Even before its release, ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ has found itself at the centre of online debate, with some social media users questioning whether the film is attempting to normalise infidelity. Director Mudassar Aziz recently addressed the chatter, saying the film should be seen as a slice-of-life entertainer rather than through assumptions drawn from a trailer. In an exclusive conversation with Mathrubhumi English, lead actor Ayushmann Khurrana also weighed in on the discussion, asserting that the film does not glorify infidelity. Joined by co-star Rakul Preet Singh, the actors also spoke about reuniting after ‘Doctor G’ and their latest collaboration.

Ever since the film’s trailer dropped, there has been chatter on the internet about whether Bollywood films are trying to normalise infidelity. Addressing this, Ayushmann clarified his stance, saying, “I have always been part of progressive cinema. Be it films like ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’, ‘Badhaai Ho’, or several other films. Even ‘Doctor G’ was very progressive. I will never be a part of a film that is regressive. And we are not glorifying infidelity (with ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’). It's like a comedy of errors. We have said it before that Prajapati Pandey, my character in the film, is a green flag. He loves his wife. And it's just the confusion that creates a lot of, you know, comedy and chaos. And that's what the film is about.”

The actors, sans Wamiqa Gabbi and Sara Ali Khan, were on a promotional visit to Indore on Tuesday. During the interaction, they also reflected on their previous collaboration and how they believe each other has evolved since their ‘Doctor G’ days.

Calling Ayushmann a “solid actor since his first film”, Rakul said, “What is beautiful (about Ayushmann) is that, in spite of the success that he has had over the years, he hasn't changed as a person. And that I can say. We shot ‘Doctor G’ in 2022. He is an amazing person, and that hasn't changed. And of course, you become more mature, you become more aware, you start making smarter choices. I think all of that happens, but that's a very organic process with every actor.”

Ayushmann, in turn, was equally appreciative of Rakul, calling her a ‘stable person’ who strikes a perfect balance between personal and professional life. “We have been friends for the past four years. And we've seen the industry change in these four years, seen the ups and downs of the industry. Also, at the same time, Rakul has always been a wise person. She's a good actor, but more than that, as a person, she's very stable. It's very important to have a stable head on your shoulders. And she's that person. She prioritises work, health, family, everything together, which is incredible. We are all struggling to strike that equilibrium in life,” said the ‘Dream Girl’ actor.

Speaking about Rakul’s role in ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’, Ayushmann said, “She's got the most author-backed role in the film. Her lines are incredible. And she's not done anything like this before.”

Rakul, who gave a stellar performance in her last release ‘De De Pyaar De 2’, also spoke about whether she broke any stereotypes about female characters in comedy films. “I don't approach a film in the sense that I'm here to break any stereotypes. I think that's a by-product. For me, the reason I sign on to a film is that it gives me an opportunity to do something that I haven't done before. My character in ‘De De Pyar De’ 1 and 2 was an author-backed role. It's a central character. So, obviously, I would love to play it. And specifically to ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’, as Ayushman said, my character, Nilofer, has a very different accent. She's really funny, but she's not trying to be funny. Her lines are funny. I think her personality is really colourful and also the way she talks.”

Elaborating on what drew her to the character, she added, “I had not done anything like this before. So, when I heard the narration, I was laughing at Nilofer's lines - what she says and how she says it. For me, that was very exciting, and the fact that I got to challenge myself.”

Speaking more about comic roles, Rakul stressed that it is the toughest genre to act in. “Comedy is a very tough genre. People think that comedy is easy. But it is the toughest. Ask any actor. It's tougher to make people laugh, whereas it's easier to make them emotional.”

The two actors also spoke highly of their director, Mudassar. Though it is the first time that Ayushmann is collaborating with him, Rakul has previously worked with the filmmaker on the 2025 film ‘Mere Husband Ki Biwi’ featuring her alongside Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar.

Talking about collaborating once again with Mudassar, she said, “He writes really well. One thing I love about him is that his writing is a lot of fun. On the script level, you'll love the script instantly. In this film specifically, I think Mudassir has given the brief to every character so specifically that there's a certain dialect or certain way that Prajapati approaches his character, or Nilofar, or Chanchal, or Aparna. He just knows his characters so well that it's a delight to work with him. He really enacts everybody, and he's so good at it. We really had a blast working with him.”

Ayushmann echoed the sentiment and called Mudassar “an encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema” who has loved “comedy since his childhood”. He added that the director is not only a brilliant narrator but also a great actor, often enacting every character — be it Ayushmann’s, Rakul’s, Wamiqa’s, or Sara’s — during narrations.

‘Pati Patni Aur Woh 2’ is a standalone sequel to ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’, which starred Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, and Bhumi Pednekar. The 2019 film was also helmed by Mudassar. The sequel is now gearing up for its theatrical release on May 15.