Last updated: 3 October 2026
Karan Kundrra has played the romantic lead, the Roadies gang leader and the host who asks other people about love. In May 2026 he did something none of those jobs asked of him. He proposed to Tejasswi Prakash on camera, in the final episode of Netflix’s reality series Desi Bling, and she said yes.
It was the latest turn in a television career that began in 2009 with Kitani Mohabbat Hai and has run through MTV Roadies, MTV Love School and Bigg Boss 15. It now includes a Laughter Chefs trophy and a seat as co-host of MTV Splitsvilla X6. This profile covers that career, the show that brought him and Tejasswi together, and the latest confirmed updates, including an allegation made against him in July 2026.
Karan Kundrra Quick Facts
| Full name | Karan Kundrra (often spelled Kundra) |
| Born | 11 October 1984, Jalandhar, Punjab, India |
| Age | 41 (as of 3 October 2026) |
| Occupation | Actor and television host |
| Years active | 2009 to present |
| Television debut | Kitani Mohabbat Hai (2009), as Arjun Punj |
| Film debut | Pure Punjabi (2012) |
| Education | Mayo College, Ajmer (school); Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar |
| Best known for | Kitani Mohabbat Hai, MTV Roadies, MTV Love School, Dil Hi Toh Hai, Bigg Boss 15 |
| Bigg Boss 15 | Third place (second runner-up), January 2022 |
| Recent win | Laughter Chefs Season 2, with Elvish Yadav (July 2025) |
| Current hosting | MTV Splitsvilla X6 (2026), with Sunny Leone |
| Partner | Tejasswi Prakash (engaged, May 2026) |
| Height | About 6 ft to 6 ft 1 in (183 to 185 cm); sources vary |
| @kkundrra |
Who Is Karan Kundrra?
Karan Kundrra is an Indian television actor and host who also works in Hindi and Punjabi films. He debuted as Arjun Punj in Kitani Mohabbat Hai (2009), appeared in films including Pure Punjabi, Horror Story, Mubarakan and 1921, and became a familiar reality-TV face as a Roadies gang leader, a Love School host and a Bigg Boss 15 finalist. Forbes India placed him on its Celebrity 100 list in 2018 and 2019.
Early Life and Background
Karan Kundrra was born on 11 October 1984 in Jalandhar, Punjab, into a business family. Profiles of him say he went to Mayo College in Ajmer, Rajasthan, and later studied at Apeejay College of Fine Arts in Jalandhar. Several profile sites also report that he completed an MBA in the United States, though that detail rests on secondary sources. His father is described as a businessman in Punjab, and he has three older sisters.
Career
Television beginnings (2009 to 2014)
Kitani Mohabbat Hai on NDTV Imagine gave him his first lead, as Arjun Punj, in 2009. Later that year he played Veeru in Bayttaab Dil Kee Tamanna Hai on Sony TV, and in 2010 he took part in the dance reality show Zara Nachke Dikha. He returned to the Kitani Mohabbat Hai franchise as Arjun Singhania in its second season, and he hosted the first two seasons of Channel V’s crime show Gumrah: End of Innocence, an early step from acting into hosting. Films followed with Pure Punjabi (2012), Horror Story (2013) and Mere Yaar Kaminey (2014).
Roadies, Love School and the hosting years (2015 to 2019)
From 2015 Kundrra was a gang leader on MTV Roadies, a role he kept through Roadies Rising in 2017, and he hosted MTV Love School across several seasons, often alongside VJ Anusha Dandekar. He also led the &TV series Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum (2015 to 2016).
The Roadies years were not without controversy. An audition episode of Roadies Rising in 2017 included a moment in which he slapped a contestant, and the clip drew criticism. Nikhil Chinapa replaced him on the show that season. Chinapa said at the time that the change was down to Kundrra’s date clashes, not the incident.
On screen, he appeared in a supporting role in Anees Bazmee’s Mubarakan (2017), alongside Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor, and led Vikram Bhatt’s horror film 1921 (2018). His 2018 return to television with Ekta Kapoor’s Dil Hi Toh Hai, as Ritwik Noon, continued for two more seasons on ALTBalaji and MX Player.
Bigg Boss 15 (2021 to 2022)
After joining Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai as Ranveer Chauhan in April 2021, Kundrra entered Bigg Boss 15 that October. The season became a love story. He and Tejasswi Prakash, who had worked together on the show Ladies vs Gentlemen, began dating inside the house, and fans named the pair TejRan. At the finale at the end of January 2022, Tejasswi won, Pratik Sehajpal was first runner-up and Kundrra finished third as second runner-up.
Host, jailor and reality regular (2022 to 2025)
Bigg Boss 15 turned him into a reality-TV fixture. In March 2022 he joined Lock Upp as a jailor, in April 2022 he began hosting Dance Deewane Juniors on Colors, and in 2023 he hosted Temptation Island India. His scripted work in those years included the fantasy drama Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal (2023) and the films Thank You for Coming (2023) and Tera Kya Hoga Lovely (2024).
Laughter Chefs gave him his biggest recent win. He appeared in the first season with Arjun Bijlani, then joined the second season mid-way and was paired with YouTuber Elvish Yadav. The pair were named winners in the finale on 27 July 2025. Kundrra said he had joined with no preparation, and Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi credited the duo’s partnership for the win. In June 2025 he also appeared in Prime Video’s The Traitors, where he was eliminated early.
