Nearly a decade after Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum went off air, actor Saanvie Tallwar levelled allegations of on-set harassment and physical assault against former co-star Karan Kundrra. While her claims have sparked conversations online, one question, she says, has repeatedly come her way: Why did she not take legal action at the time?

Tallwar alleges that during the filming of a scene, Kundrra came too close and kissed her, catching her off guard. She claims she responded by pushing and slapping him, after which he allegedly slapped her back and abused her and her family.

Explaining why she chose not to file a police complaint, Tallwar tells us that producer Ektaa Kapoor’s intervention played a key role. “Many ask why I didn’t file a complaint because Ektaa texted me and met me after the incident. She supported me, and we went back to working on the show. That was why I didn’t file a complaint against him for assaulting me,” she says.

Tallwar also claims that pursuing the matter legally at that stage could have jeopardized her career. “Professionals aise hote hain, if I would have taken the legal route back then, career khatam ho jata. But maaf nahin kar sakti, kabhi nahin,” she says.

On why she has chosen to revisit the episode now, the actor says she never received the closure she sought. “Baat purani hai, but I haven’t got closure from him ever. Also, I have to come out with the correct version. Mistakes are part of human nature, but you learn from your mistakes before moving on; he hasn’t,” she says.

Tallwar adds that she had spoken about the incident earlier, but feels her account “was not picked up correctly at that time”.

Kundrra has not publicly addressed the renewed allegations in recent reports. We reached out to his team for a comment but received no response till the time of going to press.

Karan Kundrra has often spoken candidly about love and on Valentine's Day as he talks about his relationship with Tejasswi Prakash, there’s an unmistakable sense of certainty and comfort. Looking back at how their bond began, Karan shared that neither of them had anticipated where their journey would lead. “When we met each other, we didn’t know that we would be together, that we would date and fall in love,” he said, adding that despite the years gone by, the feelings remain unchanged.

Karan and Tejasswi met on Bigg Boss 15, where their friendship slowly turned into love amid the pressures of the reality show. Reflecting on what makes their relationship work, Karan said, “I still look at her and I’m like, yeh kya ladki hai. She is still the same girl that I met. Every day something happens and I am reminded why I fell in love with her. We fell in love for the right reasons. We still have the same amount of fun, and we still like doing similar things together.”

Having spent four years together, including sharing the intense experience of reality television, Karan believes that understanding each other’s emotional rhythms has been key. “She understands my mood. I know kab yeh phatne wali hai. I know when she is comfortable and when she is not,” he said. “When you’ve done a reality show together, you’ve seen the extreme sides of each other.”

Interestingly, Karan also finds inspiration in long-term relationships around him. Like his Splitsvilla X6: Pyaar Ya Paisa co-host Sunny Leone, and her husband Daniel Weber. He shares, “When I see Daniel and Sunny together, it makes me feel that I want to be somebody like that for my girlfriend.”

Watching them as parents has had a deep impact on him. “Ab meri woh stage ho gayi hai jahan main dekh raha hoon how they are with their kids. You keep getting inspired,” he added.

Winner of Bigg Boss 15 and best known as TV’s naagin, Tejasswi Prakash has now taken a break from the small screen. She tells us, “I want to explore different mediums. But as they say, never say never. I have learnt it from life, and I have learnt it the hard way. So, I am not going to say that I will never do a TV show. After all, it has made me who I am today. If done in the right manner wherein you pick the right shows, then you certainly get recognition. People know me, but now I want that to translate into something else. So yes, I have taken a break from television.”

Tejasswi is yet to bag a project in Bollywood. Talking about getting a break in this industry, she says, “Yes, it is tough, but people have done it, and so, I feel I can do it too. It might take a little longer, but it is not impossible.”

Tejasswi has acted in Marathi films like Mann Kasturi Re and School College Ani Life. Sharing her experiences, she says, “My parents wanted me to do Marathi films, so I did it for them and loved the whole experience. You get to learn so much from it. I feel in the Marathi film industry, acting is taken very seriously because most of the actors there are so well-prepared. Also, they are predominantly stage actors, which is why they are so confident, fluent in the language and have a great command over their accent.”

On the personal front, Tejasswi has been dating Karan Kundrra for over two years. They met at the Bigg Boss house. Ask her if they plan to tie the knot anytime soon and she says, “I have worn enough lehengas on the ramp during fashion shows. I am not sure how much time it will take for me to wear the lehenga (laughs).”

