and more about an out-and-out comedy of errors.

In an exclusive chat with India Today, Ayushmann also spoke about the film creating a “pati universe”, comparisons with Sanjeev Kumar and Kartik Aaryan, and why he believes the comedy remains progressive despite its premise.

The women in the film have the most agency

When asked whether the film uses comedy to glorify cheating, Ayushmann dismissed the criticism instantly, adding that the women in the film dominate the narrative.

“In fact, women in the film have the most agency. I am the chosen sufferer,” he said with a laugh. “It’s not mere tokenism either. All three women are alphas in their own way. Rakul’s character is probably a proper alpha. That’s the beauty of the film — it’s not male-centric. The characters and roles are equally divided.”

The actor further stressed that the film does not romanticise infidelity and maintained that he would never associate himself with a regressive project.

“And the climax brings everyone together. You have to see it to believe it. We are not glorifying cheating. It’s not about infidelity; it’s a comedy of errors,” he explained. “Personally, I will never do a regressive film. I have always chosen subjects that start conversations. This is not a message-oriented film; it’s pure comedy. But by the end, you will never feel that it isn’t progressive or rooted in 2026 values.”

Ayushmann recalls childhood memories of the original film

Ayushmann also revisited his earliest memory of the original Pati Patni Aur Woh, revealing that it had more to do with its iconic song than the plot itself. Recalling his childhood in Chandigarh, the actor fondly remembered listening to “Thande Thande Pani”.

“My first memory is the song, ‘Thande thande paani se nahana chahiye’. I have bathed multiple times to that song since childhood,” he shared. “Back then, a geyser was a luxury, so even during winters I used to bathe with cold water. That song used to encourage me. I don’t remember the entire film, but I remember snippets here and there. It was such an iconic film, and I’m glad we are now part of that legacy.”

This is like a pati universe

With audiences inevitably comparing him to both Sanjeev Kumar and Kartik Aaryan, who headlined the 2019 adaptation, Ayushmann appeared completely unfazed. Instead, he described the franchise as an expanding cinematic universe centred around husbands.

“It’s not really a comparison. We are simply taking it forward,” he said. “This is like a pati universe. We have spy universes and horror universes, but more than 40 crore husbands in India don’t have a universe of their own. We are just building that universe further. The film is immensely funny and entertaining, and I’m excited for audiences to experience it together because it’s a community watch.”

The actor also turned emotional while speaking about his upcoming collaboration with Sooraj Barjatya. Calling the project a dream come true, Ayushmann said working with the filmmaker has been a deeply fulfilling experience.

“One of the earliest films I watched in theatres was a Barjatya film. I’ve grown up watching Rajshri films, so this feels surreal,” he said. “The film is nearing completion, with only seven days of shooting left. We are aiming for a year-end release, and honestly, being on a Barjatya set feels spiritually cathartic.”

Also starring Rakul Preet Singh, Sara Ali Khan and Wamiqa Gabbi, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do is set to release in cinemas on May 15.