Actor Ayushmann Khurrana on Tuesday said stardom in Hindi cinema is no longer an “exclusive club”, arguing that YouTubers and social media influencers have permanently decentralised fame.

Speaking at the FICCI Frames 2026 summit in Mumbai, Khurrana said audiences now live in “multiple universes” of entertainment, each with its own stars. “There are certain stars who are very big, and you probably don’t even know about them,” he said, adding that “the script is the star more than anything else.”

The 42-year-old, who rose from radio jockeying and television to National Award-winning films, said staying approachable was essential to his craft, even as some stars chose to remain distant from the media.

Khurrana also spoke about his upcoming spy comedy “Udta Teer”, releasing October 9, calling it a return to his core of original, unconventional content. He plays a Pakistani spy who loses his memory in India. The actor has long argued that content outranks celebrity, a philosophy reflected in his choice of unconventional films from Vicky Donor to Article 15. His comments come as the industry debates how theatrical cinema can compete with the endless supply of creator-led content on phones.