Karan Wahi: If I can’t be happy, I don’t want the money

He steered clear of television for six years as much for the mediumrsquos lack of creative freedom as for its long gruelling hours Now Karan Wahi has returned to the tube with Channa Mereya Admitting that his approach and worldview have changed over time the actor is ready to work on his own terms Wahi who plays an angry young chef in the show discusses what made him return to the small screenEdited excerpts from the interviewYoursquore back on television after six years Was Channa Mereya all that you were looking forSince television is primarily about jodis there is more scope to perform when it comes to romantic dramas visavis a familyoriented show With this romantic drama I got the quintessential TV drama and at the same time I had the scope to perform What excited me was that the makers wanted me to be creatively involved in the show which rarely happens on TV Also in the telly world people think you have to work 30 days a month 20 hours a day But on this show I work decent hours and have a life outside work So when the issues that primarily kept me away from the small screen were sorted I had no reason to decline the showAlso ReadKaran Wahi I kissed my best friend got friendzoned tooWas it a prerequisite in your contractSee if you are okay with the long hours then great But I value my mental wellbeing and my love for the craft If I have to come back to a daily after seven to eight years I donrsquot want to return only to make money I understand TV can get monotonous after a while but thatrsquos true of everything I need to enjoy what I am doing If I canrsquot be happy then I donrsquot want the money I am making on televisionHow have you contributed creatively to the showWhen the makers told me Aditya his character is a chef I needed clarity on how much of the chef aspect will be shown I was told there will be scenes to put across that the story is about two protagonists and their love for food They made me rehearse with a chef I wanted to know the nittygritties of the profession mdash how they fold their sleeves while cooking do they wear anything on their hands when in the kitchen I used to wear a Pokhraj ring but I removed it for the show I also sit on the dialogues with my creative team they give me the liberty to give them inputs The best thing about this set is that there is a lot of giveandtakeAlso ReadKaran Wahi has most memories with friends at THIS Mumbai cafeacuteYour character is the formulaic brooding man Why are makers obsessed with this stereotypeIn television a happygolucky character becomes childish much like my character Dr Sid in Dill Mill Gayye I feel brooding roles work better on television As per the channelrsquos research women like men who talk less and have mystery about them In real life I donrsquot think yoursquoll talk to a man because he is brooding I like essaying Aditya because I have not played such a role in a long time The last time I played such a part was in Bar Code I also believe that the brooding leading man works because then it makes it easier to do the sensual momentsOver the years has your working style changedA lot I have grown up Now I understand the importance of work and have fallen in love with acting I struck gold with Remix which gave me fame and money I left television because I was not enjoying it I took a call to distance myself for my sanity