'My father calls me garibo ka Johnny Depp'

'It’s a proud moment for my parents; they feel great seeing me with Bollywood superstars. It’s a great achievement for me as well.'

Television actor Karan Wahi gets ready to work with Govinda in Dance India Dance Super Moms.

Television actor Karan Wahi is quite thrilled with his hosting duties on Dance India Dance Super Moms. 

“This is the first time I am doing solo anchoring,” he explains. “I will be getting all the attention!” 

Karan has been a part of shows such as Remix, Dill Mill Gayye and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge. He has also hosted shows like Indian Idol Junior and Nach Baliye. 

Karan has replaced Jay Bhanushali as the show’s host. 

“Jay is a fantastic anchor,” he says. “When I used to see him anchoring, I would wonder if I would ever be able to anchor a show like this because I have stage fright.” 

But now, he claims he has become ‘besharam’ (shameless).  

“I have no issues if jokes are cracked about me because if it’s giving everyone a good laugh, then my job is done,” he says. 

Besides Jay, Karan also likes Kapil Sharma and Manish Paul as hosts. “I have learned a lot from Manish. I steal a lot of his jokes, which get edited. There were so many punch lines in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Manish Paul hosted the show, and Karan was a contestant in it) that didn’t go on air. I told Manish that those lines are mine now!” he exclaims. 

Karan is excited that Govinda will be one of the judges on his show. 

“I can’t tell you how big a fan I am of Govinda. I have never met him but I have grown up watching his acting and dance moves,” he explains. 

The first Bollywood actress he saw in real life was Shilpa Shetty, when he was 10 years old. Later, he worked with her in Nach Baliye.  

“It’s a proud moment for my parents; they feel great seeing me with Bollywood superstars. It’s a great achievement for me as well,” he says. 

Karan wears a new look now, a French beard, and that has become the butt of the jokes. 

"My father calls me garibo ka Johnny Depp because we share the same birth date,” he laughs. “My father didn’t like the full beard I had. He told me Johnny Depp ban ja. Bilkul gharibo ka Johnny Depp lagtay ho.” 

Karan made his Bollywood debut with Daawat-e-Ishq and is getting ready for his second film, Babbu Ki Jawani, where he plays the protagonist. The film also stars Rhea Chakraborty and Tridha Choudhury. 

“Babbu Ki Jawaani is a fun film. I play Babbu. I do everything that a hero doesn't do. It was my dream to play the romantic guy every girl falls for, but my character is very different from the usual Bollywood hero,” he reveals.