Karan Mehra: Took a break as I wanted to graduate to films

Karan Mehra is making a fresh start after a threeyear hiatus from Hindi television The actor who became a household name after Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai had to exit the show due to health issues Now he is back with another ensemble drama Mehndi Wala Ghar Thrilled about not having to shoot round the clock Mehra says that he is glad to be part of a big family drama and still get time to do other things In conversation with midday the actor reflects on his decision to take a break from television how it affected his equation with Rajan Shahi and the audiencersquos rocksolid loveEdited excerpts from the interviewIn your absence from mainstream television did you feel you were forgottenAfter doing one show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai for the longest time I kept doing something or the other to keep me occupied Lately I did a Punjabi show Mawaan Thandiyan Chawan I had taken a break from TV because I wanted to explore new things I wanted to graduate to films Thatrsquos why I did the Punjabi show for a year I was also busy doing music videos Mehndi Wala Ghar happened suddenly It never felt like I was absent from the screenWhat made you take up Mehndi Wala GharShashi Mittal and Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal producers wanted me to join the show The character was strong and was like one of the leads It was difficult to say no to them as they are friends more than producers After the promo was out the buzz was created that Irsquom back on TV It almost gives that same feeling of what I had created 15 years agoDid you feel that since the cast is so huge the plot may not focus on youItrsquos easy being part of a big family It feels great because these days you donrsquot have such big families on TV mostly because the makers canrsquot afford to have such a big cast anymore But it was amazing to come together and meet such lovely artistes including Vibha Chibber Kanwarjeet Paintal Ramakant Daayma Ravi Gossain and Rushad Rana among others Plus I get a lot more time to keep myself occupied which helps me concentrate on other things as wellThe channel is notorious for pulling the plug on shows if the TRPs arenrsquot high Does that worry youAfter 20 years of working in the industry I donrsquot think I should be worried about these things Every show has its own fate I never understood the TRP game I believe in doing my job 100 per cent the rest is in the audiencersquos hands Every channel has its own take Such a huge show is a big thing for the channel and usDid you ever feel that with time the audiencersquos love has reducedNot at all Actually Irsquove been fortunate that even after I left the channel still airs the rerun of the previous episodes I even had a fiveyearold come up to me saying lsquoYoursquore Naitikrsquo his character in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai The new generation is still watching the repeats So I donrsquot think that goes away Yeh Rishtahellipand Naitik will always stay with meHow is your equation with Rajan Shahi now that yoursquore no longer doing the showI recently went to the set of Yeh Rishtahellip and met the director and the crew because I was shooting next door Thatrsquos how close it will always remain After a point I developed health problems because of the long years that Irsquod given to Yeh Rishta and it was quite alarming I became allergic to all kinds of food Finally I had to move on I am still on good terms with Rajan sir I recently wished him on his birthday I donrsquot know about rumours but we often talk to each other