Karan Kundrra has been seen in projects across mediums, however, he believes his best is yet to come. Not the kind to give into the pressure of norms, he says, “You can’t have a rigid approach of only wanting to play certain roles unless you have reached that stage. I don’t want to delve into the complexity of what I deserve in films. Not every fantastic actor has got what they deserve. For me, it’s about not taking up a project where I will be wasted.”

Elaborating on how he doesn’t feel the need to be part of any rat race, he says, “As an artiste, one has to know ki creative satisfaction hai ya ego satisfaction. Even a 10-minute role can be creatively satisfying. I am enjoying where I am and aspire to do good cinema. I am not part of any rat race; I never was. People should stop comparing actors and allow them to take up projects that resonate with them. Someday, I will have those films, too, but until then, I prefer to work with people who have faith in me. Give me a good role and I am happy to perform in any medium.”

Karan, who became a household name as Arjun Punj from his debut show, Kitani Mohabbat Hai (2009), last appeared on TV with the supernatural show Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal, which ended in July last year. The actor, who has also appeared in films like Mubarakan, 1921, and Thank You For Coming, and hosted shows such as Dance Deewane Juniors, and Temptation Island, says, “The break from TV isn’t deliberate. I just need a great project to return with; I definitely won’t be a part of a saas-bahu drama. Some never return to television after entering films, but that’s not a thumb rule. I don’t wish to follow anyone’s path but chart my own course. In fact, I have never felt the pressure of delivering a hit show or worrying about the ratings. My audiences know I don’t run after the ratings but try to surprise them. I want to create a space for myself, which I think I have achieved partly.”

On the personal front, the actor has been in a steady relationship with his Bigg Boss 15 co-contestant Tejasswi Prakash. It’s been two years since they started dating and they are often asked about their wedding.

“I have always been open about my relationships, but I also have a responsibility towards my partner, and I have to think about her as well. I can’t be selfish. I am comfortable with people discussing my personal life, as it doesn’t affect my work. My identity is not solely defined by my relationship. The problem would arise if either of us were unknown. Fortunately, we are both established actors,” he replies, adding, “I come across bizarre rumours about our relationship and marital status. All I can say is people are very creative and seem to have a lot of free time.”

Karan shares that Tejasswi has brought stability to his life. He says, “It’s her simplicity that brings stability to our relationship. We often tend to blind ourselves with unreal expectations from our partners or complicate things to attain a perfect Insta-worthy relationship. However, if you look at it, it’s the simple things that keep a couple happy.”

It was Karan Kundrra’s romantic persona in Kitani Mohabbat Hai (2009) that captured the hearts of his fans at the start of his career. While he refrained from repeating himself, the actor is back on the screen with two releases this month: the big-screen outing Tera Kya Hoga Lovely and the mini-series Love Adhura. He is elated that he fulfilled his fans’ request of doing a romantic show.

“I knew my audience wanted [me to do] a love story. But I also wanted to do something different. So, we made it into a romantic thriller. Love Adhura gave us the opportunity to showcase our performances and the power of good screenplay,” says the actor, hoping that he has managed to give the audience what they wanted, albeit with a twist.

For Kundrra, it has always been about evolving as an artiste and offering fresh experiences to his audience. It’s only creative fulfillment that drives him to select a project.

“People have been impressed that we did something different. I did [the show] so that I could do better in the future,” he says, adding that he has found a few concepts that came his way interesting, which are now in the development stage. “If they materialize, it will be something new for the audience.”

Although mindful of his positioning as an artiste in the industry, Kundrra has never shied away from an interesting project, irrespective of the length of the role.

“Natural progression says that once you become big on television, you should do a show that’s four times bigger than your previous one on a channel that’s bigger than the one you last worked on. I have seen people moving towards films after finding success in TV and then eventually disappearing. So, I don’t think like that. I see what excites or challenges me,” he says.

When asked about working with his girlfriend Tejasswi Prakash, he says that while their names together will scale the popularity of any show, he wants to be signed for their talent. “I want to be a part of a project, especially one with Teju, where the markets sign us for our acting talent, not because we are Karan and Tejasswi. To undermine our respective hard work and cast us because we have a hashtag, is not fair,” he says.

