Sameena Razzaq
Actor Karan Mehra is not only known for his nuanced performance in the iconic show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai but also for the humanitarian work he religiously does as and when possible. In recognition of his valuable contributions to the society, Global Human Peace University, USA decided to award Mehra a honorary doctorate in the Arts and Humanities category. The doctorate was presented to the actor at the Global Excellence Award 2025 ceremony organised at Fern Kadamba, Goa on 17th May. Elated at the achievement, Mehra spoke to BombayBulletin candidly about his new title, recent stint with anchoring, his musical journey and more.
Excerpts:
Getting a doctorate is a big milestone so early on in your career. Personally, what this achievement means to you?
“I was genuinely very surprised when I got a call from Dr. Manish Kumar, who is the President of Global Book of Excellence. He informed me that they are honouring a select group of individuals and would like to confer a doctorate on me in the Arts and Humanities category. Honestly, I did not see that coming. Dr Kumar explained to me- they have been following my journey as an actor, the various things I continue to do, including social work and they felt I was deserving of this recognition. Not long ago, I had also received a Certificate of Commitment from the London Book of Records, which was another proud moment. So, to be receiving a doctorate at this stage in life is both thrilling and humbling. And yes, to think I could now use the title Dr. Karan Mehra is quite something. It feels surreal but definitely a huge honour”.
We saw you host the recently concluded classical music reality show ‘WAH USTAD’. What inclined you towards hosting?
“Apart from being an actor for almost 23 years now, hosting is something I had never pursued professionally. Of course, I have done a bit of casual anchoring here and there like when you attend an event and end up doing something impromptu but that’s very different. Last year, my first single came out, marking my debut as a singer. Singing was always a passion for me and I think somewhere the stars aligned. Anchoring was something, I wanted to explore. So, when the opportunity came along, it felt like the perfect combination and that is how it all happened”.
I heard, you did most of the hosting impromptu. How did you put it all together?
“As an anchor, a little preparation is always required. You want to understand your style, your flow. But I didn’t get that luxury. I was doing whatever I could manage in the moment. Many times, I would be handed the script right on set, just before the shoot. It was definitely challenging but I pulled it off with grace. Ustads would come on the show and I had to speak with a certain level of tehzeeb (grace and respect). Here, everything mattered be it your presentation, the way you carry yourself, and the language you speak. It was an incredible experience – full of learning, fun, and growth. We finished the entire reality show that is 26 episodes in just one month. Usually, you get two to three months with time to prep and shoot one or two episodes a week. But here, it was all done in a single month”.
Even after 16 long years, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai holds a strong grip on the audience. Did you regret leaving the show at any point?
“Not at all. I was part of it for the longest time. That itself is a piece of history: 2100 episodes over 8 years. It was a long and beautiful journey. But beyond that there was so much more I wanted to explore in life. If I had continued with the show, I might have become a grandfather on screen by now. As an actor, you need to grow and evolve. I know the show has its own magic and it still continues to do so. Years have passed, couples have changed, but the essence-the very foundation on which the show was built remains the same. It is truly incredible that people still love it. Also, the show has strong repeat value. It connects with every generation. Sixteen years is a long time for any show and its voyage still continues.”
Rajanji had rather interesting things to say about your exit in one of his interview. What actually happened back then?
“I told sir that I wouldn’t be able to continue and suggested we wrap things up because I really felt the need to move on. My health was taking a hit and the work environment was becoming increasingly difficult for me. The long hours and working for 25 days a month had become unmanageable. Still, I stayed on for another month or so because sir wanted me to and the story needed to progress in a certain way. Then the channel requested me to give one/ two months more. So, what was supposed to be a january exit turned into a may departure. They eventually said, ‘Okay Karan, now we can go ahead with your request’ and I moved on. There comes a time when you need to step back and take a break. Eight years in that environment had taken a toll on my health. And beyond the physical health, it is equally important to stay happy from within. Now, I feel that inner and outer happiness both reflect on my face. People can actually see the difference. I look and feel better than I used to.”
What is your equation with Rajanji at this point in time?
“I have always had a lot of regard for him and our relationship has been based on mutual respect. I have never called him to complain about things on the set and similarly he never called me with any such issues either. As a producer and actor, we shared a very professional and pleasant equation. He always respected my circumstances and I have always appreciated him for that. We were both delivering what the other needed for the show – it was a healthy give-and-take”.
You have been doing lot of music videos of late and singing too. Is music something that is inherent in you?
“I am not even a bathroom singer. But maybe somewhere it is inherently there. My mom used to sing ghazals though not publicly but she had a real passion for it. As an actor, of course, you get trained to some extent – you get a basic knowledge of sargam and sur, so you do develop a ear. But in my case, I was directing lot of music videos hence, I was always around songs and music. Then in 2020, I started doing music videos again and began reprogramming songs. That’s when the interest grew. Some of my music videos like Bewafa and Rangrezaa were very successful. In January 2023, I recorded a song with ND Rockstar where I sang Punjabi portions and he did the Haryanvi rap. When the song came out, people really appreciated it. Just recently, I did a live song performance after 16 hours of anchoring. It was a great experience overall, and now I do want to try playback singing. People have been approaching me to collaborate on songs. So, yes kuch karte hain.”
Are you thinking about doing something on OTTs. Would you be comfortable working on a platform which is bold and in your face?
“I am open to working on OTT. I am totally game for it. Kafi jagah baat bhi hoti rehti hai but I am just taking my time. I have become a bit selective with the kind of work I take up now. It is not about doing things in quantity just for the sake of it. Whenever something good and genuinely challenging comes my way, I will do it. But it also has to meet my requirements. Budgets these days have honestly gone really bad across the board. I would rather do a negative role than get into the bold section. And its not that work is not happening without bold scenes. A lot of good work is being done without bold content and that’s what I would prefer. I need a good budget and a good story. Jab dono ka combination sahi aayega, I will definitely do an OTT show.”
Will people accept you in a negative role?
“I think they should. Now the audience is quite intelligent. They know actors are actors. There was a time when your image was so strong that if you played a positive role, people expected you to always appear positive. But that is not the case anymore. I have played negative characters in most of my music videos. Even the song, I recently did had me playing a drug addict. In Mulakaatein song, I played a goon as well. So I feel its actually good to experiment. As an actor, you need to show your other side too because that’s what we’re paid to do, right? In acting school, we were taught about all kinds of roles. Thus, its important to explore that range.”
