Reality shows gave me my identity, stardom: Actor Karan Wahi

For a television face, that was the biggest high because people would not know you by your name but by your characters name, the actor told PTI in an interview.Known for hit TV shows such as Remix, Kasamh Se and Dill Mill Gayye, Wahi said reality shows made him more confident.It has given me so much confidence to talk on camera because I became an anchor and I realised there are certain things I could do and speak, I regained a voice of my own.

Actor Karan Wahi says he found fame as an individual through reality shows as he was earlier familiar to audiences as the characters he played on TV.

The actor has worked as both a contestant and a host on numerous reality shows. He participated as a contestant in ''Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'', ''Comedy Nights Bachao'', ''Khatron Ke Khiladi'' and served as a host on ''Nach Baliye'', ''Dance India Dance Super Moms'', among others.

Now, he is set to appear as a contestant on ''Khatron Ke Khiladi 15''.

''Prior to doing a reality show, or being an anchor or a contestant, I was just another character (on a show). Back in the day, people would call me by my characters' names. I saw that change and they started calling me by name after I did reality show. ''For a television face, that was the biggest high because people would not know you by your name but by your character's name,'' the actor told PTI in an interview.

Known for hit TV shows such as ''Remix'', ''Kasamh Se'' and ''Dill Mill Gayye'', Wahi said reality shows made him more confident.

''It has given me so much confidence to talk on camera because I became an anchor and I realised there are certain things I could do and speak, I regained a voice of my own. I could bring out the humour that was hidden in me. It has taught me so many lessons in life.''.

Wahi credited the stunt-based show ''Khatron Ke Khiladi 8'' in 2020, which he first participated in as a contestant, for helping him overcome his long-standing fear of dogs.

''I was dog-phobic; I was very scared of dogs, now I've had a pet for the last six years that happened after 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'. It has given me the stardom that I've. It has made me go places, travel, meet so many different people from different walks of life,'' he said.

Reflecting on the early days of reality TV, Wahi said opportunities were limited as it was not common for actors to host and anchor.

''We are living in a different world today; the world was very different back then. There weren't too many opportunities, there were a handful of actors, who were working.

''Like Manish (Paul) was the only anchor. Prior to Manish, there was Hussain (Kuwajerwala). There weren't too many people who would become anchors. Manish started a different space for anchoring.''.

He further said that prioritising fitness gave him an edge over other actors working in reality shows in the Indian television industry.

''I was one of the very first reality show contestants to be a certain way or look a certain way. Having a physique would matter a lot and that was exploited in a good way back then on TV. That also skyrocketed the entire process and made things better for me. I didn't have to go through too much in reality shows to become a household name,'' Wahi added.

The 39-year-old actor now hopes to do some great work in films.

Wahi made his acting debut in Bollywood in 2014 with Yash Raj Films' ''Daawat-e-Ishq''. He played Amjad Baig, the love interest of Gulrez, played by Parineeti Chopra.

He was later seen in ''Hate Story 4'', which was his first major lead role, and featured in a guest appearance in R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh's romantic-comedy, ''Aap Jaisa Koi''. (2025).

''There are times when certain things will work, and some won't. But these things are not in my hands, I try to do my work and be true to my craft and hope people will like it,'' Wahi said.

''Khatron Ke Khiladi 15'', set to premiere on Colors TV next month, boasts a star-studded lineup of contestants. It features Wahi, Rithvik Dhanjani, Gaurav Khanna, Rubina Dilaik, Jasmin Bhasin, Vishal Aditya Singh, Avika Gor, Farrhana Bhatt, Avinash Mishra, Shagun Sharma, Ruhaanika Dhawan, Orry, and comedian Harsh Gujral.