05 August,2026 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam Abraham
(L-R) Rohit Shetty and Avinash Mishra in ‘KKK’
Watching Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK) from the comfort of his living room made Avinash Mishra believe that the stunts were a cakewalk. That illusion disappeared the moment he found himself strapped into a harness in Cape Town. After Bigg Boss 18 (2024), the actor ticked off another dream by joining the adventure reality show. In conversation with mid-day, Mishra opens up about conquering his fears, preparing for the physically demanding stunts, and the life lesson he took away from host Rohit Shetty.
Excerpts from the interview.
After Bigg Boss in 2024, why did you jump into another intense reality show?
I took a gap because after Bigg Boss, it was very hectic to do another reality show in the same year. So I did Ab Hoga Hisaab for Amazon MX Player and then this show fell in my lap. This is something I really wanted to do. The whole format of it excites me a lot. It was already on my list, and that too above Bigg Boss. So how could I not say yes to the show? I've been watching KKK from the very first season, when Akshay [Kumar] sir used to host it. While watching it, I used to imagine doing the stunts.
When you shot for the show, did you find the stunts as easy as you initially believed?
When contestants weren't able to perform, I'd say, âBro, just go from that side.' But when the time came for me to perform, I realised how tough it was, but also how interesting it was. I enjoyed the whole journey, the process of understanding the stunt, and then performing it. The only thing I wanted to make sure was that I didn't abort the first stunt, which was very difficult. It was a new stunt that had never happened in India before. All the crew members and the Colors team came to me and said, âDon't abort. Do the stunt.' I had to make sure that whether I won or lost, I would not abort.
Did you discover any new fears on the show?
Honestly, height and water are the two most difficult aspects when it comes to KKK. These are the only [aspects in] stunts that feel scary. In normal life, I'm not scared of height or water, but when I was placed in that situation, I got cold feet for two or three seconds. Then, once I made up my mind that I have to be inside the water or jump off that cliff, it is gone. Those first few seconds of fear happen to everybody.
Did your preparation before the show help with the stunts?
Yes, I did some preparations and I guess they worked really well for me. I focused on building my stamina and endurance before going [to Cape Town]. Those things were really required while performing the stunts.
What's the most memorable advice you received from Shetty?
Some contestants weren't able to perform and a lot of people were aborting. That's when he said that at least we should attempt the stunt. Failure or success is secondary. The memory you create comes from attempting it. I guess that applies to life too. We have to attempt things instead of worrying about the results. That's what I've got from Rohit sir.
How do you think KKK will help your career trajectory?
I believe reality shows give you good exposure. The non-fiction space is booming right now. It's going to be for a short span of time, so I should know how to utilise it. If I can utilise it in a positive way, it will definitely open new doors for me.
Gaurav Khanna, Ruhaanika Dhawan, Harsh Gujral, Orhan Awatramani ("Orry"), Shagun Sharma and Farrhana Bhatt