There is little Karan Kundrra has not tried on screen in his decade-plus run in the industry. It looks like the actor has not had his fill of the supernatural after MTV Fanaah. In his latest offering, Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal, he is seen as Veer Oberoi, a werewolf. Kundrra admits that the show is heavily influenced by The Vampire Diaries, and on his part, it has been a challenge to not ape Ian Somerhalder. In a candid conversation with mid-day, Kundrra discusses the pressures of playing the character.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

When I heard the storyline and character brief, I was excited. I, however, didn’t think I would be able to do justice to the hectic schedules that come with television shows because over the past few years, I have gotten used to shooting for [finite series] for OTT platforms. But what is life without a bit of challenge?

Of course. Who hasn’t?

It does look like the [international] show, that’s why people are comparing them. But fantasy supernatural shows are a limited genre. When we think of the genre, we immediately think of Twilight, Dracula or The Vampire Diaries. For instance, if you talk about two brothers and their mother, one immediately thinks of Karan Arjun (1995) or Deewaar (1975). For me, as long as the audiences are drawn to watching the show, it is [worth it].

Actually, that was my first question [laughs]. It is obvious, and I am a big fan of the show and Ian Somerhalder. I was worried that I would copy him. Having said that, if we had made an exact copy of The Vampire Diaries, why would anyone watch us? They might as well watch The Vampire Diaries again.

Veer Oberoi is a challenging character because it can easily [slip into] the caricaturish zone. When someone plays a negative role, they end up making it an [all-black] antagonist, but they are not real. There is no Mogambo [Amrish Puri’s character in Mr India] in real life, neither are there absolute good guys. Veer has his own standard of good and bad, he does not care about what people think of him. He is unapologetic and intense. It becomes difficult to make such a character rooted to reality, which is what I am trying to do.

Yes, during certain scenes, I felt I am [emulating] Ian Somerhalder, and then it would strike me [to portray the scene in my own way]. Do you know the amount of pressure on me right now? Before other people can, I have put myself under pressure. Sometimes, when I do certain scenes in romantic shows, the director says, ‘Tere andar ka Shah Rukh bahar aa gaya.’ And I offer to do another take. As an actor, you have to keep ensuring that you bring your own touch to the character.

It was definitely [affected] because television was not churning out new content [during the lockdowns]. So, a section of people, who earlier didn’t have access to OTT, were forced to explore it. As a result, people got accustomed to a different kind of content. We are breaking television stereotypes with shows like Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal, and creating content that people expect.

Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries

After hosting Dance Deewane Juniors and shooting a film, Karan Kundrra is back to the fiction genre two years after his stint on Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. He will be seen as a werewolf in the fantasy show, Ishq Mein Ghayal (IMG). But it’s not just his work that generates interest amongst his audience; it’s also his relationship with actress Tejasswi Prakash that has been the talk of the town. In a chat with us, Karan talks about his choices of projects and being content on the personal front. Excerpts:

Your personal life has been in the news for quite some time now.

I am calm, happy aur bohot sukoon mein hoon abhi. Wohi important hota hai life mein. I am at peace right now because I know what I want. I have clarity. It wasn’t a mission and happened organically. It is a normal relationship with two people coming together. Tejasswi and I are very different and it’s an imperfectly perfect love story. There are so many imperfections that it’s perfect (smiles).

It happens to date. Honestly, I am at a stage where I don’t care about these comments anymore. I can’t keep on proving a point to people. If somebody hates you, no matter how well you do in life, they will diss you.

When you are clear about things, these things don’t seem important. Jab ek relationship mein koi cheez lack karti hai tab aap tension lete hain inn baaton ki. There is an unspoken clarity between us that this is not something we should be worrying about. Our parents know each other. We are together throughout the day and away only when we are shooting. We continue to discover each other, have been through ups and downs in our relationship, but every time something unfavourable happens, we emerge stronger. This is a no-tension relationship. Iss relationship mein siyappe nahi hain.

Veer is completely black. It’s the most interesting and badass character I have played in my career. Also, I feel that the concept of positive, negative or grey doesn’t exist on TV anymore.

Over the years, I’ve realised that everything is about the character, as it stays with audiences. Also, I have understood that no matter how well-written a character is, unless you play it with conviction, it won’t make the cut with the audience.

I don’t believe in making plans because whenever I’ve made plans for my career or life, they have never fructified. Of course, Bigg Boss opened a lot of avenues for me. I completed two films, hosted two reality shows. I don’t think you need breaks from television to explore cinema. Today, actors are not known by the platform they are on, but for their acting prowess. Nowadays, people don’t focus on becoming a hero. They instead want to be recognised as good actors. I believe that is a more long-lasting career choice than thinking ki main yeh sab chhod kar ab yahi karunga. Yeh pehle hota tha, ab nahi hota. Ab artiste ki value hai.

