“Balaji is homeground for me; I feel the most comfortable working there” – Karan Kundrra

The actor gets talking about his comeback venture, Sony TV’s Dil Hi Toh Hai

Karan Kundrra’s fans were delighted when news about the actor making his fiction comeback with Ekta Kapoor’s Dil Hi Toh Hai reached the newsstands. A role that was initially supposed to be done by Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 fame Omkar Kapoor, was not happening and Ekta roped in Karan to play the lead character.

We got talking to Karan about his comeback stint and much more…

So Karan, you were finalized for the role of Ritwik at 2 am and you left to shoot for the promo at 4 am.

I was tired man! (laughs) I’d met Ekta and she’d narrated the story till around 2 in the night. And in 2 hours, I had to pack my bag and go to Lavasa for the promo shoot. That’s how things happen when the right ones are happening. And that’s how Balaji works and I love Balaji.

You are back with Balaji and it’s been a homecoming of sorts for you. How do you feel about your association with Balaji?

Balaji is homeground for me. I feel the most comfortable there. And you know, my schooling, my training, everything happened there. When I went back to the set, there were all the people who I’ve known for 8-9 years now. Obviously I got pampered, because they’ve also known you for so long and they are happy to see you back. The best part is that they are happy that you’ve gone out, done something big and you’ve come back. You know, it’s just a beautiful feeling working with Balaji.

You started off with television, then moved on to films, then returned to TV with hosting and mentoring and now a fiction show. Why did you choose Dil Hi Toh Hai as your fiction comeback?

I don’t think I take it that way. I never left television. I started with television, I did fiction, then Gumraah, then more fiction with MTV, then Roadies was going on and in the middle of all these I did a couple of Punjabi films, I did Horror Story, then Mubaarkaan happened and Love School was also happening at the same time. I was also a part of Roadies while shooting for 1921. But it was just because of the dates that I couldn’t do the last season of Roadies because my dates were clashing and I had to be in London. If you look at it that way then I never left television. I’ve just gone and accomplished more things.

Tell us more about Rithwik Noon.

He is a rich Punjabi kid, but also hardworking. Typical North Indian kids who are very different outside then the way they are at home. I relate to the character a lot. The way he is with his mom, dad and the way he is with his sister is very me and when he is out he is ruthless. And I completely relate to that.

Even though Ekta has denied, the show’s preface still gives us a Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham feel.

I don’t think that there is any way that our show is related to Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. The promo is about a flamboyant boy who gets lots of attention from the girls and is an out and out romantic saga. It has nothing to do with the movie.

Well, now that certain facts related to the show are cleared, we now eagerly await the first episode of Dil Hi Toh Hai.