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Anchoring gives my personality an edge; it brings out the real Karan Tacker. You know I talk a lot and what better feeling than being paid for it," he quips. The fact that he is perfectly imperfect makes him unusual and he admits to his bitter side just as sweetly. "I am pathetic at dancing. It makes me jittery. I can't do the five-six-seven-eight drill," he states.
Suddenly our conversation is interrupted as he gets a call, "Sir, shot ready hai." "Ready ready hai?" he questions and switches into the world of Viren leaving us to make notes on Karan. He's back in no time and we couldn't help but ask how does he manage the life of Viren and Karan? "You know, we have 18-hr days on an average. Even if you have had a fight with your girlfriend or your father before coming to work, you have to come and perform. Most of the times the scenes ask you to portray the exact opposite emotion of what you are going through in real life on that day. It's tough but one learns to deal with it," he declares with a smile. Quiz him if his tolerance level has increased after stepping into this career and pat comes a reply, "Totally! Television has taught me to be patient. It teaches you to be spontaneous as well." This impulsiveness comes with a price tag. As an acclaimed actor, your fans want to see you as much as possible and he has no reservations about anything. "I've broken all my first time experiences with television. I love meeting new people, listening to their experiences. There is no awkwardness at all. I guess that's because ever since I have started working in television, I have been made to do so many random things like dance on a particular song in front of 50 odd people, cut fruits or even sing, so much so that I am at ease now," he utters confidently.
We tell him to recollect that one moment that has carved a memory for a lifetime in his mind and he shyly answers, "The first time I signed an autograph will always be special. We were shooting at a hill station and as soon as the camera was placed, kids came running and asked me for my autograph. I actually didn't even know what to sign for them. It was such a small location that even if the director stood in front of the camera, people would have asked him for his autograph. So I don't give myself credit for that. That is one day I will never forget in my life."
There will be fans and there will be followers. But some people in life keep you rooted by constantly giving you a reality check. For Karan, he is happy he doesn't have to go too far to face the real world. "My father and sister are my biggest critics. My mother loves me even if I just bat an eyelid. But I love the balance of both, it keeps me grounded. When my mother, who is my biggest fan says, Karan tu zeal ke saath kaam nahi kar raha, I feel I need to pull up my socks," states the actor who is his self proclaimed worst critic.
He definitely owns the world of a lot of women but this young actor isn't complaining. "It's nice to receive so much love from people who don't even know us personally. They send us gifts, letters, it's all so adorable. I hope it never stops." And if you think all the adulation has taken a toll on his head, reality is quite the opposite actually. "I believe the higher the rise, the greater the fall. I would like to be successful yes, but I still have a lot to achieve. I want to be a better artist than a star." Point noted.
It has been established that after a few days, there will be no unearthly call times, no pancake clad actors and no cameras rolling on the sets of this show. It's time for Karan to say 'pack up' to this experience and move on to carve new ones. "I really need a break. I love travelling. I went to London last year and absolutely fell in love with that place. In fact I want to stay there for a while and feel the vibe of the country. Maybe after my show ends, I will be off for a long vacation and then learn some dance as well," he states excitedly.
This supremely talented actor commits to thread stories in the near future. "I believe a good actor can be a good director and vice versa. After I finished my first show, I became really good friends with my director and cameraman of that show and all the art I have learnt is from them. So yes, I definitely want to tell some good stories to people as I have a vision."
As a parting note with a juxtapose of feelings, he states, "I am weirdly short tempered. I am calm but I don't like when people talk to me disrespectfully. I like anxiety, it makes one prepare more and especially keeps me on my toes. I wouldn't trade this job for anything in the world. There is so much glamour, colour, grandeur it feels like a fresh day every day."
The saga continues as he leaves to get ready for his next shot so unaffected by his status leaving everyone affected by his aura. And because he's been overtly kind, he gets to read this piece before the world does. I'm off to the set once again this time for some coffee with Karan.
Published in the July 2013 issue of White Print