The TV industry is still reeling under the shocking death of Tunisha Sharma on the sets of her show Ali Baba Dastaan-e-Kabul. The 20-year-old actress reportedly died by suicide; she hanged herself in a make-up room on the sets in Naigaon on Saturday.

The Waliv police has arrested her co-star Sheezan Khan under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. Tunisha and Sheezan were apparently in a relationship, but in the past few days, there was trouble between them. Following her death, her mother lodged a complaint against Sheezan, after which he was arrested. Yesterday, he was produced at Vasai Court and has been sent to fourday police custody.

Tunisha’s co-actors from Ali Baba Dastaan-e-Kabul still can’t believe what has happened. Rumi Khan said, “I am shocked! How could this happen to someone who seemed absolutely fine just a few hours earlier? On Saturday, I was not shooting, but we had a quick chat over messages around 2 pm. She was like a daughter to me. She had lost her father when she was very young and she used to tell me that I resemble him. We shared a special bond and I cared for her. She was a sweet and kind soul and my heart goes out to her mother. ”

After the incident on Saturday, the shoot of Ali Baba Dastaan-e-Kabul came to a halt. The future of the show, too, seems uncertain, given the fact that Tunisha and Sheezan were the lead actors. However, the cast and crew are hoping that the shoot will resume at some point. “It is going to take some time for the production house to decide how to go about getting the show back on track,” said a cast member.

Tunisha was active on social media. A few hours before her death, she had posted a video on her Instagram stories, where she could be seen sitting in a chair getting her make-up done. “#BTS #STAYTUNED,” she wrote. She had also posted a picture from the set around the same time, with a caption that read, “Those who are driven by their Passion Doesn’t stop (sic).”

J Karthik, who plays the lead antagonist on Tunsiha-Sheezan’s TV show Ali Baba Dastaan-e-Kabul expressed shock saying, “If you see the videos Tunisha has posted just before the incident, it is hard to believe that someone in that frame of mind would take such a step. It looks like there is a hidden story behind this and I hope the investigation leads to some clear results.”

Kartik, who is currently in Bengaluru, has not been shooting for the show for the past few weeks. Talking about Tunisha and Sheezan, he said, “She came across as a very quiet, reserved girl and seemed very focused on her work. Tunisha and Sheezan were friends and there was no talk about a relationship of any sort that I am aware of. They would hang out together during lunch, they were jovial and happy.”

As a senior on the sets, Karthik feels that youngsters today find it difficult to deal with pressure. “There is this urgency and immediate need for instant gratification among youngsters, which can be disturbing. Everyone wants to do well and better than others, there is competition, but the competition is not healthy. They are in the rat race, but are unable to deal with the pressure that comes along with it. It is sad that there is nobody around who can spare some time and give a bit of advice when a person is feeling low. Everyone is fighting for survival; nobody wants to get involved in anybody else’s issues. It is a lonely world for someone so young and impressionable, and that can be scary.”

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One of the most popular couples in town, Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash are a social media sensation. Each time the actors are papped together, their pictures go viral in no time. Mention this to Prakash and she sounds all modest:

“People love to see Karan, and if I’m with him, they like it. When we go out, everybody recognizes him. At times, people would tell him, ‘You were so good on Bigg Boss’. I’d be sitting right there and be like, ‘But, I won the show, aapne mujhe pehchana bhi nahin’ (laughs). And then Karan would say that’s because he's tall and people can spot him from a distance. So, he never takes the credit.”

All praises for her beau, Prakash admits that Kundrra’s presence has brought about “a massive difference” in her life. “I’ve changed completely. The way I approach my career now is so different. That’s because Karan has been so gutsy and has experimented with all his projects. And he makes sure that I have that confidence, too. He tells me, ‘You’re young, you can take risks, just try new things.’ He’s the one who has made me think the way I do now. Like, all the answers I just gave you, it’s all his teachings (chuckles),” she adds.

Amid all this, one question that has been on everyone’s mind is when are they taking their relationship to the next level. Prakash, 29, quips, “Whether wedding is on the cards or not, I am, as usual, going to put it all on Karan. I mean, I don’t know, I don’t see a ring. Do you? So, let’s ask him.”

