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

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.
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 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.”