Not About Scaring, But Understanding: Karan Tacker Opens Up on ‘Bhay’

Actor Karan Tacker, who has established a strong presence in the OTT world, is in the spotlight these days for his latest web series Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery. In this series, he portrays the character of India’s first paranormal investigator, Gaurav Tiwari. Streaming on Amazon MX Player, the series goes far beyond conventional horror and explores the complex relationship between humans, fear, and curiosity. In this exclusive conversation, Karan Tacker opens up about the series, his character, and his journey as an actor. Let’s find out what he had to say.

Also read:Dominating the OTT world, Karan Tacker's 'Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery' tops the Ormax charts

What made you choose a dark genre like the biopic web series Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery?

I thought that if I didn’t scare people, maybe they wouldn’t take me seriously. But jokes apart, as an actor I’m always looking to do something new. The character of Gaurav Tiwari was completely unfamiliar to me. When I first read about him, I felt that he himself was a story. (Karan Tacker Bhay The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery)

Which aspect of Gaurav Tiwari’s story touched you the most and drew you towards this project?

Gaurav initially wanted to become an actor, then became a pilot, studied in the US, and suddenly left everything to return to India. He founded the Indian Paranormal Society and became the country’s first paranormal investigator. His passing at such a young age was extremely tragic and mysterious. What impacted me the most was his courage and passion—leaving behind a secure life to walk a path that society doesn’t easily accept.

Also read:Karan Tacker Reflects on the Honour of Watching Tanvi The Great with the President of India

Did you undergo any special physical or mental training for this role?

I wanted Gaurav to come across as someone who doesn’t talk too much. He was a strong, grounded person who spoke only when necessary. While reading the script, I suggested removing several dialogues. Usually, actors want more dialogue, but here I felt silence was far more powerful. For me, this character was very internal—mysterious, calm, and observant. We wanted everything to feel natural, so we focused on long single shots to keep the audience engaged. I didn’t want the show to feel choreographed. Fear and mystery only work when they feel real. (Bhay Amazon MX Player release)

What was your biggest challenge or concern while saying yes to this project?

My biggest fear was whether people would accept me in this role or not. Audiences have mostly seen me as a hero or in uniform roles. I wanted to break that image. Bhay was a big risk for me, but I’m glad that risk paid off.

Did you ever experience anything paranormal while working on the set?

I don’t like creating exaggerated stories because, in the name of promotion, the truth often gets lost. But yes, there were some strange experiences on set. Recently, I went for a real paranormal investigation at Malcha Mahal in Delhi. It was my first such experience in life. The darkness, silence, and loneliness—at that moment, I was asking myself why I had said yes to it. It was such an intense experience that I couldn’t sleep afterward because it kept playing on my mind.

Also read:“I Was So Scared That I Had Tears In My Eyes While Doing That Scene” Says Karan Tacker

Do you believe this show can change the way paranormal stories are perceived in India?

If people are a little less scared and a little more curious after watching this show, I’ll feel that our work has succeeded. This isn’t horror—it’s about humanity, curiosity, and trying to understand a world that we often choose to ignore.

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What is your acting process like? Do you consider yourself a method actor?

These days, words like “craft” and “process” are discussed a lot when it comes to acting. But honestly, I don’t like to box my work into a fixed definition. For me, acting doesn’t come from a formula or set of rules; it’s born from the time spent with a character. As you live the character, their situations, silences, and conflicts begin to reveal themselves naturally. Sometimes, it’s only months after the shoot is over that you truly understand the character better—just like life, which we often understand more deeply in hindsight than while we’re living it.

How well do you think audiences connected with the show?

Honestly, the response has been fantastic. I don’t read reviews, but I do check audience comments on YouTube and social media. I’m happy that a new audience has connected with me and that people are seeing me in a completely new light.

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FAQs

Q1. What is 'Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery' based on?

This web series is based on the life and work of India's first paranormal investigator, Gaurav Tiwari.

Q2. Which character is played by Karan Tacker in this web series?

Karan Tacker plays the role of Gaurav Tiwari.

Q3. Where is this web series released?

This series has been released on Amazon MX Player.

Q4. What is the main theme of the web series?

The series goes beyond the horror genre and explores the relationship between humans, fear, and curiosity.

Q5. Why did Karan Tacker decide to play this character?

Karan Tacker said that he wanted to choose a new and challenging character, and Gaurav Tiwari's story was very interesting and unknown to him.

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