Armaan Kohli acquired cult status as the bad boy of Bigg Boss. Two years after his exit from the reality show, he will be seen as the suave villain in Sooraj Barjatya's Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (PRDP) that releases on November 12. Here is Armaan unplugged:

Bigg Boss to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, what an incredible journey.
Bigg Boss was a journey of a lifetime. Actually they wanted me from the third season itself. I refused the third, fourth, fifth and sixth season of the show because it is very difficult to live in that kind of an atmosphere. However, when Salman bhai said that I had to go in for the seventh season, I went there without a word. I cannot refuse Salman bhai. At first, I thought I would be there for just a couple of weeks. I seriously didn't think that I would survive for 15 weeks. We (Tanishaa Mukerji and I) became the heart of the show and for the first time Salman bhai admitted that the TRPs were higher during the week than on the weekends, when he appears as the host. This show runs because of Salman bhai. Even this current season, the weekend TRPs of Bigg Boss are high because Salman bhai is there. I think if any other host comes on the show, it is not going to work.

How did you land PRDP?
Salman bhai called one day and said you have to go to ND Studio and meet Sooraj Barjatya. So I did the needful. I thought he would want to do a look test or something. Soorajji heard my voice, saw my personality and offered me the role of Chirag. I began work in March this year and it has been an amazing journey. There is nothing better that I could have asked for my comeback as a bad boy; a villain. It is not the Shakti Kapoor kind of bad boy. It is the heroic, suave, white-collared bad boy. I'm blessed to have worked with two superstars - Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya. What more could I have really wished for?

What does it mean to be a bad boy in a Sooraj Barjatya film, which is all about good values?
I think it is the first time that Sooraj is portraying a villain as a villain. Generally, it is destiny that plays a spoilsport in his films. He doesn't really have scope for a villain. However, this time around there is a clear-cut, evil man who is basically selfish. Being this baddie came pretty naturally to me (laughs). I hope everyone loves it because I have worked very hard for it. Soorajji and Salman bhai were happy, so I am happy. I hope and pray that PRDP hits the bullseye.

One observes that at home, you are absolutely the good son.
I'm a good son. I like playing baddie characters but in real life, I'm not a baddie. What people saw of me in the Bigg Boss house was obviously not the real me. When I was calm, they would ask me to pipe up and when I piped up, they would ask me to take my temper a few notches down. From the first day itself, I had to prove a point so that the others did not sit on my head. Only if someone really provoked me did I react. All the people inside the house were against me. There were times when I would sit alone and eat a meal. I was in everyone's bad books. I guess that is why they kept me in the house. They didn't want the 'fun' to end. It is an experience I can never forget. However, I don't think I can do it again. It has actually changed a lot for me. They asked me to go in as the celebrity in the last season, but I refused. Now I think before I speak. Bigg Boss also saw a five-fold increase in my fan following. I had fans from Australia to Finland who sent me messages saying that they hadn't missed a single episode for as long as I was there. I sincerely hope my fan following favours me for PRDP as well.

Are you scared of your own temper?
Frankly, I don't have as bad a temper as people make it out to seem. I'm generally the heart of the party. You should ask my close friends who will tell you that I'm the one who is laughing, partying and taking care of people. I'm the guy who lives to the fullest. I'm gregarious, generous and let trivial issues just go past. I'm not the sort who makes issues over tissues. But people have the impression that I am hot-headed and I haven't bothered to correct that. Frankly, how does it matter? Those who know me well, know that it's not true. For the rest, kya farak padta hai?

You also have the reputation of being a flirt.
I'm not the flirtatious type. I don't have the inclination to try and impress anyone. If you had asked me this question 15 years ago, I may have said yes because then I would run around like a brat, trying to impress people. Now, I have neither the inclination nor the frame of mind. Age has caught up with me. I'm much calmer and happier than I used to be. And certainly not a flirt.

Are you ready for marriage?
Yes, I am. I have always wanted to marry just once. I don't want to make a wrong choice because I don't want to go through the misery of divorce. I also don't want to put a girl through any hardship. Having said that, I'm mentally conditioned to marrying, sleeping and waking up with that one person all my life.

How is your career poised?
All major career decisions or choices will follow post PRDP. I have been signed by Sajid bhai (Nadiadwala) for two films. He will announce them when he wishes to. I also want to revive my home banner. I'm in talks with some corporation production house for a tie-up. My father, Rajkumar Kohli (maker of blockbusters like Nagin, Jaani Dushman and Raaj Tilak) will oversee things from the office. The plan is to sign outside directors according to the genre of the films. If PRDP does well and gets me noticed, God willing, the sky should be the limit.

Heard you have started your own clothes line?
Yes, my partner Neeru Randhawa and I have started a clothes and accessories line called AK (Armaan Kohli). The blazer I was wearing earlier is from that line. We have big plans that will unfold shortly.

You said your father was your best friend. Is this really true?
My parents (Raj and Nishi) are my 4 am friends. I love them more than my own life. If I had a way, I would give them all the years that I have. Each day, I pray for their good health. I can wake them up or call them 24x7 to tell them what is going on. Whether I'm happy, sad, emotional or crying, they are the only two people I go to. And they are there for me, no questions asked. I'm blessed to be the son of Nishi and Rajkumar Kohli. If I had my way, I would choose them as parents again and again. For me, there is nothing beyond family.