Karan Wahi: It is really about how mentally calm you can stay in a difficult situation

Actor and television host Karan Wahi, who will be seen on Khatron Ke Khiladi for the third time, feels this show is more about mental strength than physical strength. “Khatron Ke Khiladi is a platform where a lot of interesting things happen. Even though there is fear, people still want to do it. The first time we shot in Spain, the second time in India. The conditions were completely different.”

Yet, amid changing locations and circumstances, one thing remains constant for him — the emotional high of the journey itself. “Winning or losing almost becomes secondary. In fact, this is probably the only show where, when you get eliminated, you don’t feel bad that you didn’t win. You feel bad because you won’t get to do it the next day.”

Interestingly, Wahi dismisses the common perception that physical fitness is the defining factor in succeeding on the show. “It’s all mental fitness,” he states firmly. “How strong you are mentally, how patient you can be in the most pressurised situation — that’s what matters. If the show were only about physical fitness, then men and women wouldn’t compete together. Being physically fit helps in some stunts, but it doesn’t give anyone an unfair advantage. Rithvik Dhanjani, Vishal Aditya Singh and I are fit, but we haven't won this show yet. It is really about how mentally calm you can stay in a difficult situation.”

Luck, he adds, also plays a surprisingly important role. “You might go out on a 50-foot ladder, and suddenly it becomes very windy. That changes everything; a lot depends on your luck for the day.”