# Karan Kundrra (करण कुंदरा)
**Karan Kundrra** (करण कुंदरा; born 1984) is an Indian actor and television host known for his debut as Arjun Punj in [Ekta Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/ekta-kapoor)'s soap opera *Kitani Mohabbat Hai* (2009) and for hosting reality shows including [MTV Roadies](https://www.edgepedia.org/mtv-roadies), Love School, Dance Deewane Juniors, and Temptation Island India.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/bio/) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/) He was born in [Jalandhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/jalandhar), Punjab, and stands 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Jalandhar, Punjab, India; height 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/bio/) |
| Debut | Arjun Punj in *Kitani Mohabbat Hai*, NDTV Imagine, 2009, produced by Ekta Kapoor[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/bio/) • [3](https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/tv/karan-kundrra-s-journey-to-stardom-photo-gallery-13587529.html/amp) |
| Path to the role | Running a call center in Punjab with no industry connections when Ekta Kapoor's team called him[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-karan-kundrra-on-his-journey-it-feels-unbelievable-as-i-had-no-connection-in-the-industry-was-running-a-call-centre-in-punjab-and-suddenly-got-a-call-from-ekta-kapoor/photostory/104967887.cms) |
| Bigg Boss 15 | Second runner-up in the 2021 season; has dated Tejasswi Prakash since the show[2](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/) |
| Films | *Mubarakan* (2017), *1921* (2018), *Tera Kya Hoga Lovely*[2](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/) |
| Web series | *It Happened in Calcutta* (2020); *Love Adhura* (2024) opposite Erica Fernandes on Amazon MiniTV[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2024/did-you-know-karan-kundrra-got-his-first-acting-gig-because-of-this-social-media-platform-390903.html) |
| Awards | Bollywood Life Most Popular TV Dude (2023), Iconic Gold Most Popular TV Actor of the Year (2023), ScreenXX Critics Choice for *Love Adhura* (2024)[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/awards/) |
## Breakthrough
Acting was never Kundrra's plan. In a 2023 interview he described the start as unbelievable: he had no connection to the film industry and was running a call center in Punjab when he suddenly received a call from producer Ekta Kapoor.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-karan-kundrra-on-his-journey-it-feels-unbelievable-as-i-had-no-connection-in-the-industry-was-running-a-call-centre-in-punjab-and-suddenly-got-a-call-from-ekta-kapoor/photostory/104967887.cms) A Filmibeat report adds that Kapoor was impressed by his profile on a social media platform and reached out directly; the show that resulted was *Kitni Mohabbat Hai*, co-starring Kritika Kamra.[5](https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2024/did-you-know-karan-kundrra-got-his-first-acting-gig-because-of-this-social-media-platform-390903.html) The romance drama aired on NDTV Imagine, and his role as Arjun Punj remains the part he is best known for.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/bio/)
## Television and hosting career
**From soaps to hosting.** After *Kitani Mohabbat Hai*, Kundrra appeared in *Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2*, *Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum*, *[Dil Hi Toh Hai](https://www.edgepedia.org/dil-hi-toh-hai)*, *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai*, and *Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal*.[2](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/) Within about three years of his debut he left daily soaps and turned to hosting, beginning with the crime show *Gumrah End of Innocence* on [Channel V](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-v), which he hosted for three seasons.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/karan-kundrra-career-choices-youth-icon-tejasswi-prakash-trolls-bigg-boss-15-7970012/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/bio/)
His hosting portfolio grew to include MTV Roadies, MTV Love School, Dance Deewane Juniors, and the dating reality show Temptation Island India.[2](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/) Within the Roadies franchise he first appeared as a gang leader in Roadies X4 and returned for Roadies Rising, sharing the judging panel with [Rannvijay Singha](https://www.edgepedia.org/rannvijay-singha), Neha Dhupia, and Prince Narula; an August 2026 report said he was in talks to return for Roadies Season 21, though neither MTV nor the actor had confirmed it.[8](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/television-news/article/karan-kundrra-returns-to-roadies-21-actor-reportedly-set-to-replace-prince-narula-23644484) As of early 2026 he was hosting MTV Splitsvilla 16 with [Sunny Leone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunny-leone) while appearing with [Tejasswi Prakash](https://www.edgepedia.org/tejasswi-prakash) on Laughter Chefs 3.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/karan-kundrra-on-his-relationship-with-tejasswi-prakash-being-under-constant-scrutiny-10507319/lite/)
