No one comes to Mumbai to be a TV actor: Karan Wahi

Besides his film Hate Story 4, actor Karan Wahi has many other projects in his kitty. The actor will soon be seen in the Netflix Originals’ ‘Sacred Games’ and also has some hosting gigs. “There are a lot of things that I’m doing. I’ll be back in India on 11th November and from the 13th I’ll start my TV outings again. I am hosting two shows – one probably in November-December and the other probably in February-March or later.  It’s fun to try different things. I’m also doing another web-based venture. So there are a lot of things happening – for Star and Colors. And, of course, ‘Hate Story 4’ releases on 2nd March so from January the promos will be out. Hopefully everything falls in place,” he says. 

The actor adds, “For ‘Sacred Games’, it is a small part I have been signed for. I’ve been signed for all the seasons so I will be there constantly on the show. I couldn’t shoot for it because I’ve come here to London for ‘Hate Story 4’. It’s been raining there so the shoot’s been delayed a little. Once I’m back I’ll start shooting for it. I think it’ll probably come out in January or February.” 

The actor adds that the web has helped a lot of people get work. “We have TV and we have films. I mean, anyone who goes to Mumbai to be an actor never says they want to be a TV actor (laughs). They all want to be the next Shah Rukh Khan. So, there are a lot of people who used to be very anti-TV because of the regressive nature of it. So we’ve squeezed this other thing in the middle of TV and films which is called web. So if you now go to Indian ask anyone in Lokhandwala what they’re doing, they’ll say they’re doing a web series. What they don’t realise is that web-series doesn’t mean cool. Abusing content is not cool. What is cool is that on the web you can put in content which is not allowed on TV. You can say things which will look realistic enough but you can’t do on TV,” he says. 

In fact, besides ‘Sacred Games’, Karan has done other work in this domain as well. “Before I signed ‘Sacred Games’, I had already shot for a very big web show with Hungama, produced by Mr Kumar Mangat. It’s called ‘Barcode’. I think it’s releasing in December. That’s when I realised that if I want to make web content or be in someone else’s, it better be good content because otherwise why am I going to the web? For actors, the web doesn’t have much money. They’d rather put money in the production then to put into the actors right now, especially in India, because the web culture has only just started. I don’t think Netflix has realised that India is a very big market,” he says.

Priyamvada Kant unplugged

1) The TV show  which made me very popular 

Sharda from Tenali Rama 

2) Had I not been a TV actor /actress I would have probably

been 

Always wanted to be an actor so I’m glad this happened, I’m a trained dancer and I write so would have definitely perused that.

3) If I go out on a romantic ‘date’ I expect 

Great conversations, laughter and flattery 

4) My favourite snack/s when ‘eating out’ in Mumbai is 

Sevpuri all the way

5) If I ever lose my cellphone I

My life will come to a standstill. I have nomophobia, I can’t live without my phone

6) Actually, I find it so embarrassing 

I cant remember names, I think it’s very embarrassing when they come to talk to you and you can’t recognise them

7) One thing I wish to drastically change about Mumbai is

Traffic and litter I think everyone would agree

8) One ‘hot’ /actor I would like to be marooned on an

island  

Chris Hemsworth aka Thor have you seen him in Thor: Ragnarok? 

9) My favourite destination/s both foreign and Indian

 Anything that has a beach, in India or abroad is my favourite 

10) If I ever merit a Bollywood movie debut I would love to be cast

the opposite ( and why)

Ranbir Kapoor or Ranveer Singh! I’m not that picky because they are the two most talented actors right now

It's November wedding for Saurabh Pandey

Actor Saurabh Pandey is on cloud nine these days as he will soon be tying the knot with his long-time girlfriend Zara Soni Barring. The two have been dating for a while and will be hitched by the end of next month. 

Ask the groom-to-be if there are any wedding jitters, and he says, “There is no apprehension or nervousness when you know that your are doing what you are meant to. Zara and I have been together since almost 10 years now, we started dating in 2008. I am, in fact, looking forward to spending my life with her,” he says. 

Since his ladylove is from Canada, Saurabh started the marriage functions there. “In Canada, we had a Jaago ceremony and sangeet as Zara is from Canada. We understand that many people can’t fly in for the wedding in Mumbai so Zara's family made sure to do something there for them in August this year,” he says. 

As per plans, there will be an engagement and a mehendi ceremony on the 26th and 27th of November respectively, which will be followed by the marriage on the 28th. Although Saurabh is from Delhi, the functions are being held in Mumbai.  “Though I am from Delhi, I am doing it in Mumbai for my friends, because I love all my friends and I want all my friends to be their at the function. As most of  them shoot and it won't be possible for all  of them to come to Delhi. My family members are flying to Mumbai for the functions. No matter where I do the wedding, family will be there. Friends are a gift of life and we are doing the functions in Bombay only for them,” he says. 

