Kunal Karan Kapoor in Vootselect - "The RAIKAR Case" - Page 4

The Embodiment of Mohan Bhatnagar: Kunal Karan Kapoor

Looking at his career before NBT, it almost seemed as if Kunal was used. It seemed as if he was given a part, but never the lead part, even when he possessed the very ability to overshadow co-actors with his mere performances. The important people seemed to understand that he contained incredible talent; that he had something which pulled at something within the viewers. They retained him. They provided him with a bit more space and a bit more character depth, but they never allowed him to run a show, because despite his awe-inspiring talent, despite his inexplicable ability to draw viewers into the very skin of even a villainous character (such as Angad from Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya), they did not believe in him enough to hand him a lead part.

I found it upsetting that someone with so much talent had been held back for years because people refused to look past his exterior. In a TV industry imbued with models, you have to look like an Abercrombie & Fitch commercial rather than carry actual talent. Indeed, people will ignore your lack of skill, but not your supposed lack in appearance - an appearance measured by some grand scale in the inhuman world also known as the model industry.

However, Kunal redefined beauty, in my opinion.

Kunal as an actor is flabbergasting. Watching him perform is like watching a painter paint on a blank canvas - colours blend, shapes emerge, lines connect, but the painter continues to paint and the painting continues to change. Kunal manages to wring out his character and expose every shade of it. Even as Angad, he twisted the black shades. There was more to the character. One could see the potential. The writers would not make him a stronger part of the story. They would not allow his character to grow out of the darkness and leave a mark.

Something that I found admirable was how Kunal never feared that people would hate his character. Perhaps hating is the same as caring. I do not know. But I do know that Kunal is gifted. It is as if he perceives more than the overall design. It is as if he sees the nuances and details and manages to draw them out. Comparing Angad with Vasu, they had only one thing in common; they were both criminals. Kunal made certain that the similarities ended there. The characters did not share the same dialect, attitude or body language, tone of voice or facial expressions.

My sister said something interesting about Kunal bagging NBT. She said that she wondered exactly when the channel/creative heads realised that they were in possession of an actor who was capable of a whole lot more than they had actually anticipated. She wondered when it occurred to them that he was not just any actor, but the embodiment of Mohan Bhatnagar; that he could take the character beyond the script.

Having watched both seasons twice, I doubt that they ever fully realised it. Or if they did, they continued to use his talent as everyone else had without providing him with anything more than his limited space. I believe that Kunal, even on NBT, was not given much screen-space or story; that even though he proved what he was capable of in season one, they still went on to restrain his character in season two, making it all about the love stories rather than Mohan's very journey - especially the emotional one. I find it disheartening that an actor worked 12-14 hours a day, gave his all for a character, and yet in some episodes he had one scene that lasted no more than three minutes while others had half episodes dedicated to them. Perhaps if it had not been for the director understanding Kunal's talent and meticulously capturing his every shot, then even the few minutes of him might have failed to show the depth of Kunal's performances.

Despite his limited screen-space, it was Kunal who overshadowed entire episodes with his one/two-minute frames. And at the end of every episode, it was his performance that I recalled. It was his expressions that burned into my memory. It was his face that left an impact.

For instance, on February 20th 2013 and February 21st 2013, his character had a sequence in the office with Nanhi and Anupama. In the sequence, he raged on about how Nanhi had put herself in danger for a story (even though he used to do the exact same back in the day). During his rant, he paused to ask Anupama for Nanhi's name. When Nanhi answered with Navika, his eyes went from narrowed-in-hell-fury to completely vulnerable, hopeful, and tormented. It would be an understatement to say that I was in shock. I had never, ever, seen any actor's (or human being, for that matter) eyes become so emotionally exposed, so naked. It was astonishing. It was beautiful in the most painful sense of the word.

The episodes were about Nanhi and her hunt. All I remember is Kunal in that single shot. I remember that I kept telling my sister: He is not human. That is not humanly possible.

