TKF CC #80{SIO} - Page 92

Television heartthrob Karan Singh Grover made girls drool over him in television shows like Dil Mill Gaye', Qubool Hai' among others. Now the actor is gearing up for his Bollywood debut opposite Bipasha Basu in Alone'. In an hour long tte--tte, KSG, as he is fondly referred, talks about his failed marriage to Jennifer Winget, link-ups with co-star and friend Bipasha Basu, his debut film Alone' and more. Excerpts:

First things first, Karan, did you want to be alone' while promoting Alone'?

Yeah I definitely wanted to be alone' while promoting my film Alone'. Can you not hear the conversation? I definitely deserve to be alone.

Did you not want your wife Jennifer Winget to be with you while you are gearing up to make a Bollywood debut?

My wife and I are getting divorced. And this has got nothing to do with my professional life. They are not intertwined. My personal life isn't connected to professional life. Unfortunately, the whole whirlwind that is happening in my life has come at a time when I am kick-starting my Bollywood career. And I cannot do anything about it.

What has been Jennifer's reaction to Alone'?

Jennifer and I don't talk to each other. We are not on talking terms.

While you are going through a divorce with wife Jennifer, did the link-up with Bipasha affect your equation with her?

No, I don't get affected with the link-up rumours with Bipasha Basu. When we visited Goa, we were actually in a large group but everyone chose to only talk about us. We were expecting to have fun and not think about work. Promotions are more hectic than actual shooting. So we had fun in Goa and we rested quite well. You can never put limitation to what people think about you. One has a Freedom of Speech and if a person feels a particular way about anyone then I can't have much say about it. Hence, I ignore because if I pay attention to what they say, then, I get very sad.

Bipasha and you were going through bad times in their respective relationships during the same time. How did you guys deal with it?

She was going through her own shit which she didn't discuss. I was going through mine, which I also never spoke about. At work, we were at a place where we just wanted to do a good film. For me, even though there is a problem in my personal life, I don't let my professional life get affected.

Have you now become circumspect while getting into a relationship?

I am actually thinking very strongly to not be in any relationship. I have faith in relationships but I want to stay away from it for some time.

How is Bipasha as a person?

Bipasha has a heart of gold and somebody who is positive in her life.

Coming to Alone', how was it romancing Bipasha Basu in Katra Katra?

I was quite comfortable but there were a series of emotions I went through, especially when I knew it is my first time and that too opposite Bipasha Basu. I didn't want a retake to happen because of me. I was working with a lady who is dressed in a miniscule clothes with so many people around. So if I f**k up then I will end up making every one uncomfortable.

Karan you are a big star on television. What made you shift gears to films with Alone'?

I am very privileged and honoured that I was asked to do this film. All the mediums have been merging and whether we are on television, films or theatre things are merging. There are huge film stars who are doing television shows and vice-versa. Television actors are getting into films and they are doing well. Everyone is open minded to new people coming in with newer ideas and fresher stories.

These days 6-8 pack abs has become almost a mandate. What is your opinion about it?

I am actually very happy about the fact that everyone is pro-fitness. Not that I am gay, but when I was young, I used to watch Salman Khan and pause the scenes where he used to take his shirt off and then imagine ourselves as him. That has inspired our generation and a generation after us as well. It is nice that people in our industry have realized the fact that we are put on a pedestal in our country and the audience looks at us or associate with us. And hence it is necessary to look good on-screen.

Since you come from school of television, how much learning or unlearning you had to do for your role in Alone'?

There was lot of unlearning actually because there have been times when I have played a character on television which I don't know for how long will it last. So you pretend to be that character for 17-18 hours a day. Over three years of doing that, at a point when the show shuts or ends, you are left at a point where you don't know what to do and how to behave. But with a film, you know what the beginning is and what is going to be the end. This is the only difference between television and films.

Tell us about your character in Alone'

Emotionally the character is not a very multi-layered character but he is very strong about what he feels. Physically it wasn't a requirement to be in a shape that I am in, but I thought it is my debut film and if I am not looking my best then I would not be able to live with it. I would have regret since I am shooting with Bipasha Basu, she is hot and I am not at my best.

You are a big star in television. Did that add any pressure on you while making a Bollywood debut?

It works as both advantage and disadvantage. The pressure works as an advantage. People's expectations will encourage me to do my best. If I take it as a burden, then it will act as a pressure.

Surveen Chawla, Barun Sobti told us that television gets monotonous and redundant. How much do you agree?

It does get monotonous, but redundant I don't know in what way they meant. Everyone criticizes television and finds it tedious, which it is but no one understands that for a director, producer or writer has to come up with a 30 minute story every freaking day which is connected to the previous story and has to be better than the previous one. There is lot of pressure to maintain the TRP's. Also in television, the director has limited space.

Though you have made a shift to films, given a chance, are you open to doing television again?

Yeah yeah, I am very open to doing series on television. In fact, I got few calls too from some of them. I am happy that we are trying to recreate few shows from the past into mini-series. It is a good thing both for actors and audience both.

Which is your preferred genre?

I don't have a genre preference. It is not that I like romantic or action and I will do only that. As an actor for me, I would think either it is a good story or a bad story. So there is no preference for a particular genre. I just want to do a good film that entertains the audience. But I would love to do action films and comedy. Again in comedy, I don't understand sex-comedy but if I think it is funny I will do it.

Personally, do you love horror films?

I love horror films. I have watched them for whole of my life. Shining' and In The Mouth of Madness' are my favourites. In Hindi, Bhoot' was freaking scary. That reminded me of Omen'.

Have you had supernatural experiences in real life?

I have had supernatural experiences when I was a kid. But they were very disturbing. I would not want to talk about it.

Gurmeet Choudhary is also debuting with Khamoshiyan'. Do you consider him as your competitor?

I am very conceited and I think about myself. I should get better with every project I do. I am not competing with anyone. If you are an actor and can entertain your audience, then there is space for you in this industry.

Which are your forthcoming films?

As of now nothing is on the cards. I have a three film deal with Kumar Mangat, but it is not three consecutive films.