Karan Thapar, a prominent Indian journalist, has significantly contributed to Indian media through his impactful interviews and insightful commentary. His career spans decades, marked by both accolades and controversies. This biography delves into his life, work, and legacy.

Wiki/Biography

Karan Thapar was born on November 5, 1955 (age 67 years as of 2022). His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He completed his schooling at The Doon School in Dehradun and Stowe School in England. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Philosophy from Pembroke College, Cambridge University in 1977, followed by a doctorate in International Relations from St. Anthony’s College, Oxford University.

Physical Appearance

Here’s a summary of his physical attributes:

• Height: 5’7″
• Weight: 70 kg
• Hair Color: White
• Eye Color: Black

Family

Hailing from a Punjabi family in Srinagar, his father, General Pran Nath Thapar, was a former Chief of Army Staff. His mother was Bimla Thapar. He has three sisters: Shobha, Premila, and Kiran. His cousin, Romila Thapar, is a renowned historian and Emeritus Professor. He was married to Nisha Thapar, who sadly passed away in 1982.

Career

Thapar’s career began at The Times UK in Lagos, Nigeria, where he rose to become a lead writer. After leaving in 1982, he joined London Weekend Television. In 1991, he returned to India, joining the Hindustan Times Television Group. Over the years, he worked with various channels, including Home TV, Star TV, and United Television. He established his own production house, Infotainment Television, in 2001, creating content for channels like the BBC.

His role as an anchor at CNN-IBN saw him interview numerous prominent figures, including Barack Obama, Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jayalalithaa. After leaving CNN-IBN in 2014, he joined India Today, hosting shows like “Nothing But the Truth” and “To the Point”. He also contributes a column to the Indian Express. More recently, he joined Tiranga TV.

Controversies

Several high-profile interviews led to controversies. His interview with Jayalalithaa in 2004 sparked a public reaction. His 2007 interview with Narendra Modi, concerning the Godhra riots, resulted in Modi’s withdrawal from the interview. His book, “The Devil’s Advocate,” detailed these events and others, leading to further discussions and debate.

An article he wrote in 2017 on Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national sentenced to death in Pakistan, drew criticism for potentially undermining the Indian government’s position in the case.

Awards

Karan Thapar has received numerous awards throughout his career, recognizing his contributions to journalism. Some of his notable awards include:

Facts

He maintains a tradition of spending Christmas in London. He has connections to the Nehru family and was close friends with Sanjay Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto. In 2018, he launched his book, “The Devil’s Advocate,” a collection of his most memorable interviews and commentary.

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