KARAN’S ON A HIGH
Karan Kundrra talks about his excitement for doing a TV show that will air not only on the small screen but also online
Actor Karan Kundrra rose to fame with his debut TV show, Kitani Mohabbat Hai (2009), produced by Ekta Kapoor, and after doing some shows, went on to work in a few films. Now, the actor will return to acting on the small screen in Ekta’s new show, which will be aired on her video streaming platform as well as on a TV channel. Speaking about the show, Karan says, “This is very exciting for me, as we will cater to both online and TV audiences. That is a huge deal. It’s a passionate love story and I agreed to do this show overnight. After 1921 (2018) and my ongoing reality show, which I shot for in Goa for a month, I was supposed to go on a vacation. But Ekta narrated the story of the serial to me, and I just couldn’t refuse.”
So far, Karan, whose last TV show was Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum, has only worked in Ekta’s shows since his debut. This will be his fifth fiction show with the producer. Karan says, “On TV, if anyone understands love stories well, it’s Ekta ma’am. No one else has been able to sell me a TV concept. I get one phone call from her and I fall in love with the story.”
Karan has been part of reality TV shows in the past, but he has been focusing on films for the past two years. Ask him if, besides Ekta, it was the visibility and money that persuaded him to take on the new show, and he says, “This show is not a daily soap like others on TV. It will also appeal to the audience online, which means the content has to be on another level. A lot of actors are doing web shows, as the content is better. The audience is shifting, so TV shows have to pull up their socks to compete. As for other reasons, I think I am one of the highest paid actors on TV currently (laughs).”
Karan admits that reality TV shows have been a huge part of his ten-year career. He credits it to the connect he has had with the youth since he worked on the juvenile crime reality show, Gumraah. Karan’s latest reality show revolves around love and relationships, so does he feel like an expert on the subject? “It’s a journey. When you start dating, with each relationship, you mature. I don’t think I am an expert, but I know a lot of things. Probably, these millennials would want to know stuff from someone who they know isn’t preaching to them. Even when I hosted Gumraah, I never preached. I speak in their (the youth’s) language. My youth connect increased with Roadies and other youth-oriented reality shows. They look up to you and trust you, and not just because you are popular and successful.”
My youth connect increased with Roadies and other youthoriented reality shows. They look up to you and trust you, and not just because you are popular and successful. KARAN KUNDRRA, ACTOR