Karan Wahi: I wanted to be happy as well as make money

Karan Wahi

In 2004, he became an overnight star with his first show, Remix. While Karan Wahi initially enjoyed the flurry of projects and popularity that followed, he eventually realised that the television projects hardly creatively satisfied him. After trading fiction shows for non-fiction offerings, the actor finally found his groove in digital entertainment. Wahi dissects his 18-year career as he sits down for a chat about his upcoming ZEE5 web series Never Kiss Your Best Friend season 2.

Wahi, director Harsh Dedhia and Anya Singh in London

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Why have you cut down on fiction shows?
When you start your career, you think less and work more. But as soon as you do something that becomes big, you start thinking hard about the kind of projects you want to do because you become critical of your work. In 2012, I left fiction shows because I couldn't cope with 30 days of work every month. My health was going for a toss. The only time I would get to myself is probably when I was driving back home. At that time, I tried my hand at being an anchor. Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa [in 2012] set the ball rolling for non-fiction. The second reason [for my decision] was that I had reached a point where I could ask questions and get answers, and not just work because there is a telecast the next day. [When doing fiction shows], I used to make a lot of money, but the reason I walked away was that I wanted to be happy as well as make money.

Is OTT entertainment creatively liberating in that regard?
I jumped on the OTT bandwagon way before the medium took off. I did not start off with Sacred Games (2018). I had done a show called Bar Code, but it took a long time for Hungama to release it. I think I have done more shows on OTT than on television now. The last few years have also seen a change in OTT entertainment; you see an influx of film stars. While it is a great opportunity, not every show on OTT is as good as we think it is.

You've played supporting roles in most shows. Weren't you hungry for lead roles?
There are times when the makers might not perceive me as the lead. My job is to perform something I like to the best of my ability. I would rather do a character I enjoy than play the lead, out of ego. It doesn't bother me. I'm grateful that after 18 years in the industry, I am still relevant.

When did you first realise this?
For a long time, I was working only for the money. When I first said no to [a project I didn't believe in], I was depressed for a month. Saying no was hard initially, but after that, I learned to live in that scenario. Early on, I was happy being referred to as the chocolate boy or the boy-next-door. But I got more [congratulatory] calls for my role in Sacred Games than I did for Remix. Many told me that I had played my part with conviction. That changed the game for me. Suddenly, people were talking about my work and not my looks. That is what you want to hear as an actor.

You have Never Kiss Your Best Friend season 2 coming up.
I had signed this show before the lockdown. In the times of thrillers and gaon khede ki stories, here is a light rom-com, which a lot of youngsters will relate to. The OTT platforms need a little romance, because we Indians loved our romance dramas in the '90s. That drew me to the show.

What happened to your plans of producing a show with Rithvik Dhanjani?
We are producing Blackboards for ALTBalaji. Almost 70 per cent of the show is shot. We will wrap up the shoot by the first week of March, and are hoping for an August release. Rithvik is the showrunner and is completely invested in it.