However, when asked if it bothers her that more than her work, her love life gets talked about, she says, “TejRan (their couple name) has been loved so much that I’m just scared. I don’t want it to make people stop looking at us as serious actors; we’re not just a couple. That’s why a lot of times we avoid being together. Despite all the love and blessings, I have a concern... I don’t want our relationship to ever overshadow the fact that both Karan and I are good at what we do. We’re strong, both individually and as a couple.”

Click, upload. Click, upload. Be it outside a gym, airport or cafe, social media feeds are filled with celeb spottings 24*7. Stories are weaved just by viewing these snaps and reels — fashion, dating life, body language, pretty much everything makes it to news headlines, too. But is there any magic mantra by which the paps get to know about the whereabouts of celebs? Here’s an explainer by three popular paparazzi: Viral Bhayani, Yogen Shah and Manav Manglani.

Most of the time, Manglani says, they research to track celeb movements, usually around their movie releases. “We know that the stars will come out to promote their project, we know where they are shooting, we know their car numbers by heart. And the PR managers also tell us where the celebs will be at what time,” Manglani tells us.

Meanwhile, Shah says the restaurant spottings happen on the tip of the owners of the joints: “The day the actors get to know that these things are happening, they will stop going to that restaurant.”

“We have to chase the big celebs. The others call you to pap them,” says Bhayani, adding that sometimes it gets overwhelming for them. He adds that many non-A-listers, too, call them up and say, “Humari spotting kar do, paisa le lo”.

A well-placed source also reveals, “Big celebs don’t care about spottings. But others use this as a tool through which corporate heads notice them, and pay them for favours.”

Bhayani shares that these days, a lot of “producers also put pressure” to snap actors who are part of their movies “to increase project visibility”. Whose spottings are most in demand? “Actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, TejRan (Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra) and Shehnaaz Gill. Rakhi Sawant involved in some banter or Uorfi Javed doing something crazy are also in demand. And as for who people don’t want to see, even at the airports — most senior, prolific actors,” he says.

Have stars ever asked you to delete pics? “We are very pally with celebs now. But until a few years back, it used to happen a lot. Like an actor exiting a maker’s office would say, ‘Please let announcement happen first’. But we also don’t click celebs who don’t want us to, like actor Siddharth (who threatened the paps when they clicked him exiting the same salon as rumoured girlfriend, actor Aditi Rao Hydari),” Manglani concludes.

To celebrate Teacher’s Day, actor Karan Kundrra surprised the media students of a college in Mumbai. Called in on the pretext of having an exam, the students were stunned when Kundrra walked into the classroom. During his 30-minute class, Kundrra spoke about his process of getting into character, his philosophy of not endorsing brands that might not send the right message to the youth and how education is important in any field.

Kundrra admits he was nervous before walking into the class: “Today’s youth is so much more evolved... So, I was like pata nahin kya hone wala hai, bas beizzati nahin honi chahiye.”

Recollecting his time as a student, the 37-year-old shares, “Because of the generation I come from, the respect I had for my teachers was as much as we had for our parents. We knew that these are the people who are moulding us for tomorrow... Bahut maar padti thi mujhe!”

Ask who is the one person from the industry who has taught him a valuable lesson and Kundrra doesn’t hesitate to name actor Anil Kapoor. The two shared screen space in the 2017 film Mubarakan, and Kapoor gave him a piece of advice of treating each shot extremely seriously. “Recently, I met him on a reality show and I told him, ‘Sir, jo advice aapne mujhe di thi, that has made me think very differently about how I pursue every take’,” he adds.

During a rapid-fire round, we ask him what subject he feels his girlfriend, actor Tejasswi Prakash, should teach. “She should teach ‘How to get away with murder’,” he jokes, as it seems she can get away with anything! Head to HT City’s YouTube channel to watch the video.

Actor Karan Kundrra is enjoying his relationship with actor Tejasswi Prakash, and the constant attention doesn’t bother him. Instead, he’s sure that he will find his calm with his girlfriend despite the noise. “I don’t have any issue with the extra attention. It’s a part of my life,” he says, adding that he likes to stay real and doesn’t believe in behaving differently in front of the camera.

Talking about his relationship with the Swaragini - Jodein Rishton Ke Sur actor in this context, he explains, “I don’t get affected by it all, thinking, ‘Arey, camera hai.’ I don’t get conscious or hide anything. So, [being open about your relationship in public] is not difficult. It is what Tejasswi and I have chosen. Despite the attention, we [always] find our space.”

