New role, new town
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Karan Brar has a new role.
The former Bothell resident, who played a middle school student in the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” movies, is part of a new television series, “Jessie,” scheduled to premiere this fall on the Disney Channel.
Karan, 12, attended Gateway Middle School in Everett for a year before moving in early June to Los Angeles with his father, Harry Brar. He auditioned for the show in April and was excited to win the role of Ravi, a 10-year-old adoptee from India.
“It’s all really exciting,” Karan said. “I never imagined I would be in a Disney show.”
“Jessie” stars Debby Ryan from the Disney series, “The Suite Life on Deck,” and the Disney movie, “16 Wishes.” Ryan plays a teen who moves from Texas to New York to be a nanny for a high-profile couple with a daughter and three adopted children, including Ravi.
Karan started acting in commercials at the age of 7 and was one of 9,000 kids who auditioned for the part of Chirag Gupta in the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” movie released in March 2010. He returned to the big screen in the same role this March in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules.” The movies are based on books by Jeff Kinney.
Acting in a television series is a different experience from being in a movie, Karan said.
“I enjoy that on TV you get to go more in depth on your character,” he said.
Leaving friends behind was difficult, but Karan said he has invited them to visit him, and the show’s cast is like a family. He also has had time off the set to visit Venice Beach, Universal Studios and Disneyland.
He first went to Disneyland when he was 5 years old, but he wasn’t tall enough to ride most of the rides then, Karan said. Now, the memories are better and his favorite ride is Space Mountain.
“I got tall enough,” he said.
The Brar family has rented out their Bothell home. They have plans to sell their 7-Eleven business. Then Karan’s mother, Jasbinder, and older sister, Sabreena, will move to Los Angeles, where the family will live while Karan is part of the show, Harry Brar said.
“I am very proud of my son,” he said. “It was very hard to move away from Seattle, but we want the family together. We are supporting (Karan).”
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
