‘BAD CAREER PATCH HURT ME’

Says Karan Wahi about signing a lead role years back for a film that never released, and how he had to then start from square one

When Daawat-e-Ishq released in 2014, I was very excited as it was my first film. Then I shot for Babbu Ki Jawani (BKJ), which didn’t release,” says Karan Wahi talking about his career graph in movies. “It was an important film for me as I had signed a three-film deal with a popular company and other makers were waiting to sign me once BKJ released. When it didn’t, there was a lull in my career. I didn’t get a second chance. From being the boy to watch out for, I was treated like a newcomer who might fade away. The bad career patch hurt me.”

His mindset changed towards work post that. He realised that he could “cry about things or move on in life”. He adds, “The older you get, you get more experience. When you are successful, it is difficult to face failure. People thought that things came easy to me and they did but I also realised that they forgot I had done my hard work to reach a certain stage in life.”

Since then, he participated and hosted many reality TV shows including Nach Baliye, Khatron Ke Khiladi and Comedy Nights Bachao. Now, Karan is looking forward to starring in Hate Story 4. Ask him how important was it for him to play a lead in a film, and he says, “I have been talking about doing films for a while and I did. I am almost 32 now and the way it sinks in (that I have a lead role in a film) is different. I am happy with people’s reaction to the promo but the excitement is lukewarm. Playing a lead is important as it leads to more and better work. But the day I stopped chasing lead roles, my perception towards work changed. It is great for your ego to say I won’t do this role. But realistically if you are not a working actor, you are not going anywhere.”

Today Karan is happy being part of films, anchoring shows on TV and is even doing Anurag Kashyap’s series for an online streaming platform. “I am not the lead in Anurag’s series but I didn’t want to miss out on the chance just because I wasn’t the lead. I liked the role and chose to do it even though it was a smaller role. The thought process that I had regarding work, and big or small role, has changed.”

I didn’t get a second chance. From being the boy to watch out for, I was treated like a newcomer who might fade away. KARAN WAHI, ACTOR