Kundrra and Prakash met inside the Bigg Boss house last year and their romance blossomed all through the season. While Prakash declared Kundrra as the “world’s best boyfriend” on social media recently, the Dil Hi Toh Hai actor feels she deserves the title of the best girlfriend. “She is the best girlfriend in the world. She barely gets any free time (given her busy work schedule), but she still manages everything (taking care of our relationship). It’s amazing.”

Kundrra goes on to share that while he is an extrovert, Prakash is a low-key person. “Whatever she does and the way she is, woh aata nahin hai [bahar]. For instance, when we are getting papped, I am more expressive, be it holding her or kissing her. She isn’t like that,” he says.

Whether marriage is on the cards soon or not is something time will tell, but Kundrra has taken another big step by buying a lavish flat worth crores in Mumbai’s Bandra area. “I didn’t have the guts to do something like that. I was looking at a smaller house, but my father gave me a push [to buy a bigger place]. The house comes with a lot of emotions. The last one month was stressful, but thankfully, it is done. I am very happy,” he ends.

Karan Kundrra is enjoying hosting the dance reality show Dance Deewane Juniors. The Kitani Mohabbat Hai actor shares, “I am hosting a full-fledged show for a proper GEC (General Entertainment Channel) for the first time. Hosting ki meri journey shuru hui thi Gumrah End Of Innocence show se. Since this is a children’s reality show, the sensibilities are different. Bachche bahut sensitive hote hain. Hosting a show with kids is definitely a lot of fun but at the same time kids, especially younger ones, do not know how to react on stage, in case they have won or lost.

Ask Karan if he likes anchoring more or acting and pat comes the reply, “It is like asking a father to choose between his two kids. You can't! Hosting is a great challenge for me and I like competing with myself.”

He adds, “I want to grow bigger career wise. Abhi tak response bahut achha hai but if you ask me that kya main isko apni rozi-roti banaunga then I don’t think so. If you tell me to leave films and start only hosting shows that can’t happen.”

The Bigg Boss Season 15 contestant says he has changed a lot post the reality show. “I think now I am calmer about my life post-Bigg Boss. What happens in a format like Bigg Boss is that whatever decisions you take in a show like that are very pure as there is no outside influence. So you get to know that actually mein mujhe kya chahiye. You learn a lot about your ethics, principles, what kind of people you like, what kind of friends should one have – a lot of such things about yourself you come to know. So when you come out of the show, you are more sure of yourself,” he says, adding, “Also, I don’t repent doing anything that I shouldn’t have done inside the Bigg Boss house. In fact, maine apni zindagi mein kuchh repent nahi kiya. Yes, about the mistakes that I have made, I have either been unapologetic about them or extremely apologetic about them.”

Talking about the recently blossomed love in his life, Karan, who is in a relationship with actress Tejasswi Prakash, says, “We don’t hide anything. We are taking it slowly. As far as marriage is concerned, madam ke pass time kahan hai. (laughs). Har interview mein woh mere upar phenk deti hai and now I will be putting it on to her. The funny part is that our parents meet each other more than us as they have more time. But we are going with the natural progression as of now.”

Actor Tejasswi Prakash, 28, is painting the town red with her beau, actor Karan Kundrra, 37. Whether it is the two indulging in PDA on social media or goofing around with the paps on the streets of Mumbai, they aren’t shying away from anything. But it’s all new for Prakash. “Karan has been vocal about his dating history in the past. But, I am an extremely private person. I’ve never dated an actor. I always feared things would leak. So for me, it’s new,” she says.

Is there a difference between being in a relationship with an actor as compared to being with someone who’s not from showbiz? “There’s a massive difference. Nobody cares if you are out with your boyfriend if he isn’t an actor. But with Karan, people know his car. It’s not a normal relationship,” she explains.

TejRan, as the fans call them, is often subjected to conjectures. If Kundrra is spotted with a tilak, a roka must have taken place or if Prakash doesn’t put a post for his show, something is off between them. “All the positive rumours about the roka and shaadi, I love them. But why should I tell you if the roka has happened, if we are planning our wedding or buying a house? Woh humare beech ki baat hai. In my head, I’m like, ‘Why do you want to know?’ But it (the buzz) is nice and cute. About the negative ones, I am not used to them,” Prakash shares.

In a recent interaction with us, actor Tejasswi Prakash shared that her boyfriend, actor Karan Kundrra, hasn’t popped the marriage question yet. Responding to her comment, Kundrra tells us with a laugh, “Woh bahut shaani (clever) hai. Yeh sab bolke woh mere se cheezein nikalwa leti hai.”