Since the couple has been together since a decade now, they know each other inside out, says Saurabh. “It feels great to be able to marry your best friend. I love so many things about her. She is so forgiving, kind, and intelligent.  Also she is a wonderful guide for life, my personal super advisor, “ he says. 

Although she is busy with the wedding preparations, Zara has a lot going on professionally as well. “Zara is a super Punjaban and has very good connection in the TV industry as well as the Punjabi industry. There are a lot of music videos that she has been doing. She even anchored BCL Punjab and she would be anchoring the next one too. There are a couple of more things like films, but until they don’t go on floors, I can’t confirm any details,” he says. 

Being part of the same industry is an advantage for Saurabh. “Since we are both from showbiz, we know how this industry works. This helps us understand each other’s work commitments, which is a blessing,” he says.

Sourabh Raaj Jain

Date Of Birth: Dec 1st

Place: Delhi

Nick Name: Sonu

Favourite Movie: Ijazat, Sholay, Andaz Andaz Apna Apna, 3 idiots to name a few.

Favourite Actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Amir Khan, Akshay Kumar

Favourite Outfit: T-shirt and jeans

Favourite Food: home food

Favourite Holiday Destination: I generally don't repeat, so far Maldives has been the best

First Crush: 9th standard, while going on a school trip.

Off screen Sourabh Raaj Jain is?

Happy go lucky

One Word To Describe You:

Adventurous

If Not An Actor You Would Have Been:

Sitting at home may be

Your Dream Role:

Whatever it be with Big B

Your Dream Date:

Wanted to have it on an isolated island, with perfect beach arrangements, I have lived that dream already

Your Deepest Fear:

Is to lose good friends, sometimes due to kind distances or otherwise.

Most Prized Possession:

Key chain my wife gifted to me.

If you were stuck in a lift with someone from the Entertainment industry, who would you want him/her to be?

Has to be Sushmita Sen, have been her biggest fan since school days.

The craziest rumour you have heard about yourself?

So far I have been spared

My Biggest Accomplishment:

Seeing happiness in my mother's eyes

What Is Love According To You:

Most important ingredient of happiness and peace

What Is Today's Major Challenge You Think Society Is Facing?

Being social more online den in real

What Is One Negative Aspect Of You:

Over emotional at times

What Is Your Positive Quality:

Never give up 

Message To Fans:

Stay happy spread happiness, in need of your constant support and love.

Khichdi, Paani Puri, or Daal Chawal; which is your favourite dish?

We are a diverse country but there are some elements that bind us together and eating good food is one of them. Our telly actors talk about which dish they would like to name as our National Dish. 

Ankit Bathla: Daal chawal as I think it’s something eaten across the country, in different preparations and by people of varied incomes. It’s a perfect source of protein and carbs and is super easy to make. 

Romit Raj: I don’t know as we are a country of diverse cultures. We have amazing vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes cooked in different parts of India. So, I feel we should have four national foods from four corners of India. North-kali Dal and butter nan, South- idli and vada, West-khichdi, East- fish curry and Rice 

Arjun Bijlani: It should be a complete meal because everyone deserves that as humans. So maybe rice, dal, sabzi and roti. 

Sourabh Raaj Jain: Can I be bit funny. It should be ‘opinion tadka markey’, it seems everybody is making this dish these days. 

Sneha Wagh: Actually, I don’t know much about this. But according to my mom, Khichadi is a very secular dish, and is made in every state, under different names and different ingredients. Like in South, it’s missibella rice, in the North, there is Daliya khichadi. It is also there in the East and West. This is why it’s appropriate to have khichadi as the national dish. 

Shakti Arora: I think that's daal chawal is our national dish. Most of the people consume this food on a daily basis. But chole bhature would be interesting as well. 

Jasmin Bhasin: I think paani puri, because it's one thing which is eaten and really enjoyed in every part of our country. All the states have given it a different name but the flavour stays the same. 

Sheeba: The North, South, East, and West boast of different fresh produce, so it’s difficult to make sure every single Indian has access to the same food. 

Priyamvada Kant: Khichdi because it’s the most basic and pan India. All cultures have it as a part of their cuisines and enjoy it. It’s simple to make and can be eaten in sickness and good health. 

Sachin Parikh: As being a proud Gujarati I believe "GUJRATI THEPLAS" should be the national food. 

Reason: Easy to clear this bill in the parliament to declare Thepla as a "national food" because  Modiji will also agree to it without any doubt. 

Saurabh Pandey: Dal Chawal because it's eaten all over India and many other parts of the world where Indians live.  Simple to make and truly a staple food if India. 

Ssharad Malhotraa: National food should be rajma chawal...economical and easily accessible for the masses too...Being a Punjabi it happens to be my favorite so I'm a little partial towards it as well. 

Vahbiz Dorabjee: Well my all time favorite food is Indian food and I think it should be the national food. I have travelled abroad and I have tasted nothing that beats Indian food. And by Indian food it can be anything home made daal chawal or Punjabi or Moghlai.