Nazar fame actress Monalisa recently visited her favourite city Varanasi with hubby Vikrant Singh Rajpoot. The actress, who is presently seen in the show Bekaboo, shared how excited she was to be in the city.

"I always feel that you do not visit Banaras, but the city calls you. