Television actor Zaan Khan has opened up about the outsized role social media plays in shaping how people experience relationships and emotions today — and why he believes much of what circulates online is far removed from reality. The actor, currently starring in the vertical drama 'Dil Se Deewangi Tak', shared his candid views in an exclusive conversation.

Social Media and the Illusion It Creates

Khan was direct in his assessment of platforms like Instagram. 'Social media relationships are different. A lot of things today are very Instagram-centric, and they are not necessarily true,' he said. He pointed out that a significant portion of daily life is now consumed by scrolling through content that may have no basis in lived experience.

'More than half of our lives are spent on Instagram. You read quotes written by random people, even though those experiences may never have happened to them. They write these things for views and fandom,' Khan explained. He cautioned against the habit of mapping such content onto one's personal life, calling it 'one of the most foolish things to do.' In his view, the so-called wisdom found on social media is 'all very temporary.'

How the Show Reflects — and Differs From — Online Life

When asked whether the social media-driven perception of relationships has influenced 'Dil Se Deewangi Tak', Khan was clear about the distinction. 'This is a fiction show. It is not reality. It has a completely different flavour,' he said. The show, he noted, draws its emotional core from a genuine narrative rather than the performative dynamics that dominate online spaces.

This comes at a time when Indian digital entertainment is increasingly grappling with the blurred line between curated online personas and authentic storytelling — a tension that shows like 'Dil Se Deewangi Tak' appear to be navigating deliberately.

Zaan Khan on Playing Jahan

Khan revealed that the character of Jahan — one vertex of the show's central love triangle involving Abir, Sia, and Jahan — was the primary draw for him. 'He is someone I have never played before. He is royal and ruthless. I really like the character,' the actor said. The unpredictability of Jahan, he added, made the role a departure from anything in his earlier body of work.

Show's Performance and Reach

'Dil Se Deewangi Tak' airs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the All Right TV app. Khan described it as 'India's number one vertical show,' citing a large viewership milestone that the show has reportedly crossed, though a specific figure was not disclosed. 'It is a long-running vertical show that is doing extremely well across platforms,' he said, expressing enthusiasm for what he called 'new surprises' ahead.

As vertical-format content continues to gain ground in India's streaming landscape, the show's performance signals a growing appetite for mobile-first storytelling — a format that, ironically, thrives on the very platforms Khan is urging viewers to approach with more scepticism.