## Bigg Boss 15 and public profile
Kundrra joined [Bigg Boss](https://www.edgepedia.org/bigg-boss) 15 in 2021 and finished as second runner-up, a result that Indian Express credits with solidifying his popularity and fueling his subsequent hosting career.[2](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/) • [3](https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/tv/karan-kundrra-s-journey-to-stardom-photo-gallery-13587529.html/amp) He said before the season that he knew participation would either make him or break him, since his reality would come out on camera.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/karan-kundrra-career-choices-youth-icon-tejasswi-prakash-trolls-bigg-boss-15-7970012/) He and Tejasswi Prakash began dating during the show, and their relationship has drawn sustained media and fan attention, including trolling that he has publicly addressed.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/karan-kundrra-career-choices-youth-icon-tejasswi-prakash-trolls-bigg-boss-15-7970012/)
## Films and web work
Kundrra's Hindi film roles include *Mubarakan* (2017), *1921* (2018), and *Tera Kya Hoga Lovely*, directed by Balwinder Singh Janjua.[2](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/) • [5](https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2024/did-you-know-karan-kundrra-got-his-first-acting-gig-because-of-this-social-media-platform-390903.html) On streaming platforms he starred in *It Happened in Calcutta* (2020), winning a ScreenXX Viewer's Choice Award for Best Actor in a Hindi web romantic drama, and in *Love Adhura* (2024) opposite [Erica Fernandes](https://www.edgepedia.org/erica-fernandes) on Amazon MiniTV, which brought him a ScreenXX Critics Choice Award as Most Promising Actor in Hindi Web Originals.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/awards/) • [5](https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2024/did-you-know-karan-kundrra-got-his-first-acting-gig-because-of-this-social-media-platform-390903.html)
In interviews he has framed his career in commercial terms. He told India Today in 2024 that there is a difference between popularity and stardom, that reality shows brought him popularity while his acting work made him a star, and that he declines brand deals that would cash in on popularity alone; he described himself as primarily a businessperson as well as an actor.[10](https://www.indiatoday.in/television/celebrity/story/karan-kundrra-on-competition-with-influencers-stardom-and-popularity-different-2522392-2024-04-02) Speaking to the Times of India the same year, he said the character matters more than the platform and that he avoids projects in which he would be wasted.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/karan-kundrra-not-every-fantastic-actor-has-got-what-they-deserve/articleshow/110091722.cms)
## References
1. [Karan Kundrra – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/bio/)
2. [Karan Kundrra: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/karan-kundrra/)
3. [Karan Kundrra's journey to stardom, Moneycontrol News](https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/tv/karan-kundrra-s-journey-to-stardom-photo-gallery-13587529.html/amp)
4. [Exclusive – Karan Kundrra on his journey, ETimes / The Times of India (Nov 4, 2023)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-karan-kundrra-on-his-journey-it-feels-unbelievable-as-i-had-no-connection-in-the-industry-was-running-a-call-centre-in-punjab-and-suddenly-got-a-call-from-ekta-kapoor/photostory/104967887.cms)
5. [Did You Know Karan Kundrra got his first acting gig because of this social media platform?, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2024/did-you-know-karan-kundrra-got-his-first-acting-gig-because-of-this-social-media-platform-390903.html)
6. [Karan Kundrra – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4424993/awards/)
7. [Karan Kundrra on trolls he faces for dating Tejasswi Prakash, The Indian Express (June 17, 2022)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/karan-kundrra-career-choices-youth-icon-tejasswi-prakash-trolls-bigg-boss-15-7970012/)
8. [Roadies Season 21: Karan Kundrra reportedly set to replace Prince Narula as gang leader, Mid-Day (Aug 12, 2026)](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/television-news/article/karan-kundrra-returns-to-roadies-21-actor-reportedly-set-to-replace-prince-narula-23644484)
9. [Karan Kundrra on his relationship with Tejasswi Prakash being under constant scrutiny, The Indian Express (Feb 1, 2026)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/karan-kundrra-on-his-relationship-with-tejasswi-prakash-being-under-constant-scrutiny-10507319/lite/)
10. [Karan Kundrra on competition with influencers: 'Stardom and popularity different', India Today (Apr 2, 2024)](https://www.indiatoday.in/television/celebrity/story/karan-kundrra-on-competition-with-influencers-stardom-and-popularity-different-2522392-2024-04-02)
11. [Karan Kundrra: Not every fantastic actor has got what they deserve, The Times of India (May 14, 2024)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/karan-kundrra-not-every-fantastic-actor-has-got-what-they-deserve/articleshow/110091722.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames H to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license