The nephew of Vinod Khanna and cousin of Akshaye and Rahul Khanna, Karan Khanna debuted with the forgettable film Bachke
Rehena Re Baba with Malika Sherawat. But the actor showed promise in Nasserudin Shah's Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota.
Karan is back this time with a meatier role in Reema Katgi's Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. In an exclusive conversation with IndiaFM,
the actor speaks about his reel and real Honeymoon.
How was your experience of working with Nasserudin Shah in Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota?
Absolutely fantastic, with an actor like him, a master like him do you think he would let anyone make a mistake, no way! It was amazing working with
him; he is totally an actor's director. He is an actor himself, so he knows how to guide you and explain to you in detail. He would give you a real life
situation to explain the feeling you are going through and would actually make you imagine the situation. I guess that is what brought up our
performances in the film. Every character in the film was a strong character
Naseer bhai would give us a real life situation to explain the feeling
you are going through and would actually make you imagine the situation
Why do you think the film did not do well?
Well firstly there were only sixty prints that were released, and secondly because of the publicity which wasn't done the way it should have been.
Especially the way a Nasser saab film should have been done. It could have been done with a lot more hold and a lot more
strength
How did HTPL happen to you?
I was very lucky actually. Zoya had called me for an audition for another film which didn't happen. After couple of months she had come to my
building to meet my neighbours and I bumped into her. And then a couple of weeks later I got a call from the production office and they told me that
they want to audition me for the role and Reema wants to meet you. I met her and she told me what the role was about and I loved it in one second.
I met Reema and she told me what the role was about and I loved it
in one second.
Tell us about the story of HTPL in detail.
Honeymoon travels Pvt Ltd is about six couples from all over India. They are all travelling together and are on a honeymoon package deal to
Goa. They don't know each other and have randomly picked up the package. Its just different situations that come up in Goa, these situations may
come up on peoples honeymoons or even may not. Some are totally fantasy and some are totally real. And these situations create a little conflict in
the lives of these characters.
Tell us something about your character Vicky?
My character is a called Vicky Kapoor; he is a Punjabi from Delhi. He and Amisha have always been together through school and college and have
finally got married now. My character is going through this self realisation crisis. For him the honeymoon period is very complex because of the
conflicts and situations that arise in Goa.
Amisha is an experienced actress. How was your experience with Amisha Patel?
Luckily both my cousins Akshaye and Rahul have worked with her, so in a way I felt I have known her. She was a very jovial person and very easy
to work with. She would help me with my make-up sometimes because when we were shooting on the bus no make-up artist was allowed. The bus
would be constantly on the road so we had to touch up our make-up on our own.
Amisha would help me with my make-up sometimes because when
we were shooting on the bus no make-up artist was allowed.
Reema Katgi is making her directorial debut by HTPL. How was it working with a female director?
Reema is so good that after we saw the film I messaged her saying that Reema you better start scripting a film immediately and better give me a
chunky role. She is like a friend, she wasn't strict on the sets but she knew how to get her work done. She is a very aware human being.
With such a theme and so many funny actors, any fond memories during the filming of HTPL?
For me shooting in Goa was like a dream come true because I love Goa and I have been going there for years. For a lot of other actors I guess the
feelings were the same. The weather was great, we all used to chill together. We had a great time.
It is true that Amisha plays the character of Pinky and always wears pink in the film?
Yes it's true. Her character really likes the colour pink. If you see her character she will always have pink dress, pink shoes, pink mobile phone. It
actually helped me play my character better because my character actually gets irritated by her.
How was it working with Shabana Azami, Boman Irani, K K Menon and everyone out there?
It was amazing; they are masters in their profession. We learnt a lot by watching them. Shabana is so spontaneous, she can deliver anything. I have
worked with Boman Irani before in Naseer bhai's film so he was a little less intimidating this time around. KK is very professional actor and very true
to his art, I have learnt a lot from him.
KK is very professional actor and very true to his art, I have learnt a
lot from him.
The song Sajna ji vari vari is making raves with its promos on the small screen how was it shooting for the song?
I have this one memory about the song, we were shooting on this yacht and in between we see these dolphins; it was so beautiful. But
unfortunately we could not shoot them as the camera wasn't set up.
In terms of the song Farah had told us to do free style for the song but she had somehow told us what to do for the free style.
What are you looking forward to after HTPL?
Let's see hopefully if a line of directors will be standing outside my door. I haven't signed anything as yet, I am looking for something really good at
the moment.
How do you select your movies? What is important for you while doing movies?
For me first it's the script, secondly the director and thirdly the production house which is very important to me
What kind of roles are you looking forward to?
I am open to doing any roles. You will see from this role that I have played in this film HTPL. It's a very controversial role in a way, controversial as
in people controversies and not political ones. Reema told me that not a lot of actors were ready to do this role. But I wasn't apprehensive at all. My
character has been dealt with a lot in the film but still doesn't say much and it is very difficult to emote all the time without saying much. I think I have
done justice to the role.
My character has been dealt with a lot in the film but still doesn't say
much and it is very difficult to emote all the time without saying much
Any inspiration from your uncle or cousins?
A lot of inspiration. I am very close to Akshaye and Rahul, we meet minimum once a month. They do give me a lot of tips about the industry and life
in general.
Finally if we ask you your dream honeymoon destination, where would it be?
I would like something like sailing down the river Nile. Where you can see all the stars in the galaxy and nature, with no one else there but you and
your wife.
And when do we expect your real life honeymoon?
Well hopefully soon, but at the moment there aren't any plans for marriage