Smita Poojary (DNA; September 20, 2019)

Apart from the performances, host Karan Wahi has come to be known as the most entertaining part of Dance India Dance 7. Especially the way he flirts with one of the judges, Kareena Kapoor Khan. “When you keep working with somebody, you find out a lot of things about them if you don’t know each other personally. This is the first time I’m working with Kareena. The flirting is all in fun.” Karan adds that with time, he and Bebo have had more things to talk about, and there is more freedom about how they interact. “It’s all thanks to her as she made me really comfortable on the show. I don’t have to think about saying something, as it is all in good humour,” he smiles.

Excerpts from the chat...

You replaced Dheeraj Dhoopar as the host of DID...  
Dheeraj is a friend of mine. I personally don’t exactly know what happened. I was on a vacation in London when I got a call for the show. I had to fly back the same day as I had to shoot the following day itself. I’m happy that I’m working in it.

How was it shooting for Bigg Boss 13 promo with Salman Khan?
It’s always fun working with Salman sir, because I have filmed a lot with him on multiple shows. And as usual, it was great. He was at his best and shooting with him in a gym set-up brought back a lot of memories because he was the first reason I started working out.

Actors who turned hosts never went back to acting. What’s your take on that?
Acting is acting, whether you do it on TV, film, web, theatre or ads. It depends on the person, time and situation, what the individual wants to choose. Viewers don’t see more of anchors because we shoot only once a week and it’s aired across three months; so, you always feel that a certain person is only anchoring. I’ve been hosting and acting for seven years, but I haven’t done a soap, so a lot of people tend to think I’m not acting anymore. But no matter what the medium, I only do something that I like.

What do you enjoy more — acting or hosting?
There’s no comparison because both are my professional strengths. I’m an actor first then an anchor. Had I not been a popular actor, I’d have probably not got the opportunity to host a show. I enjoy the latter because it’s me there and I rediscover a lot of things personally. Whatever I say is what I feel at the moment. That has its own joy as you have to be spontaneous and a bridge between the judges, contestants and audiences. In acting, I have the freedom to become a character and live a certain life that’s not mine.

You were part of Daawat-E-Ishq (2014) and Hate Story 4 (2018). Are you looking for more offers on the big screen?
If I get a film in which the makers and I feel that I can do complete justice, then I will be a part of it. I don’t want to do something for the heck of doing it. A film working or not working is not in my hands, but I’d always make sure I enjoy whichever project I’m part of.