Unnati Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 12, 2020)

Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla went MIA after the show. He barely gave any interviews, and we didn’t see him hanging out with his co-contestants either. Unlike others, Sidharth wasn’t even very active on social media. But when we managed to catch up with the actor, here’s what he said: “I was occupied with meetings. Also, I am slightly media shy. I had a round of media interactions right after the show and post that, I didn’t have anything to say. Honestly, I felt a bit awkward answering the same questions, again and again.”

Ask Sidharth about life after Bigg Boss and he says, “My life hasn’t changed much. It’s the same. I mean, I had this kind of audience even before, but it was for the roles that I would play. Now it’s for Sidharth Shukla. It feels so much better.” So, has he watched any of the episodes of Bigg Boss yet? “No, I haven’t,” he says, adding, “It’s a boon that I don’t have to wake up to songs anymore (as was the case inside the house). Now, I can sleep for extended hours, I can eat whatever I want to, I can eat as much as I want to, sleep whenever I want to, go out whenever I feel like. It feels a lot more free and relaxing.”

‘MY BOND WITH RASHAMI AND ASIM IS MUCH COOLER NOW’
While #Sidhearts (Sidharth’s fans) shower him with love on social media, other fandoms belonging to Asim Riaz and Rashami Desai have criticised him.

Sidharth says, “All the hate that has come after the show doesn’t really make a difference because I don’t think about that. If they (people who are criticising) happen to say something that’s constructive, something that I feel I need to work on, I do read about that.” Talking about the tiffs, he says, “When I sit back and think sometimes, I laugh at those fights. My bond with Rashami and Asim is much cooler now, I hope (smiles). Whenever I meet either of them, I am sure we will have the same equation that we had towards the end of the show. I am somebody who likes to move forward and I like to have a very cordial and peaceful relationship with everybody around me. Now, everything is fine between us, and whenever we meet, I am sure we will have fun.”

His bond with co-contestant Shehnaz Gill, who is now on Mujhse Shaadi Karoge, a reality show which is about finding a life partner, had become the talk of the town. So, are they in touch? “I am in touch with her, she is the only person I met after the show. But, to be honest, I am not following her show,” he replies.

‘ALL THE CONTROVERSIES ABOUT EX-GIRLFRIENDS DON’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ME’
Sidharth’s entry in the Bigg Boss house was immediately followed by multiple rumours. Bigg Boss 11 winner Shilpa Shinde claimed that they were a couple a decade ago, and accused him of abusive behaviour. And, in an another case, a production team member from a previous show alleged that he was rude on the sets. Sidharth says, “All these rumours don’t make a difference to me. If you are trying to throw stones at others, it only shows how insecure you are. I only feel sorry for all of them and hope that they don’t do such things in the future. All these comments are so weird.”

He adds, “Imagine, out of the blue, someone comes forth and says that ‘I was in a relationship with you.’ That is crazy! Maybe, you were dating that person or maybe you were not, but why would you want to talk about the relationship now? I wonder why people do that.”

‘YOU WILL SOON SEE ME ON SCREEN’
When the conversation moves to his female fan following, Sidharth blushes and jokes, “This makes me feel wonderful, but where are these girls? Do they only exist on the internet?” Sidharth’s female fans might be pleased to know that the actor has no plans of marrying soon. “I am not getting married anytime soon, I don’t see that happening in the near future. Also, I am not dating anybody. I am as single as I can be,” he laughs.

And will we see him on the screen anytime soon? “I am in talks with a few people, you will soon see me on screen,” he says, adding, “Although, I don’t believe in planning for the future. I like to stay more rooted in the present and give it my best.”