Karan Tacker on facing his fear of heights while shooting Special Ops 2: It took a lot of mental preparation

Karan Tacker on facing his fear of heights while shooting Special Ops 2: It took a lot of mental preparation

Special Ops Season 2 has quickly climbed the charts since its release, garnering praise for its gripping storyline and high-octane action. Returning to the screen with even greater intensity, the new season dives deeper into the shadowy world of intelligence and espionage, set against the backdrop of rising global tensions and cyber threats. At the heart of the series is Kay Kay Menon’s iconic portrayal of Himmat Singh, but Karan Tacker, who reprises his role as Farooq, also emerges as a standout with a performance marked by both physical and psychological intensity.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Karan Tacker (@karantacker)

In a candid behind-the-scenes revelation, Karan shared the challenges he faced while filming this season — the most daunting being his personal fear of heights. A pivotal scene required him to perform a high-stakes stunt atop one of the highest dams in the world. For someone with a severe phobia, this was no small feat. Yet, drawing inspiration from the very character he portrays — a composed and sharp R&AW agent — Karan dug deep to overcome the fear.

“This one was challenging in its own ways,” Karan said, describing the tough terrains and unforgiving shooting conditions. “The locations were extremely tough. The action is very real. When you're hitting, when you're falling, it all just really feels like you’re falling on real ground because we’re shooting in real locations.”

Director Neeraj Pandey’s preference for realism added to the pressure. “Neeraj sir has a way of shooting — he likes to keep it as close to contact as possible, so it doesn’t look like we’re acting,” Karan explained. “That meant a lot of times I was actually getting punched, kicked, and thrown around, which was a challenge in itself.”

Also Read: Aneet Padda to be next seen in YRF’s legal drama Nyaya after Saiyaara

However, it was the dam stunt that tested him most. “I have a major phobia of heights,” he admitted. “It took a lot of mental preparation.”

Karan credits his ability to stay calm to his commitment to embodying Farooq with authenticity. “If I truly were an R&AW agent, I can’t let pressure crack me. My job is to be the sharpest when under pressure,” he said. “Even when you’re trembling in the blistering cold and drenched in water, you start thinking like a spy. You think how he would respond — and you don’t let anything get to you.”
Special Ops 2 is currently streaming on JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar.