Exclusive - Bigg Boss 18 winner Karan Veer Mehra on battling alcoholism and his bond with Sushant Singh Rajput; says 'He entered my life and helped me find my way out'

Karan Veer Mehra, the winner of Bigg Boss 18, has been enjoying the spotlight following his victory, reflecting on his incredible journey. In an exclusive interview with The Times of India TV, he shared his experience of achieving back-to-back successes after 20 years of hard work. Karan admitted that there were moments when he considered giving up due to the lack of success. He also spoke emotionally about his bond with the late Sushant Singh Rajput, recalling the profound impact Sushant had on his life. Additionally, Karan opened up about his struggle with alcoholism and the difficult period he faced while bedridden for five months following an accident. (Photo: Instagram)

Bigg Boss is a personality-driven show, and it wasn’t about one being better than the other between Vivian and me. It simply came down to the audience preferring one personality more. If there was no trophy involved, we would have just spent three months in the house and walked out. But since it was a competition, there had to be one winner. I don’t think anyone was lesser or greater—it was just about the trophy, and I was fortunate enough to win it. I feel incredibly happy, grateful, and humbled to have achieved back-to-back success after 20 years of hard work. Despite it all, I remain grounded and even more determined to keep working hard. (Photo: Instagram)

I never stopped working. I was always involved in something. When my shows ended, I would take up workshops, do theatre, or appear in ads. My goal was to always be prepared for the next role, ready for any audition or opportunity that came my way. I needed to be the best version of myself based on what I had learned. That was my job, and once I did that, I just moved on. I started enjoying the process, and it no longer mattered whether I was performing in front of four people in a theatre or doing a TV show. Like Naseer Sahab has said, “Rok Kaun raha hai tumhe actor banane se 4 log pakdo bolo main ye karne waala hoon, aao dekho Accha lage taali Bajao.” (Photo: Instagram)

I kept falling in love with the art, and whether it was good or bad days, I was fortunate enough to keep getting work. I never focused on whether projects were big or small; as they say, an actor's value is determined by the choices they make. Maybe I missed some opportunities, as there were times when I had too many options but made some wrong choices. Sometimes I gained, sometimes I lost, but then Khatron Ke Khiladi happened, and now Bigg Boss. Yes, there were many moments when I questioned if I was really made for this. Bahot baar toota hoon, phir khada hua hoon… phir toota hoon. Ek baar toh wapas chala bhi Gaya tha main. I felt no I wanted to go back to my business and start doing things in Delhi. Kuch Apna start kar raha tha. Then something happened and I got a different project. (Photo: Instagram)

There was a time after Pavitra Rishta when I met with an accident and fell into alcoholism. That’s when Sushant entered my life and helped me find my way out. He lifted me. There was a film that didn’t do well, and I began to feel like nothing was working, so I decided to start fresh. Then, out of nowhere, a show called TV, Biwi, Aur Main came along, offering good money and a reputable production house. I went back for that, and it did really well. More importantly, it gave me my start as a lead. From there, I started exploring other opportunities, and I realized how much I truly enjoy acting. (Photo: Instagram)

In fact, not many know that I had started working in production, music, and background work. I even set up a complete editing setup at home and began my own production, making sketches. Thankfully, the entire Bollywood community supported me because of the football team I play for. When I got into production and the creative process, "main 14 hours set par khada raha hoon" without feeling tired—it was so fulfilling. But after doing it for a long time, I realized my situation had become worse. I came here to become a star, but what was I doing to myself? I was approaching my 40s, and I started thinking that if I wanted to earn money, I could go back home and work on a business. But once again, things took a turn, and here I am today. (Photo: Instagram)

Yes, I believe it is all in the mind. This showed in my Bigg Boss journey also. I was resilient that I won’t give up. Chanhe Woh jaldi uth ke workout karna ho. I don’t think during my stay in the Bigg Boss 18 house, I missed working out even a single day. Last day also which was not telecast, I had exercised and used the gym.

Sushant was a major inspiration. He was a turning point in life. Woh Meri Aise tareef karta tha aur dil se, calling me better than him. That used to give me kick but also surprised me, how can someone do this? Ye kaise keh sakta hai ke main iss better hoon. He is one of the top stars in the country and he's saying I'm better than him. He would say, “bus mujhe chance mil gaya tu hota toh tu bahot sahi karta.” It’s very big of him to say that main nahi bol paaunga shayad ye. (Photo: Instagram)

Sushant used to genuinely praise me and believe in me more. When your family members do that like your mother, they do it out of love. But when he used to say all those things to me “ek alag confidence aata tha mere andar.” I used to feel if he’s saying then I should do something for him. He used to make me meet the right people, sending me to the right casting guys. Kuch nahi choda usne mere liye. He made me meet the best of industry people. I met Mukesh Chhabra through him. He would party somewhere and suddenly call me bhai aaja. He would arrange things for me. I don’t know how, when and I’m so guilty I was not there for him when he needed me. (Photo: Instagram)

I was in Delhi with my family when I got this news. Of course, we were not in touch because he had thought he wants to stay aloof due to some personal reasons. Ek dum out of touch hogaya tha. And then this thing happened. I was in Delhi, he has stayed at my house, he used to love my mom. Unke pairon mein aake baith jaata tha aunty batao. Main nahi bhi hota tha toh bhi Woh ghar par hota tha when I used to be working here. He would just go home, he was close to my sister and brother-in-law as well. They used to party without me and I had gone home during lockdown. (Photo: Instagram)

My friend call and said Sushant passed away. I did not believe him and told him it is his former manager. He asked me to switch on the TV. I still didn’t believe it and thought it was some hoax. I asked everyone don’t believe it, just sit and we will see what it is. Then we switched 4-5 channels. We all went silent and for 4-5 hours we didn’t know what to talk and we didn’t know how to react. Ye kya hogaya? Abhi tak I’ve not been able to come out. When I still talk about him, I feel why I was not there with him? kya galti humne kar di? that he had to take this step, or he left all of us this way? (Photo: Instagram)

I met with an accident and I was bedridden for five months. And as I mentioned I am into the doing, I can’t sit idle. Woh jab nahi kar paa raha tha, then I was like let’s have one beer, then another. I used to limp and go everywhere. I did not want to play video games because that is another addiction. Mujhe pata tha agar ismein ghus gaya toh nikal nahi paaunga. I used to just play chess and then when I used to lose, I used to drink. Friends would come over and this was the only resort for me. But luckily I could convince myself and get out of alcoholism. It’s all in the mind, as they say the body never gets tired it’s the mind. (Photo: Instagram)