Balancing love and legacy

Hariharan with son

Karan Hariharan remembers the days leading up to the release of his debut film, Pyaar Hai Toh Hai. A mix of excitement and nerves is how he describes them. "I had butterflies in my stomach. I am a singer, I have done live shows [for so many years]. But now, I am doing something that has unprecedented reach. And I won't lie, this matters more to me than singing," says the singer-turned-actor.

People say privilege is having easy access. There is no denying that Karan, being the son of singer Hariharan, enjoys that advantage. But he says it makes him value his craft even more and reminds him that he should respect every opportunity coming his way. "As a child, I was exposed to so much art - acting, music, painting. I am grateful to my parents for it. But if something is bad, they will call me out. I have always loved acting.

I was 16 when I went to dad and told him that I don't want to sing anymore. I wanted to go to Los Angeles and study acting. All he asked was, ‘Are you sure, Karan?' He didn't know if it was something I was truly passionate about or a [passing] phase."

As he has begun his acting journey, his biggest learning is something he was taught in film school: regardless of success or failure, always remember you are just an artiste. Another thing the actor is certain about is not piggy-backing on his father, and charting his own path. "I knew early on that there is always one star on the set - the camera. I want to take my father's legacy ahead. I don't want to taint his legacy, or destroy it. I don't want to let my parents down. That's my first pressure."