Actor Worship Khanna, who has been a part of shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Meri Doli Mere Angana, and Ishq Subhan Allah and web series like Hello Jee, Cold Lassi and Chicken Masala, and is currently seen in the show Pati Brahmachari, is getting quite the love on social media for his role as a rich brat in Secret Empire, a show that streams on KuKu TV. A scene from the show, which he describes as “an exact copy of a Korean vertical drama,” has brought him a new level of recognition.
Talking about it, he said, “Right now, it’s a trend in India to remake these Korean vertical series, and platforms like KuKu were the first to start it,” he shared, adding that Secret Empire is one such remake, now enjoying unexpected attention.
He further revealed that the entry into the series was just as unplanned as its success. He said, “I was in Surat for some personal work Suddenly, I got a call from them saying, ‘We have a vertical shoot tomorrow—can you do it?’ I had never done vertical drama before, so I thought, ‘Okay, it’s just one day. Let’s give it a try and see how the experience goes.’ I said yes. I travelled all the way from Surat and went directly to the set.”
“After reaching there, they gave me the script and said, ‘This is the scene we are shooting today.’ That same scene later went viral. They told me, ‘Sir, this is your scene; you have to pull it off your way.’ And that’s it. I had no expectations. I didn’t even know much about vertical dramas or what Kuku FM was. I just did it without thinking too much. And everything just happened by chance,” he added.
Unlike most acting projects that involve multiple rehearsals and workshops, Worship approached the role with his instincts. “I didn’t do any kind of research for this character. Nothing at all. I’ve been working for 12 years in the industry, done many TV shows and other work, but I’ve never received this kind of recognition before,” he said.
He plays the role of a flashy new-money millionaire and revealed that his portrayal was shaped by real-life observations. “My dad used to say that people who are rich from generations never show off. But those who suddenly get rich often try to flaunt their money,” he shared, adding that the insight helped him breathe authenticity into the role, and audiences clearly noticed.
Since the release, one particular clip from the show has taken over social media. “Now that one scene is going viral like crazy, and I honestly feel so blessed. I never imagined something like this would happen. A cab driver refused to take money from me because he was watching my series! Even when I go to buy a packet of milk, people say, ‘Hey, isn’t this the guy who drinks 10 crore rupees wine?’” he said.
“People are telling me, ‘Every time we open our phones, your video is there. It just keeps popping up again and again.’ That’s how viral this video has gone. “It’s on another level!” he added.
The response, especially from North Indian cities like Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, and Varanasi, has been overwhelming. “There’s genuine interest in this format now. And yes—I’m totally open to doing more vertical content. I’d definitely love to take on something even more challenging and exciting next,” Worship ended.