I could list numerous examples of how Mohan as a character was quite oppressed in both seasons, how his journey was never given much space, and how Kunal's scenes would be shown mid-conversation and cut before they were even completed (while others would have long stretches of time for their characters). However, not much can be done about that now. Personally, I am relieved that I was not a part of India-Forums when NBT was still on-air. I would have driven people insane with my posts, including myself.

Before moving on to the character study, I would like to point out that I do not consider myself a fan of any actor. I become a fan of characters, yes. And I admire some actors such as Kunal. I support them in their work. I enjoy their performances. Thus this character study will focus on Mohan Bhatnagar as in the character, but through Kunal's flawless portrayal of him, of course. It will not focus on Kunal as an actor alone.

Furthermore, the links added in the study are, in fact, short videos that show a glimpse of Mohan Bhatnagar as well as the relationships in his life.

By Anastrophobian.

How I met Kunal Karan Kapoor...

Around November - December 2014 I was going through a rough patch when, in need of a strong distraction and not being satisfied with the current offering on TV, I saw news of reruns of Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. Having heard so much about the show previously I finally decided to give it a shot and it turned out to be the best ever decision. I was hooked right from the first episode and it didn't take me long to completely fall in love with the show- a simple yet sincere story which was uplifting, touching and funny with a lot of heart. And above all it gave us an unforgettable hero in Mohan Bhatnagar, the laffanga patrakaar who always wore his heart on his sleeve and was such a refreshing change from the usual crop of somber leads. Everything about him was so endearing - his impulsive behavior, brash attitude, hilarious interactions with his "biwi" Guru, but most importantly his adorable bond with little Nanhi and his pure and unconditional love for Megha. And this is how I first met Kunal Karan Kapoor, the man who literally brought Mohan Bhatnagar to life, a hero unlike any before and as real as they come.

Call it a coincidence or things just happening at the right time, but I was to have another encounter with him when soon after, Left Right Left started to air again, another amazing show with memorable characters including one Yadhuvansh Sahni - the cool yet put-upon, happy-go-lucky yet eager to excel army cadet. A very relatable character in many ways and Kunal was so convincing and credible as Yudi I stopped looking for any sign of Mohan in him. I even remember thinking Yudi Sahni is the kind of person Mohan Bhatnagar could have for breakfast!

Looks like the universe was really conspiring to introduce me to him so far because finally the man himself made a grand return after 2 years in the form of Shaurya Urmi Sinha in Doli Armanon Ki, as a righteous, sensitive and self-made man, always standing up for truth and justice, but who seems to be battling demons of his own. Dutiful son and ideal friend he maybe, but Shaurya is a mystery regarding his real feelings and therein lies the beauty of this character, and Kunal's restrained performance always has us guessing and curious about what Shaurya does next.

Three diverse personas, three diverse personalities but what connects them all is the portrayal and performance of one actor. There are very few actors who disappear completely into a role, making each trait, nuance, and gesture distinct, and Kunal Karan Kapoor is one of these few. Line up the bindaas Mohan, the nervous Yudi, and the reserved Shaurya and it is hard to imagine that they are all played by the same person. Kunal always seems to go an extra mile in understanding every shade, every facet or emotion that goes into shaping a particular character and performing it with pitch perfection leaving us completely enthralled and eager for more. There's always this question in our minds: How would this character (or Kunal as the character) react now? There's always something new to look forward to from him. I'm sure he is every writer's dream actor, at least I know he would be my dream actor if I was one. And if that wasn't enough, he comes across as a wonderful human being - fascinating, inspiring but above all absolutely humble and honest and it's this very honesty and sincerity which shines through in his performances. As a fan it's exciting and even satisfying that I still have a few shows left to watch where he takes his versatility to another level, particularly as Angad, who I'm really looking forward to meet.

Thank you so much, Kunal, for making Television enjoyable and meaningful again and delighting us and engaging us in every role that you do. I wish you the very very best, be it in your career or your life. May you find success in whatever you choose to do and continue to soar to even greater heights and to even wider horizons. You deserve nothing less. 