The former Bigg Boss contestant, whose relationship with Prakash continues to make headlines, tells us that he is in a rather “good space” right now. Besides his career which is growing “steadily”, he is thankful to have her in his life. “Our relationship is getting stronger. We’re getting to know each other a lot more. It’s a good time for us,” he shares.

Quiz him if marriage is on the cards, and Kundrra, 37, says that they are focusing on their respective careers and “strengthening our bond” now, and he’s in no mood to make hasty plans: “She’s very busy with her shoot schedules. Marriage isn’t just about two people; it’s about two families coming together. Tejasswi and I are learning to balance our personal and professional lives [before we take the next step]. Marriage is going to be a natural progression. I can’t put my finger on the exact date. When it’s the right time, it will happen.”

Last week, Kundrra grabbed the spotlight due to a tiff he had with paparazzi who chased Prakash’s car, all the way from the sets of her television show, and then tried to enter her house.

He says, “Kisi ke, especially ek ladki ke, ghar pe aise ghus jaana isn’t safe. Her parents got flustered, because they didn’t know what was going on. I felt like this is something I need to address. I spoke to them (paparazzi) personally and they understood my concern.”

It isn’t uncommon for a couple to strike up a romance on Bigg Boss, but not every relationship survives when the cameras turn off. However, Bigg Boss 15 sweethearts Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash are proof that a showmance can continue even after the show. The two are in love and can’t stop gushing about each other. “When I entered Bigg Boss, I was clear that I wouldn’t date anyone on national television. I always found Karan cute and nice, but I never went ahead with that feeling. One thing led to the other, and here I am head over heels, madly in love with this guy. I know he is the one,” Tejasswi says.

Karan adds, “I am in love with her, too. She is a smart and strong-headed woman, yet extremely vulnerable. We have gone through the most difficult situations together on the show and always had each other’s back. Now, we are stronger than ever.”

The couple is yearning to spend some quality time with each other. “Show ke baad, Tejasswi started shooting for Naagin. She hardly gets four hours of sleep every day. It’s tough for her. So, I try to manage my time according to her schedule and do everything possible to be with her. I pick her up from the set as we hardly get alone time.”

Tejasswi says, “Karan keeps everything aside for me. He takes care of me like a baby. I love how he comes to pick me up from the set, drops me home on time and makes sure that I get everything I love. I am lucky to have him as my boyfriend.”

In an earlier interview with us, Karan had said that right after her big win, Tejasswi went to his house at 5:30 am. When we ask Tejasswi about it, she says, “Oh my god! It was so awkward! After the finale, I was waiting for him on the set, but he had gone home. I wanted to meet him, so I left for his house in my grand finale outfit. Imagine, at 5:30 am. And guess what, his father opened the door (laughs!), it was very awkward. But he welcomed me very warmly. Then when Karan came out, he was shocked to see me there. He was also extremely happy that I won the show. His parents were happy, too. I have met very sweet.”

Talking about his first meeting with Tejasswi’s parents, Karan shares, “I first met them on the finale night. There, I spoke to them for 10 minutes. Uncle was sitting on my left, and aunty was on my right (laughs!), so there was a bit of nervousness. It was also a little awkward because I was constantly thinking that they saw us fighting on TV. But they said that they also saw us falling back on each other. And they told me that they think we are compatible. As far as my parents are concerned, they said, ‘Aisi hi ladki chahiye, yeh tujhko seedha rakhegi' (laughs!).”

Today, the couple is celebrating their first Valentine's Day together. Even though it’s going to be a working day for Tejasswi, Karan is all set to make it special for her. He shares, “It’s our first Valentine’s Day, so it will be special. I know she doesn’t like elaborate plans as she is very simple. So, I have to plan everything keeping all of that in mind. I might go to her set, it’s like my second home now. I am going to ask them to let her go a bit early (laughs!). Also, I have worked with the production house for 13 years, they are like my family. I can getthings arranged on the set, too.”

Tejasswi adds, “I wanted to do something special for him, but I have been occupied with my shoot. I asked him if I should take a day off, but he understands that my show (Naagin 6) has just started, and it’s not professional to do that. So, I will be working today. Maine sab Karan par chhor diya hai (laughs!).”

