Karan Wahi on returning to the fiction genre: I wanted to be a part of a love story and not kitchen politics

Six years after his last fiction outing, Kahani Hamari... Dil Dosti Deewanepan Ki, Karan Wahi is back to doing what he does best — romancing on screen. The actor will be seen in Channa Mereya. Talking about the long break from daily soaps, he says, “I wanted a breather from television not because of what I was doing on the medium, but the time I had to spend on a set. I was working round the clock. Eventually, I reached a point where I wasn’t happy about going to work.After much introspection, I realised that despite feeling miserable,I continued to follow the routine probably for the money. I think the day money-making became a secondary aspect of work, I gained more confidence in saying no to a lot of things. Today, when I take up a show on TV, it’s not just about the concept, but also the process andtrajectory of my character. I am glad that things worked out for this project, both creatively and logistically.”
The actor was clear about the genre in which he wanted to make his comeback on the small screen. He says, “I was sure that I wanted to be a part of a love story and not kitchen politics. I feel confident in this genre. I understand that TV is predominantly about families, but I didn’t want to be a part of run-of-the-mill stories. I don’t want to stand like a mute spectator in a frame just because the perception is TV hai toh sab chalta hai. If I am coming back after so many years and hopefully, with a more mature understanding of my craft, I want to be associated with a project I resonate with.”
He adds, “After Remix, I mostly played a fun and outspoken boy next door. My character in Channa Mereya is brooding and intense. I haven’t played a character like that in a long time on TV. It gives me a chance to discover a new side of myself.”