Karn Kalra is an Indian-Canadian actor based in Toronto, Canada. Karn’s passion for performing developed at an early age entertaining his peers in school plays. It wasn’t until he graduated from University that he decided to pursue acting as a professional career. Karn’s first big break came when he booked his first role on the Netflix Original ‘Feel The Beat’ in 2019 appearing alongside Sofia Carson. Karn is appearing as a contestant on the inaugural season of the reality television series Bachelor In Paradise Canada. We caught up with him to discuss his career and future projects.
Karn, thanks for taking the time to speak to us about your work. How and when did you decide to fully embrace a career in acting?
I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me today. To start off, I always knew I wanted to be an entertainer. I wasn’t sure if it was in theatre, on TV/film, or in the music industry. I think that turning point happened for me in grade eight when I was chosen to play Aladdin in our school play, and I’d never felt more in my element. I was and still am comfortable in front of people whether I know them or not. I enjoy making people laugh. It’s always been a part of me.
Who has been the most influential in your career and why?
I think those who have influenced me directly are my parents and my siblings. They provide that support that everyone needs and, even if they don’t fully understand it, they still support me and push me. My in-direct influences include Mathew McConaughey, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Drake.
Your first big break came via the Netflix Original ‘Feel the Beat’ in 2019 appearing alongside Sofia Carson. Please share your experience and did it meet your expectations?
I remember going into that audition, not feeling the greatest and not really sure what to do. The audition breakdown was a little unclear, but I went in with what I thought was best suited. I was eating breakfast with my girlfriend at the time, and a good friend of mine Steven Tsinokas. We were talking about acting and how good it would feel to book something in a show or a movie. All of a sudden, I look down and my agent Julia is calling me. Now she mainly only calls me when it’s good news. Everything else we usually just email or text. When I heard her congratulate me on booking my first role in Feel That Beat, I don’t think I have ever been happier. I finally made it to the next step in my career. I was blown away showing up to set. So many crew members, so much happening, and it was an 8-hour day doing the same scene. It felt good to me, and the director loved it but after the film was released, my scene was cut. It wasn’t a major scene at all but that feeling kind of sucked.
You’ve gathered a significant body of work date in major film and television productions including Boyfriends of Christmas Past, Green Book, The Clue to Love, and The Hot Zone: Anthrax. To date, what has been your most memorable experience working in the industry and why?
It’s tough to say what has been the most memorable because each project brings something different to the table and I always remember that. One similar experience I’ve had in all the projects I have worked on has been the new faces and new people I’ve gotten to meet and speak with. It’s a great feeling being surrounded by people who all love the same thing, the film industry. Picking the director’s brain about a scene or a film or speaking to a fellow actor about where their career started, the hurdles they’ve had to jump over, etc. That would be my most memorable experience.
To date, what would you say has been your most challenging role, and why?
If I’m being transparent and this is not to come off arrogant, but I don’t feel like the roles I have received were that challenging. They felt great and fitting to who I am as a person but nothing that took me out of me to fully change my persona, my physicality, my look, etc. I want to be a part of something that makes me challenge myself mentally and physically. To be like Benedict Cumberbatch when he plays Smaug is the type of challenge I strive for and will soon get.
What do you look for when choosing a character?
When I read a script or a scene, I look for subtleties in the writing that can give more details of the character I’m going for. Whether it be in the way they say something or the position their body would be in or if they describe the character’s emotions. Anything helps and, from there, I will stem my own thoughts and ideas of who I want to be. I’ll sometimes write a backstory of where I came from, my birthday, if I have siblings, what do I hate, what do I love, what food I would eat. Every detail to embody my character. Sometimes I’ll read something, and I can’t seem to take in who they are or my gut will tell me it’s not right. For the most part, my agents are pretty good at getting me auditions that I would love or be best suited for. That’s one of the many reasons why I love them.
You’ll be appearing as a contestant on the inaugural season of the reality television series Bachelor in Paradise Canada. Please tell us more about the series and what audiences should expect.
After many months of keeping that secret and finally coming onto paradise, audiences can expect to see who I am. I sometimes say foolish things, but I don’t take life too seriously. I enjoy talking to everyone and sometimes I can be a big flirt haha. But you will get to me know me on a personal level which I’m excited and nervous about. The series takes place in Northern Ontario, and this is the first-ever reality show I’ve ever done. When I received the offer, I took a week or so to really go through the pros and cons of doing it. The major question I kept asking myself was “could me being on this show affect my acting career”. After speaking to my family, my best friends, and my agency, they all seemed to give the same response. As long as you are being your true self, you’ll be fine. From there I accepted it and the rest is history.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
If anyone is interested in learning more about me, my hobbies, or what I’m working on, my Instagram is probably the most updated if not, IMDB will always show the current work I have going on. Instagram handle @karnkalra__ IMDB: Karn Kalra
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