Bigg Boss 15 winner, Tejasswi Prakash, has been drawing mixed reactions over her victory. Several celebrities expressed shock over her lifting the BB trophy and not Pratik Sehajpal. However, instead of focusing on what naysayers have to say, Tejasswi wants to revel in the victory. In a chat, the actress takes us through her journey on the show, her volatile equation with Shamita Shetty and the love of her life, Karan Kundrra. Excerpts:

When I saw the video of my journey on the show, I realised that there were a lot of times when people were strategizing against me. Till the end and even when I was on stage, nobody in the studio wanted me to win. However, Ganpati bappa and my followers had other plans. I will always believe that jiske saath koi nahi hota uske saath khuda hota hai.

I believe that I should trust the format of the show and desh ki janta ka pyaar that I am receiving. It doesn’t look fake to me. It is evident that I got more votes. Those doubting this season’s result should cry foul over the previous seasons’ results, too. Also, why should I expect anyone to appreciate my victory? My family and I should be happy that I won and my fans should be happy that their hard work paid off. Why should my haters be happy that I won? My haters will obviously be sad about my victory. They have the right to be sad. Not everyone is going to love me and I’m fine with that. I am not an ice cream…I am human.

No offence to anyone, but I think I was offered Naagin because I was doing a good job on BB. I would have been offered Naagin even if I hadn’t won BB. Meri jeet meri jeet hai, mujhe Naagin mila hai isliye mujhe jitaaya nahi hai. That’s not how it works. Nothing can take away from my win on BB. Why it is so difficult for people to believe that there is a person who can bag a show like Naagin and can also be a brilliant player? People saw me as a strong contender inside the house from the beginning.

I wanted the final moment of lifting the trophy to be between Karan and me. It would have been the best moment. So, it (Karan coming third) was a shock because he had a beautiful journey on the show. Not that Pratik didn’t play well. Karan was always sure that if it was between him and me, I was going to win. So, he is obviously very happy that trophy finally ghar hi aayi. Having said that, it is Karan Kundrra and he is a lot more than just that last moment we missed out on.

I didn’t call her aunty... it was more like slang. Why would I do that to another woman? She doesn’t even look like an aunty. She is so hot. I don’t know about the boys, but I checked her out. I would take tips from her on diet and workout regime. I have had a beautiful journey inside the house and people were never able to find anything against me. I made one slight mistake in the last week and people want to keep highlighting it. I did apologize to Shamita multiple times. I don’t know what else is expected from me. A lot of shaming was done by people on the OTT version of the reality show. But I don’t wish to bring that up or talk about it. I want to talk about how good a fight I gave on the show while everybody else is busy finding flaws in me. I should be busy finding good things in myself.

I am very possessive and I am proud of it. In fact, Karan and I are shamelessly possessive. I am sure that Karan will agree. We don’t have an issue with it nor should anybody else.

Oh God, Krish is not my boyfriend and neither is Yogita Karan’s girlfriend. She is a very sweet girl. Krish and I are family friends and have known each other since childhood.

It’s not his plan. A pandit told him something. I don’t know what the scene is, but I always took it as a joke. We have just come out of the house, and there is so much to talk about.

Pratik Sehajpal may have won the hearts of millions as a contender to the Bigg Boss 15 trophy, but Tejasswi Prakash walked away with the gong, leaving many speechless. But the actor has no misgivings about her win. I am a big fan of my journey [in the house],” says the actor, who strongly believes that despite being the least liked in the house, it is her housemates that “made me believe I am a winner”.

Her faith was reinstilled when celebrity guests Farah Khan, Gautam Gulati, Mahesh Manjrekar and Ravi Kishan appreciated her on the show. “Some Weekend Ka Vaar episodes were all about Karan [Kundrra] and me. It had also become evident that the housemates were scared of me when they planned things [against me] or tried to take me out [of the game]. Until the time of the announcement, everybody was hoping I don’t win, but luckily the country wanted me to win. I am glad I had fans outside the house, who loved me more. And if you are going to doubt this year’s decision, then you should doubt every year’s decision. If people’s votes decide the winner every year, then why doubt my win? I believe my victory is genuine,” says Prakash.

She didn’t just walk away with the prize, but also found a love interest in fellow contestant-actor Kundrra. Agreeing that relationships formed in the house hardly stand the test of time after the contestants step out, she says, “I am going to be super busy with Naagin. [The relationship] is going to be a struggle, but we are going to figure it out.”

Prakash shot for the promo of Naagin a day before the reality show concluded. “Who wouldn’t want to work with Ekta Kapoor? After winning the trophy, what else could I ask for? Everything has happened so fast, that [the news] hasn’t sunk in yet,” she adds.