Karan Tacker: "I don't think I'm that important as an actor; paps aren't interested in me"

The cast and makers of Special Ops 2 are gearing up for the show's grand release. Amid that, actors Karan Tacker, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Muzammil Ibrahim got into a candid conversation with India Forums and shared their views on the show, how they prepared for it, about media's invasion in the lives of the actors and more.

Q Season 2 explores artificial intelligence and digital threats. From the trailer, it's clear that the enemy isn't visible, it's AI. What are your thoughts on privacy breaches and how the media invades people's personal lives?

Karan Tacker: Well, I've honestly never felt like the paparazzi were invading my life. To be frank, I don't think I'm that important as an actor or celebrity for the paps to be that interested in me. So, personally, I've never experienced that kind of invasion.

Tahir Raj Bhasin: But generally speaking, entertainment media has always had a certain level of curiosity — which mirrors the public's curiosity too. The good thing about technology and social media today is that you can control how much of your personal life you want to share. Some people choose to post everything , "This is what I'm eating for breakfast, this is where I'm going tonight…" and it all goes up.

The real question is: how much control do you personally have over your digital life through your devices? That's where a show like Special Ops becomes relevant. The antagonist I play takes over that control. You think your social media, your bank accounts, your nation's security, all of it is in your hands. But what if it's hacked and taken over? That's a serious threat.

Muzzamil Ibrahim said, I'd like to push back on that a little. If you're talking about control, especially for us as actors or public figures, I don't think it's in our hands anymore, at least not as much as it used to be.

Digital morphing and deepfakes have evolved so much that anyone can be targeted. We've seen leaked videos of unknown people, and in the past, even some big names from Hollywood and now, to some extent, Bollywood. Earlier, you could tell if something was fake. Now, the lines are blurred. It takes time to decipher what's real and what's artificial.

As for media intrusion, unless you're a superstar or someone paying them loads of money, I don't think they're going to bother chasing you around.

Q: Have you experienced roles where emotional scenes were more physically draining than actual action scenes?

Tahir Raj Bhasin: For me, it really depends on the part. I was lucky this time, the character I play in Special Ops is a blend of both. He enjoys action and is trained in mixed martial arts. So, the prep had to be both physical and psychological. And we didn't have much time!

Some days, we'd shoot two action sequences back-to-back, then move into a deep, dialogue-heavy scene. You're physically tired, and now you have to shift into another gear entirely, play a more psychological side of the character. It's quite demanding.

Muzammil: Absolutely. Sometimes, emotionally intense scenes are more physically challenging than action. I remember my first film, some emotional sequences were so tough, I'd go home completely drained. I was fatigued for days. That took more out of me than any fight scene I've done. With Special Ops, I'm taking punches and coming back the next day excited to get beaten up again, it gets your blood pumping. But emotional scenes? Those take a toll that stays with you.

Karan Tacker: The character I play, Farooq Ali is a RAW agent. So, physical sharpness is key. He has to be quick with weapons, he has to look and behave like someone who's trained, even if he appears completely normal to the world. If you meet a real RAW agent, they might look like regular folks, but they can knock someone out in ten seconds. That's their job. So, as an actor, you must come as close to that reality as possible not just in appearance, but in behavior too.

Every action piece has a deeper emotion behind it. Farooq, and the whole Himmat Singh team, are fighting for the country. They're trying to save it during a moment of crisis. One phone call could change everything. That emotional weight is always present, even in a hand-to-hand combat scene.

There's always a thought, an emotional intention behind every punch or move. It's not just choreography, it's character-driven. That's where the psychological aspect blends with the physical. As Special Ops Season 2 prepares to stream on the 18th of July on Jio Hotstar, the stakes, both on screen and off are higher than ever. With an invisible AI threat, morally grey agents, and physically intense performances driven by raw emotion, the actors aren't just portraying heroes, they're embodying the complex cost of duty in the digital age.