Over the years, I have vehemently vouched for stunt-based reality shows - primarily because I lack the physical strength to perform them. It becomes a guilty pleasure then to watch celebrities perform stunts on Khatron Ke Khiladi, the Indian adaptation of Hollywood's Fear Factor.
This year, it was the 14th season and all eyes were glued to the hyped and a few over-hyped contestants on the show.
There was Karan Veer Mehra too -- a lanky guy, who did some great shows at the start of his career. Some personal and professional setbacks and years of struggle later, he finally entered the world of reality shows.
I remembered him as Vedant Raisinghania from a TV show called Viruddh. Expressive eyes, nuanced acting and an appealing screen presence, he was a full package even then.
But the entertainment industry is not an easy ride for some.
The man, I later read, lived his personal hell -- two broken marriages, a life threatening accident, alcoholism, flop shows, no/less work and bankruptcy -- in the span of 20 years of his career.
Underdog stories maybe a cliche in films, but are usually the fan favourite too. Karan Veer Mehra overcame the odds and stole the limelight from other contestants on Khatron Ke Khiladi 14. The underdog won the show in an almost one-sided competition. How he did it is a case study in itself!
The bigger test, however, awaited him on Bigg Boss 18. Karan Veer was - yet again - the least hyped contestant on the show. With no separate promo, no favours, an abysmally inactive PR team and an open book of a life to be feasted upon, Karan was waiting to become the victim of narratives set against him.
Sometimes 'nanadveer', 'kone kone mein baat karne waala' or vile by the makers and sometimes 'insecure', 'jealous', undeserving, 'a joke' and 'not an A list TV star' by housemates, Karan was everyone's favourite punching bag. His strength, however, lay in dealing with every curveball thrown at him with utmost grace and an unsuspecting smile -- only going to show how life experiences have refined him as a person.
Even at his lowest, Karan devoured almost 50 per cent of screen time every episode. This percentage only increased -- upto 80-85 per cent -- when he unleashed a more confrontational side of himself.
Karan Veer Mehra, slowly but steadily, made this season of Bigg Boss 'The Karan Veer Mehra Show' -- I don't say it, Farah Khan and the audience do.
An actor, who seldom played the protagonist in the TV shows he did, gradually became the main character of the season. His humour, laughter, loyalty, intelligence, humility, self-awareness and emotional quotient warmed up every heart.
This doesn't mean the man is flawless. And he never claimed to be. His reluctance to invest energy in issues or conversations he considers trivial and the knack of blurting out things that sound like low-level manipulation or gaslighting are often talked about against him. But even then, he is at the epicentre of every mudda, every fight, every joke and every gossip - inside and outside the house. His breakfast routine and morning monologues too find screen space every episode; so do the varied forms of his 'happy happy' dance.
At this point, one cannot help but realise how the tables have turned... The underdog of the season has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of his unfulfilling past. He has outshone every other person in the house - just by the virtue of his unmatchable wit, impeccable sense of humour and a towering personality, and without indulging in petty ration fights or frivolous show of physical power.
Karan Veer Mehra came with no massive fandom to boast off, no young-hot looks to make the girls drool over him and no backing of a social media army... yet this man is now ruling over hearts and minds of people and well, the entire internet.
The neutrality of his fandom lies in the fact that he is bashed by his own fans if he falters at any point. The magnanimity of his personality is proven by how almost the entire TV industry staunchly wants him to win.
Karan Veer Mehra has exhibited all aspects of his personality on the show - wit, bromance, romance, friendships, rivalries, tears, laughter, sense of humour, setbacks, comebacks, leadership, and sportsmanship. He possesses a rare gift of the gab, wears his heart on the sleeves, looks and dances like a dream, strives to keep fit at 45, and never shies away from accepting his flaws.
But... Is all that enough to win the show? Well, not really. This season has been biased in its own murky way. Fake narratives have taken the fairness away from a show that was earlier meant to showcase personalities. Bigg Boss 18 has been nothing short of a biased showreel of 'samikarans'.
So, will they allow an underdog to take centre-stage? Will this underdog make history by winning two of the biggest reality shows on Indian television in the span of one year? Maybe, maybe not. But will they be able to stop him from outshining their laadlas? Nope!
On Karan Veer Mehra's birthday today, as he stands at the precipice of creating history, I wish the best man - according to the makers and the audience - wins. As for him - whether or not he does, he has already won a lot of love and a humongous fan army -- something that he had always only dreamt of.
The trophy is anyway secondary to what awaits Karan Veer Mehra once the show is over. Because whenever he steps out of the Bigg Boss 18 house, and his newly-found fandom can vouch, he will have the last laugh... And the industry will certainly not laugh at him..! IYKYK ;)
(Sonal Gera is the editorial head of Bollywoodlife.com. Her views and opinions are completely hers, and do not belong to the company.)
