Kozhikode’s son going places

He was born in Kalandri, Rajasthan and brought up in Kozhikode. According to him he is a Malayali with a Rajasthani ancestry. However, for the people of Malabar, he is nammala payyans and his Hindi serials are nammala chekkante serial and they make sure not to miss even a single episode of it, inspite of being not so fluent in Hindi. And the result is the TRP rating of his latest serial, Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, going up from 7 to 8 since he started appearing in it!

Karan Khandelwal, the 26-year old boy, from South Beach Road, Kozhikode is gaining popularity in the Hindi television industry because of his acting skills and large fan following. His present serial, Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, which has its Malayalam remake, Chandanamazha, is making him popular among both the young and the old in the country.

Karan, who now lives in Mumbai, takes some time off from his busy schedule to speak effusively about Kerala, the land that made him what he is today! “I have a gang of friends in Kozhikode and I am extremely grateful to them for introducing me to the world of dance and fashion. My friends and I used to meet every day on the beach and share our thoughts and ideas. I was a member of the dance group, Dream Weavers Calicut and modelling group, Fashion Runway Calicut, the two groups that helped me become self-confident and face the people without fear. I have also participated in a dance reality show, Vodafone Thaka Dhimi, where I learnt different styles of dancing like contemporary, Bollywood and even dappan koothu. And now, I am very happy to be working in Bollywood,” he says excitedly. He has already acted in two Bollywood films which are now in the post-production stage and he does not want to discuss them until the trailers are released.

After completing his graduation from St Joseph’s College Devagiri, Karan went to Mumbai to learn acting techniques in Anupam Kher’s Acting School and started working in the Hindi TV industry. “It has been five years now and I am glad I was able to work in a number of shows. I have prominent roles in shows like Teri Meri Love Story, Kismat Connection, Rakshak, Crime Patrol and Savdan India,” he explains.

Talking more about his role in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, Karan says that it is unbelievable how the people have taken him to their hearts after he appeared on the show. “You really won’t believe the number of friendship requests, proposals and messages I am receiving on social networking sites. When I come out of my house, I see girls walking toward me and saying, ‘Hi, I know you. You are Sanskar from Saath Nibhaana Saathiya’ and with a broad smile I say, Yes!” he blushes. The charming boy plays Meera’s boyfriend in the show. Meera is the daughter of Ahem and Gopi, who are Arjun and Amrutha in the Malayalam version, Chandanamazha.

Once in two months Karan visits Kozhikode to be with his parents who are entrepreneurs. He gets homesick the moment one mentions the word, Kozhikode. “Oh. I miss the ice urathi, unnakaya, pazham nirachathu and the uppilitta manga and nellikka we get near the beach in Kozhikode. It is the land that taught me to be friendly and compassionate. All I ask my mom to prepare when I am home is rice and sambar. I love this God’s Own Country so much! I am proud to say that I am a Malayali!” he sums up with a smile.