Many remember Ayushmann Khurrana’s first brush with fame when he won the second season of Roadies in 2005. But few remember that in 2006, he had also participated in Indian Idol 2. Life came full circle for the actor, who recently taped an episode of Indian Idol 16, on which he served as a celebrity guest along with his Pati Patni Aur Woh Do co-stars Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi. 

During the shoot, contestant Manraj Veer reminded Khurrana that his journey began on this very stage. That led the actor down memory lane as he recalled travelling from Chandigarh for the show. “I was ousted in the second round itself. But what I found beautiful was that I was surrounded by many singers, lyricists, and musicians. In those days, we didn’t have apps to do riyaaz on; people did their riyaaz in various ways. They would inspire me,” he recalled.

Khurrana also told Helen, who was present on the show, that his mother was from Myanmar, like her. “Her biggest pride is that Helenji is also from there. She had taught us a rhyme as children, and I thought I would recite it to Helenji when I met her,” said the actor on stage.