After acquiring a Bachelor`s degree in Music Production/Sound Design from the Queensland University of Technology, Karan Kulkarni returned to India soon after which he became a part of the advertising industry, composing music and background scores for several ads. Karan has been associated with brands such as Google, Vodafone, Star Sports, Flipkart, Titan Industries, Honda, Vasan Eye Care, Lifestyle, Parachute, Amazon, and TBZ to name a few.

Meanwhile, Karan pursued his career in the film industry, starting by assisting music director Amit Trivedi on movies such as Ishaqzaade, English Vinglish, Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, Trishna, and Aiyya. Gulshan Devaiah and Nimrat Kaur-starrer Peddlers in 2012, following which he was credited as the music composer of critically acclaimed movies like Shahid and Aligarh. In 2017, the composer was contributed towards the background music of the slice of life movie Tumhari Sulu, which features Vidya Balan in the lead. His 2019 release includes Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, directed by Vasan Bala.