Karan Veer Mehra on winning Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 14: I’ve always felt like a winner; this victory just opens more doors

The 14th season of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi has crowned its winner – Karan Veer Mehra. The actor was confident in his ability to win from the very start. Speaking about his mindset during the competition, he says, “My approach was simple – treat it like a game and enjoy the ride. I was more focussed on being my own competition rather than trying to outdo anyone else. It was never about beating someone for me. I just wanted to complete every stunt and be in the moment.”

Ask him about the most difficult stunt, and he is quick to mention the electric shock challenges. “The shock stunts were brutal, especially because the metal rod in my left foot amplified the effect,” he says.

‘One step at a time’
Rather than planning detailed strategies before each stunt, Karan adopted a more straightforward approach. He shares, “In my mind, I always thought, ‘Focus on the first flag. Grab that and then move to the next one.’ I didn’t go in thinking about all 12 flags at once. It was always one step at a time. And no matter what, the idea was never to give up. Fortunately, we had someone like Rohit (Shetty) sir to guide and push us throughout.”

‘Gashmeer was one of the strongest contestants and Sumona was the underdog’
Among the contestants, Gashmeer Mahajani stood out as one of the frontrunners for the title. Analysing his competition, Karan shares, “Everyone had their strengths, but Gashmeer was definitely one of the strongest. However, I noticed that in most of the stunts where we competed, he seemed focused on beating my timing. I think that played on his mind a lot.”

He also praises Sumona Chakravarti, calling her the surprise package of the season. He says, “Sumona was like the underdog. She performed incredibly well, especially considering she was in almost every elimination stunt. She always bounced back, no matter how many times she was knocked down. It was commendable. She even lost an elimination stunt that involved electric shocks, something she had been good at handling. It was her birthday that day, and I felt really bad for her.”

‘My biggest handicap was not watching any of the previous seasons’
The actor admits his biggest disadvantage was not having followed the show. He says, “Most of the other contestants had watched previous seasons, so they had an idea of what to expect. They were better equipped and knew what kind of stunts could come up. That was my handicap—I hadn’t followed any season. But in the end, it feels amazing to bring the trophy home. I’d definitely say luck played a part, along with some prayers from my loved ones. And of course, my training since school helped me prove I still have a lot of physical strength and agility.”

‘I hope Rohit sir remembers me as someone with good humour and a strong performer’

Karan with host Rohit Shetty after winning Khatron Ke Khiladi 14

With his victory, Karan has also earned the distinction of being the only “Karan” in the TV industry to have won Khatron Ke Khiladi. His friend, Karan Wahi, had jokingly pointed this out during a video call, encouraging him to win. Reflecting on this, he says, “I hope people remember me as the only Karan to win the show at my age. I also hope Rohit (Shetty) sir remembers me for my sense of humour and my ability to perform the stunts well.”




‘I didn’t even negotiate; I just wanted to be part of the show’
His desire to be on the show was so strong that he didn’t even haggle over the paycheck. “They had approached me earlier, but I was busy with another project. This time, I wanted to participate so badly that I didn’t even negotiate. I took whatever money they offered.”

As for how it feels to win, Karan concludes, “I’ve always felt like a winner. This victory just opens up more opportunities. People want to work with me now, and it’s easier to connect with those I’ve always admired.”