karan brar STORY: ASHLEY BULAYO PHOTOGRAPHY: JUSTIN NUNEZ
It seems as if a lot of celebrity stars get their start through Disney Channel. Zac Efron, Hilary Duff, Shia LaBeouf, just to name a few. You see what I mean? Most actors go on to be big stars in different ways so it’s always fun to guess and see where someone ends up in ten years. One actor who should be on your radar is KARAN BRAR who plays the hilarious role of Ravi Ross on Jessie and now on the spin-off Bunk’d. He doesn’t take his role for granted. He knows exactly how Disney Channel has been a huge stepping stone for so many well-known celebs, “It’s awe-some to think that I’m working where my favorite Disney stars used to!” Since Jessie’s premiere in 2011, it’s safe to say it has become one of Disney Channel’s biggest series that struck gold with its dynamic cast and storylines. We’ve literally seen the cast grow up and mature over the past four years which Brar thinks is crazy to consider, “It’s kind of like these four amazing years of my life are all capsuled in these episodes.” After the series wraps up, we’ll now see a changed up Ravi on Bunk’d. “This time around we’re going to make Ravi a little bit more mature since he has younger peers looking up to him. He’s going to step up to the plate a little bit but he’ll always be the same Ravi the audience has loved from day one.”
Granted, we will miss the beloved characters who won’t be joining the new show but as Brar puts it, “we’re just expanding our family.” Aside from playing Ravi Ross, you may remember his role as Chirag Gupta in the hit adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He already has a lot on his plate but that doesn’t mean he necessarily wants to stop there. In about five to ten years, he hopes to direct and act in more movies since, after all, he did start with movies in the first place. However, this month, you’ll be able to catch Brar in Disney Channel’s newest movie Invisible Sister with his co-stars Rowan Blanchard from Girl Meets World and Paris Berelc from Disney XD’s Mighty Med! Fun fact: Brar would love to do a crossover episode with Mighty Med (now Lab Rats: Elite Force!) Let’s take a step back before Brar’s rise to fame. Back when he was still living in Seattle and hanging out in his favorite burger joint, Burger Joe. (“It’s my favorite burger place of all time!”) You know, the days where he wanted to work at Party City? “That’s actually partially true. When I was younger I thought Party City was the coolest place on earth and I wanted to work there but later on my dad kind of introduced me to acting and I fell in love with it from there!” said Brar.
local wolves magazine // 41