'ONE FRIDAY CHANGES YOUR LIFE'
Karan Kundrra talks about the success of his recent release, and the difference between popularity and stardom
Karan Kundrra is over the moon. His horror film 1921 is a hit. The collections of the movie have surprised many and thrilled the actor to no end. Karan realises that a lot of things worked in their favour. “The release date was just right, and we got two good weeks at the box office. Wordof-mouth publicity helped too. The other two movies that released with us (Mukkabaaz and Kaalakaandi) got better reviews but weren’t as appreciated by the audiences. In fact, Kaalakaandi was a total washout. On Monday, when usually the collections drop, ours was steady. People in the industry have been praising the film, calling it a stable, strong one. It’s about being in the right place at the right time. Had our film released with Padmaavat or Padman, it wouldn’t have been the same. Now, I believe that the ultimate result of a film lies with the audience. Good content always works. Giving the first hit of 2018 is a happy feeling.”
The Kitani Mohabbat Hai actor is a popular face on television and has done movies such as Pure Punjabi (2011), Horror story (2012) and Mubarakan (2017). Talking about his film career, he says, “They say one Friday changes your life. After Horror Story (2012), it took me a while to come back as a lead in a film, and now, I have proved myself. When you do a TV serial or a reality show, you are seen on the small screen every day. But people have to buy tickets to watch you in a theatre. A wise person told me that there is a difference between popularity and stardom. He said, ‘Karan, you are popular but not a star yet’. People might have 1 or 2 million followers on Instagram but when the movie releases, nobody goes to watch it. I am happy to have a stamp of a hit, and enter the club of hit film actors. It took me five years to reach here.”
Karan has a flourishing TV career with hit shows such as the juvenile crime reality show Gumrah, youth-adventure reality show, Roadies and many TV serials, and he can’t wait to start on new projects. “When a film is made, a lot of factors matter. Like when 1921 was offered to me, I realised that everybody in the film was more experienced and successful than me including Zarine Khan and (film-maker) Vikram Bhatt and the producers. They were bigger names than me but the fact that the script was brilliant mattered the most. Going forward, I want to be part of good stories and good films, and also surprise my audience. Last year, I did Mubarakan, where I played a comedy role, which was unlike what I had done earlier and it was a good film to be part of. People know me for the roles I have done in the past, so even if I try something very different, it’s a surprise for them.”
People in the industry have been praising the film...I believe that the ultimate result of a film lies with the audience. Good content always works. Giving the first hit of 2018 is a happy feeling. KARAN KUNDRRA, ACTOR