Recently, author and storyteller Pankaj Dubey interviewed Tarun Khanna for the podcast Small Towns Big Stories about his life and work. Khanna is known for his iconic roles as Shiva, Hanuman, Chanakya, and Ravaan. The actor talked about his trip from Delhi to Mumbai, his long career, and how he thinks people in the entertainment business can avoid being typecast.
Khanna’s work began more than 20 years ago when he became a model because friends often told him how good he looked. “People used to tell me, ‘You’re so pretty, you should become a model.'” He laughed as he remembered, “I joined a gym to get noticed, and that’s how I got my first job. I made ₹9,000 for just three days of work, when my monthly pocket money was only ₹2,000!”
Khanna went to Mumbai after making a name for himself in modelling and advertising. It was there that he got his big break when Mahesh Manjrekar cast him in a movie. The project was put on hold when the director passed away, which was a shame. The audition tape did, however, open doors for him, and he got the lead part in the TV show Avinash IPS.
Khanna says that actor Manav Kaul helped him get better at speaking English, which was very important when he was cast in mythological parts. When asked about trying out for the popular show Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, he said, “Mohit Raina and I tried out for different roles.” I was offered the part of Mohit’s father-in-law when he was cast as Mahadev. We were the same age, which surprised me. But then the same production company cast me as Ravana, a part that people still remember.
Khanna was upset when he didn’t get the part of Mahadev at first, but he thinks fate had other plans. “Almost right away after that audition, I was cast as Lord Shiva in another show. Since then, I’ve played Shiva in several more.” It makes me feel blessed.
The star, who read Amar Chitra Katha as a child, said he felt sad that young people today don’t read as much as they used to. He said that these childhood books made him interested in gods and made him want to bring these characters to life on screen.
Khanna named Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Dilip Kumar as some of his best actors when asked. He said good things about Rajkummar Rao and Ayushmann Khurrana, two modern artists. His other wish was to play famous parts one day, like Dev Anand’s character in Guide and Prithviraj Kapoor’s character in Mughal-E-Azam.
In his free time, Khanna likes to watch OTT content, play cricket with his son, and stick to a strict exercise plan. He talks a lot about how dangerous it is to use steroids to change your body, especially when it comes to health. “Steroids are incredibly dangerous, and people have lost their lives due to them.”
Khanna also talked about how much he loves Delhi food, especially chaat and golgappas, even though he likes how professional and organized people are in Mumbai. “In India, Mumbai is the most business-like city. I wish that other parts of the country could become more professional.
Khanna gives actors from small places who want to make it in Mumbai some useful advice: “Ask yourself if acting is really your passion.” You can become famous and make money from anywhere in the world thanks to social media. Get ready before you go to the city, and don’t let being turned down stop you from following your dreams.
After twenty years in the business, Tarun Khanna is still a recognized figure in the entertainment world. His talent and determination have inspired a new generation of actors.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.