Television actor Gaurav Khanna has spoken candidly about one of the darkest stretches of his career, revealing that he was once labelled ‘unlucky’ — a tag that cost him real work in the industry. The disclosure came during an upcoming episode of the stunt-based reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi, where host Rohit Shetty introduced a surprise twist by confiscating contestants’ mobile phones and bringing select private conversations into the open.

The 'Panauti' Label That Followed Him

Khanna admitted that the fear of being branded a ‘panauti’ — a colloquial term for someone who brings bad luck — had shadowed him for years. “There was a phase in my career when I was labelled as unlucky because a few of my shows didn’t run for very long,” he said. “What started as conversations behind closed doors slowly turned into rumours that if I was part of a show, it wouldn’t work, and I genuinely started losing work because of that.”

The actor described the experience as heartbreaking, insisting that a show’s fate is never the burden of a single performer. “I always believed that a show’s success or failure is a collective effort, not the responsibility of one actor. There were moments when I even questioned myself, but I never stopped believing in my work,” he added.

A Message That Lifted a Long-Carried Burden

During the Khatron Ke Khiladi episode, Shetty unexpectedly surfaced a message from Hussain — a fellow contestant — that struck a personal chord with Khanna. “He was simply reminding me that if I had survived much bigger challenges in life, I could definitely face these stunts. I’m glad that conversation happened because it lifted a burden I’d been carrying for years,” Khanna said.

The moment, while unscripted, appeared to offer the actor a rare public reckoning with a chapter he had largely kept private.

A Broader Pattern Across His Generation

Khanna was careful to frame his experience not as unique but as part of a wider pattern in the television industry. “I also know I am not the only one; many actors from my generation have gone through similar experiences,” he said. His advice to peers was pointed: “One can never rise to the top by pushing others down. Pull yourself up instead of pulling others down, work hard, create your own place, and let your work speak for itself.”

This comes amid a broader conversation in the Hindi television industry about the role of word-of-mouth reputation — often spread informally among producers and casting agents — in shaping an actor’s career trajectory, sometimes independently of actual performance.

Career Arc and Recent Milestones

Khanna has appeared in several notable television productions over the years, including Kumkum, Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam, and Anupamaa. He went on to win Bigg Boss Season 19, a result that significantly raised his public profile. His current participation in Khatron Ke Khiladi marks his continued presence in high-visibility reality formats.

Whether this candid revelation reshapes how the industry reflects on its own informal reputation systems remains to be seen — but Khanna’s willingness to speak on record marks a notable moment in that conversation.