Rachana Ramesh

Link to fan write-ups - http://kunalkarankapoor.com/tagged/Write

You can write one too and I will add it on the website 😃

As a writer when i sat down to write this article I had no idea how or where I was going to start. In the back of my head I wanted this to be PERFECT' and the very thought was making it harder for me to write. After a few hours I realized that if I was going to think and write this one, i would never be able to even pen the introductory paragraph, so i decided to take Bappa's name, simply start writing and go with the flow !

An extraordinary actor is one who transcends into the skin of the character he plays, leaving the audience dazzled with his brilliant performance and impeccable emoting. They say an actor who can breath life into the character that he plays, making it hard for all who see and differentiate if he is simply acting or truly living the role is definitely "An Actor Par Excellence". It's not every actors cup of tea to make the audience connect with a fictional character that he or she plays... some miserably fail at it, some do an average or above average job and some manage to touch a chord deep within the audience. The actor featuring in this article is one of the few, who has managed to touch that chord with his portrayal of perhaps one of the most brilliantly written characters on Television making it an Iconic. Today as the actor and the character he played, bid adieu we know for sure that this is one void that can never be filled.

The actor is none other than Kunal Karan Kapoor who essayed the role of Mohan Bhatanagar and Vasu Bhau in the NBT Series. Kunal undoubtedly is one of the most supremely talented actors we have today and his portrayal of Mohan/Vasu has been superlative. Right from the moment the Director of NBT said "GO" Kunal has been a delight to watch. His carefully mussed hair, swagger, lazy- unfinished smile and eyes that speak volumes leave nothing but a contented smile on your face. You see Kunal and you immediately connect it with quality work and realize that this is what it feels like, to watch a flawless performance. The way he emotes, expresses, his body language and his innate ability to live the character is what gives him an edge over his contemporaries. He is one of the few actors who can bring about the varied nuances of the character he plays or should I say live?

If an actor can capture the attention and interest of the audience, in other words make a connect with them, without letting it drop even for a second the task assigned to him/her as an actor is accomplished. Every time Kunal donned the role of Mohan or of Vasu he managed to skilfully accomplish this task. Like said above Kunal does not essay his character, he lives them and while doing so he does not let even a random moment pass by, without grabbing it and bringing it to life. Sometimes it makes you voice out loud that "Hey it's just a TV series for God's sakes" but that's Kunal Karan Kapoor for you. One cannot help but admire and appreciate Kunal's ability to make a lasting Impact when compared to the far more promoted actors we have today. From his depiction of the slightest emotions, that glistens in his eyes , to the facial expressions , dialogue delivery with perfect voice modulations, the various gestures...in short everything about Mohan and Vasu just leaves you or left you spellbound.

Mohan a reporter/editor in chief and Vasu a local don were shining examples of the word "Imperfectly-Perfect". Both these characters were flawed yet perfect...they messed up things in their own ways yet there was something heroic about them. To write a character on paper is one thing, to bring it alive on screen is another and as an actor what Kunal has done, they way he has interpreted and given varied dimensions to the characters he portrayed is indescribable.

Kunal's scenes with everybody be it with Dushyant (Guru), Akanksha (Megha), Ashnoor/Jayshree (Nanhi) etc had a life of its own. Scenes like the one where Mohan gets to do the Spiderman-Chavanni Special on Holi after the two apply color on each other, you can see the happiness break through from within him after 12 Years. When Megha accuses Mohan of moving on in life, getting married to RJ's Mom you can feel the anger and hurt because of what she said seeping through. While screaming at Guru because the latter stopped him from drinking (Excessively) you know why he has resorted to such bitterness. In short Kunal is can pull of any scene effortlessly, but he is simply phenomenal in emotional scenes and manages to leave a lasting Impression every time.

