Karan Khandelwal, last seen in Shubh Laabh, is ecstatic to return to television with his latest show, Apollena, starring Aditi Sharma and Sandeep Baswana. Portraying the role of Sanjay Singh, the actor opened up to Times Of India TV about his character and his experience working alongside his co-stars.
Tell us about your role?
My character, Sanjay Singh, is the top performer in his class and the most admired figure in his all-boys school. Everyone wants to stay on his good side, and no one dares to oppose him. However, when Apollena joins the school and starts challenging him on every front, he develops a deep resentment toward her. This animosity drives him to become increasingly negative and vindictive. As situations escalate, Sanjay’s focus shifts entirely from his studies to seeking revenge for the humiliation and pain she causes him. He begins plotting against Apollena, creating obstacles, and doing everything he can to sabotage her dreams. Playing this role is fascinating because of Sanjay’s grey shades and the complexity of his character, which makes it layered and dynamic.
How did you bag the role? And what made you say yes to the show?
When this show was offered to me, I auditioned in a bearded look because I was initially told the character was a college student. However, once things were finalized, I learned that my role was actually that of a school student, not a college-going youngster. At first, I had doubts about whether I could pull it off. But the team believed in my potential, which motivated me to give my absolute best and make the character convincing. I had about a month to prepare before filming began, so I committed to working out every single day without any cheat or off days. By God’s grace, everything fell into place, and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all the love and appreciation I’ve been receiving.
How has been the experience of working with the cast?
The atmosphere on set is incredibly positive, and everyone is friendly and supportive. My co-stars are wonderful and made me feel very welcome from the start. Aditi is not only talented but also incredibly sweet, and I thoroughly enjoy working with her. Our scenes together are a delight because she’s such a brilliant and easygoing actor. Sandeep Baswana is another phenomenal actor on the team. I’ve learned a lot from him, and his fantastic sense of humour adds so much fun to our off-screen moments. It’s truly a pleasure to be part of such a collaborative and enjoyable environment.