Naagin 7 and Splitsvilla (2025 to 2026)
Kundrra is part of Colors’ Naagin 7, which premiered on 27 December 2025, playing Dr Tushar Sinha, with Tejasswi Prakash appearing in the same season in a special role. In 2026 he returned to hosting as co-host of MTV Splitsvilla X6 alongside Sunny Leone.
Major Work and Notable Projects
- Kitani Mohabbat Hai (2009): the NDTV Imagine drama that launched his career as Arjun Punj.
- MTV Roadies and MTV Love School (2015 to 2019): his years as gang leader and host.
- Mubarakan (2017): a supporting role in a comedy led by Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor.
- Dil Hi Toh Hai (2018 to 2020): Ritwik Noon across the series.
- Bigg Boss 15 (2021 to 2022): third place, and the start of his relationship with Tejasswi Prakash.
- Laughter Chefs Season 2 (2025): winner, with Elvish Yadav.
- Desi Bling (2026): the Netflix reality series in which he proposed to Tejasswi Prakash.
- MTV Splitsvilla X6 (2026): co-host, with Sunny Leone.
Recognition
He won Most Popular TV Actor at the 2023 Iconic Gold Awards and Most Stylish TV Actor (Male) at the 2023 Bollywood Hungama Style Icon Awards. The 2025 Indian Telly Awards named him its Editor’s Choice for Most Versatile Performer on Television (Male).
Current Projects and Latest Updates
The Desi Bling proposal
Desi Bling, a Netflix reality series about affluent Indians living in Dubai, premiered on 20 May 2026 and features both Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash. In its final episode he arranged a surprise at a waterside venue, with the words “Will You Marry Me?” laid out across the water. He gave a speech about their relationship and proposed with a diamond ring, and Tejasswi, visibly emotional, said yes.
Early reports noted that neither had immediately posted an official announcement on social media, and no wedding date has been announced. Wedding predictions circulating online, including tarot-based ones, are speculation, not confirmed plans.
Hosting and Laughter Chefs 3
Kundrra co-hosts MTV Splitsvilla X6 with Sunny Leone. Reports in July 2026 also had him on Laughter Chefs Season 3 alongside Tejasswi Prakash.
Allegations from Saanvie Tallwar (July 2026)
In July 2026, actress Saanvie Tallwar, who played the female lead opposite Kundrra in Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum, alleged in interviews that he kissed her without consent before the director’s cue during a scene and later slapped her hard on set. She also said Ektaa Kapoor apologised to her on Kundrra’s behalf afterwards. The account was reported by outlets including Pinkvilla, Free Press Journal and IANS. An on-set altercation between the two co-stars had also been reported in the media in November 2015.
These are Tallwar’s allegations. In the reports available at the time of writing, Kundrra had not publicly responded, and this profile draws no conclusion beyond what has been reported.
Social Media Stats
| X (Twitter) | IMDb | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| @kkundrra | Not publicly verified | @kkundrra | IMDb |
| About 6.8M (third-party trackers, Aug 2026) | Not publicly verified | Not publicly verified | IMDb profile |
Social media figures are approximate and may change.
Personal Life
Karan Kundrra has been in a relationship with actress Tejasswi Prakash since 2021. They began dating inside the Bigg Boss 15 house, and they are now engaged after the Desi Bling proposal. Before Tejasswi, he had a publicly known relationship with VJ and actress Anusha Dandekar, his co-host on MTV Love School.
Earnings and Net Worth
There is no verified net worth figure for Karan Kundrra. Forbes India placed him 84th on its 2018 Celebrity 100 list, with estimated annual income of about ₹11 crore, and 92nd in 2019. Online net worth estimates range from $2 million to $11 million across different profile sites without showing their working, so none is used here.
What Comes Next
Seventeen years after Arjun Punj, his career maps how Indian television changed: daily soaps, then reality formats, then streaming. What comes next, including any wedding, has not been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Karan Kundrra?
Karan Kundrra was born on 11 October 1984. He is 41 years old as of October 2026 and turns 42 on 11 October.
Is Karan Kundrra married?
No. He is engaged to actress Tejasswi Prakash, to whom he proposed on Netflix’s Desi Bling, which premiered on 20 May 2026. No wedding date has been announced.
Where did Karan Kundrra finish in Bigg Boss 15?
He finished third, as second runner-up, behind winner Tejasswi Prakash and first runner-up Pratik Sehajpal, at the finale at the end of January 2022.
What is Karan Kundrra best known for?
He is best known for Kitani Mohabbat Hai, Dil Hi Toh Hai, his years as a Roadies gang leader and Love School host, and Bigg Boss 15.
Which shows does Karan Kundrra host?
In 2026 he co-hosts MTV Splitsvilla X6 with Sunny Leone. Earlier hosting credits include MTV Love School, Dance Deewane Juniors (2022) and Temptation Island India (2023).
Did Karan Kundrra win Laughter Chefs?
Yes. He and Elvish Yadav were named winners of Laughter Chefs Season 2 in the finale on 27 July 2025.
How did Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash meet?
Sources differ on where they first met. Some say Ladies vs Gentlemen, many reports say Bigg Boss 15. Both agree the relationship began inside the Bigg Boss 15 house in 2021.
What has Saanvie Tallwar alleged about Karan Kundrra?
In July 2026 she alleged that he kissed her without consent and later slapped her on the set of Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum. These are her allegations, and no public response from Kundrra had been reported at the time of writing.
What is Karan Kundrra’s net worth?
There is no verified figure. Online estimates vary widely and do not show how they were calculated.
How many Instagram followers does Karan Kundrra have?
His Instagram account, @kkundrra, had about 6.8 million followers as of August 2026, according to third-party trackers.