The film industry looks glamorous, but the journey is not easy for everyone. Actor Kartik Aaryan is one such story. Coming from a non-filmy, middle-class family with no connections, he faced countless rejections before carving his space. Today, he is one of India’s most popular and highest-paid stars.

Kartik Aaryan, born as Kartik Tiwari on November 22, 1990, in Gwalior, hails from a family of doctors. His parents expected him to follow their path, but Kartik leaned towards engineering while secretly chasing his true passion—acting. He auditioned relentlessly during college, facing rejection for two and a half years, but never gave up on his dream.

Kartik finally got his big break in 2011 with ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’, directed by Luv Ranjan. Starring alongside Nushrratt Bharuccha and Divyendu Sharma, he grabbed attention with his comic timing. The film was a sleeper hit. Though Kartik earned only Rs 70,000, the film opened the doors to Bollywood.

After his debut, Kartik kept improving his craft with every film. But it was the 2018 blockbuster ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’ that turned him into a star. The comedy was a box-office smash, and Kartik’s popularity soared. His paycheck also jumped—from lakhs to a whopping ₹1 crore for the film.

From lakhs to crores, Kartik’s rise has been meteoric. His boy-next-door charm, sharp comic timing, and ability to deliver emotional performances won him a massive fan base. With a string of hits, he became a bankable star, and now charges up to Rs 50 crore per film, putting him among Bollywood’s top-paid actors.

Kartik’s upcoming line-up is equally exciting. In 2025, he will headline the romantic drama ‘Aashiqui 3’ and another film with director Sandeep Modi. In 2026, he is set to appear in ‘Tu Meri Main Tera’ and the quirky fantasy comedy ‘Nagzilla’ His much-talked-about project ‘Captain India’ is also on the way.