For example...when Mohan stayed away from Megha for 12 Long Years because of a promise he made, the Void in his life could be seen in his eyes...Yes! He did laugh, he did joke because of his Jaan (Rim Jhim) but the pain that lay hidden beneath was somehow palpable from across the screen. When Mohan sat in a corner of his room and cried out loud because of a pain that was too deep-seated and tangled all the way (After learning that Addu refused to come home because of his hatred for Mohan) living rooms were flooded with tears and audience were praying that his pain be soothed. In the scene where Vasu grabs Megha by her arm and pulls her towards him, his eyes fighting the tears that threatened to spill before her but still urging Megha to say something, ask something "Pooch na , Kuch Bhi" you can measure the turmoil going inside him who verbally asked her to leave but wished that she wouldn't. The devastated look on Vasu's face when he fails to recollect who he was even after knowing the truth and admitting it to Megha...the impact of Kunal's performance isn't something that can be described in words.

When he smiles through his tears, like for instance the Indore railway station dream seq or the Meghan first meet after 12 long years amidst the Shivratri Procession the you can see hope, joy, warmth etc mixed with the pain in his eyes and I am yet to come across an actor who can do it as effectively as Kunal. Be it Mohan or Vasu if his tears tug your heart at the same time his smile soothes that very pain. In NBT-2 last episode when he meets the other members of his Family (Video Chat) you can witness a TRAILER, yes a trailer of sorts of the acting range that this actor is capeable of. If Jiji Bua's brought a smile to his face, Nanhi's very sight and her talks paved way for tears and finally when Renu Bhabhi who was always at loggerheads with him asks him to come home and if he would if she asked him to...Vasu simply nods his head and walks away. The pain, helplessness, fear everything Vasu was going through at that particular moment and finally hugging Megha and crying his heart out was a sight to behold.

Kunal's biggest strength as an actor is that is one of the actual few who can emote amazingly well through eyes. Trust me not all can do this. I can cite a 100 examples or maybe even more where Kunal did not have a single dialogue, in perhaps some of the most crucial/life altering situations in the show and still it was always he, who made us realize and experience the gravity of the situation. One of the most beautiful sequence to cite as an example would be the classic confession scene of Megha (Season 1). The Moment she said "I Love You" he is shocked... stunned... left speechless at the latest development in his life. Somewhere he is unsure if he heard it right...the feeling does not sink inside even after she hugs him but the moment he hugs her back you know that he wants nothing more but the world to just stop right there. Kunal managed to take the viewers through the vortex of feelings that Mohan was experiencing without even uttering a Word. What he said with just his eyes could not be summed up as equivocally in a thousand lines of dialogue.

Kunal played the role of Mohan Bhatnagar with great lan, when this character was thrown off a cliff bringing it to and end viewers were left heartbroken. After two episodes, a lot of side shots and long shots, when Kunal made his come back in a brand new- never expected avatar of Vasu, someone who was the complete opposite of Mohan the viewers couldn't help but take pride in the fact that they were KKK's Fans. Eyes adorned with khol, a red tilak, a tooth pick that kept dancing in his mouth, a sleek tapori attitude and a persona that commanded respect and invoked fear. The switch was perfect and smooth but what was impressive about it was that Kunal had to be merciless as Vasu Bhau and still retain Mohan's heart with all it's goodness. For many portraying one character and making it memorable is challenging enough, Kunal went one step ahead and portrayed Vasu Bhau a local but powerful don in the same show making it equally memorable.

Only once in a while do we come across an actor who makes you cross the abyss between real and reel, makes you feel that you are a part of his story and living it with him. I am sure everybody will agree with me when I say that I am thankful to the Makers of NBT for giving us such wonderful characters (Mohan & Vasu) and somebody as talented as Kunal to do it because nobody could have done a better Job. I really don't think any adjective from the English dictionary can ever describe the standard of performance that this actor delivered episode after episode during NBT's run (1 & 2). In fact it would be simply unfair to confine his acting ability in words, as it would do no justice to it.

In the end I would simply reaffirm the quote "A good actor is one who outshines himself every time he delivers a performance" and thus there is no denying the fact that Kunal Karan Kapoor is indeed An actor par Excellence.

Author: Vijitha Rajan
Telly Tadka