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Karan Oberoi delivers a masterful performance as Dhan in Found, capturing the attention of audiences with his ability to balance stoicism and vulnerability. The series, created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, shines a light on the often-overlooked epidemic of missing people, particularly those from underrepresented communities. In the U.S., over 600,000 people are reported missing annually, with more than half of them being people of color, whose disappearances often go unnoticed by the media.

Oberoi plays Dhan, a key member of Gabi Mosely’s (Shanola Hampton) crisis management team at Mosely & Associates. Gabi, once a victim of kidnapping herself, now leads the charge to bring attention to these missing persons. However, Gabi harbors a dark secret—she has imprisoned her own kidnapper, Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), who has now escaped and poses a major threat to her and her team. As Dhan, Oberoi portrays a man who has experienced his own deep trauma, yet channels that pain into helping others, standing as a pillar of strength within the team.

With his complex backstory and loyalty to his chosen family, Oberoi’s portrayal of Dhan is both nuanced and powerful. As Found heads into its highly anticipated second season, his performance continues to be a standout, adding emotional depth and intensity to a show that highlights critical issues while delivering high-stakes drama.

PC: One of the benefits of television as a medium is the opportunity to live with a character for an extended period of time. As the writers’ room learns more about their ensemble, they can shape and infuse elements of the actors into the characters. Heading into Season 2, was there a particular aspect of Dhan that you were most excited to explore more deeply?
Karan: I was really intrigued to see where the story would go, especially after how things ended in Season 1. Everyone is so interconnected with what’s happening. I was curious to see how everything would unfold now that Sir is out. What will the world look like? What kind of threat will he pose to each of us, both individually and as a team? Our mission is to find these missing people, but how do we keep doing that? As for my character, his backstory is so fascinating, and we’ll definitely learn more about it as the series goes on.

PC: I’ve got to say, Dhan is one of my favorite characters on the show—largely due to your portrayal of him and how you capture this man with such a stoic exterior but so many deep, intense emotions beneath. That contrast, along with his conviction to do what’s right and his loyalty to his chosen family and partner, is so compelling to watch. How have you found your way into this character, discovered where he sits within you, and created that space to tackle the vulnerability that lies beneath?
Karan: First off, thank you for those kind words. It all starts with the scripts—they give us everything. And then it’s this incredible cast. It’s about looking into your scene partner’s eyes and really giving to each other, staying present. I try to prepare as much as I can. Like you said, he’s a very layered individual, just like every character on this show. There’s so much intense stuff going on. I don’t think any of these characters have been able to remove their trauma at any point during the day. They just make the decision to approach each day the best way they can. But you can only push things so far before they start to boil over. That’s what I’m trying to show with Dhan—that sense of something simmering underneath him.

PC: There’s been such a beautiful evolution in the brotherhood between Dhan and Zeke. At the start of the first season, Dhan is quick to dismiss Zeke’s agoraphobia. But as the series progresses, we see how they not only show up for one another but also hold each other accountable. Episode 201 really exemplifies that growth. Without giving any spoilers, how has the friendship between Dhan and Zeke influenced each other’s journeys toward healing? And what has it been like collaborating with Arlen [Escarpeta] to portray that evolution?
Karan: That relationship is rock-solid in Season 2, and I love that. In the beginning, Dhan was testing him out. He needed to know if Zeke was someone who would stick around—because when things get tough, are you going to walk away, or are you going to stay?

Last season, Dhan opened up about the drug abuse during his military mission and how that led to his capture. Those moments are really triggering for him, and Zeke was there for him. He listened and supported Dhan in whatever way he needed. That’s when Dhan decided, “I’m all in with this guy.”

I love Zeke—he’s one of my favorite characters in the show. Their relationship is so open and honest. They’ll definitely have some disagreements in Season 2, but their foundation is strong.

PC: That might just be the answer to my next question. Each case on the show not only raises awareness for underrepresented communities but also offers a chance to learn more about the characters and the team. Was there a particular case in Season 1 that helped you uncover something new about Dhan or reinforced your understanding of who he is as a character?
Karan: Honestly, all of them did. Every case opened my eyes. The whole show has. I’m so fortunate to be part of something that’s actually trying to make a difference, whether it’s by getting media attention or policymakers involved in this epidemic of missing people—which is what we need. We need to bring these people home.

If I had to point to a particular case, it might be the ones involving morally gray characters—people who may not be seen as “good” because of the choices they’ve made in their lives, but at the end of the day, everyone deserves to be found. Those are the cases that really stuck with me.

PC: Unlike everyone else at Mosely and Associates (M&A), Dhan has had time to process Gabi’s secret. Will he be the bridge that brings the team back together, or could his involvement drive a further wedge between them as we head into Season 2?
Karan: He’s going to try his hardest to keep everyone together. Dhan will go to the brink for his team. He’s definitely fighting to hold this family together, and you’ll see that right from the start in Episode 1 of Season 2.

PC: The writing on this show is so intricate, often foreshadowing key reveals that happen later in the season, like Dhan’s ability to keep secrets—especially the one he shares with Gabi. As the actor bringing Dhan to life, do you prefer discovering these twists as the audience does, or do you like to have that information at the start of the season? How does either approach affect the way you play this character?
Karan: That’s a great question. I was just thinking about this the other day, and I’m not sure if I have an answer. In some acting classes, the teachers say we need to know the whole plot because then we can play certain secrets differently if we understand the full story. But I’ll say this—Nkechi knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s lived with these stories, characters, plots, and seasons for so long. We’re still shooting Season 2, but it’s been in her head for years. The structure of the show and the intricacies of the characters have been in her brain far longer than we can even imagine. So whatever approach she chooses is honestly the best way.

Unfolding everything along the way has been such a great surprise. It’s been so much fun to watch, too. I watched last season, and we have such fantastic sound engineers, like Steve Aaron, that we didn’t even have to do any ADR. ADR is when you re-record dialogue if anything gets muffled. In my case, since I tend to slur my words sometimes, they’ll call me in for that. [laughs] “Karan, stop mumbling,” or sometimes it’s just because there’s a loud truck in the background. But since I didn’t have to do any ADR last year, when I watched Season 1, I was like, “Wow. All of this happened?” It was phenomenal to watch.

PC: There’s also a powerful moment when Dhan talks about the progress he’s made in his healing journey, which is so important for audiences to see. He credits a lot of that change to Gabi, but she also puts him in a really difficult position. What was your reaction when you read that scene in Episode 1×11? What discussions did you have with Shanola about bringing it to life, because it’s such a standout moment?
Karan: That’s all in the writing. It’s not easy for Dhan—or any of these characters—because they constantly revisit their trauma. Every time they see someone in need, it’s triggering. But instead of shutting down, they use that experience to thrive. They use it as a superpower to help others. Dhan’s done a lot of work on himself, but Gabi played an intricate role in his rescue, which you’ll learn more about later. That definitely affects him. Dhan is a loyal guy, and he gives Gabi more leeway than anyone else. That scene was phenomenal to film.

Shanola is such a giving actor. It’s a joy to work with her and everyone on the show. That scene was all about lights up, knowing your stuff, and just going for it. It was fun, even though it was a heartbreaking scene—it was a wonderful experience.

To keep up with Karan, follow him on Instagram. Season 2 of Found premieres on October 3rd. Stream it the next day on Peacock.

Photo Credit: Kwaku Alston/NBC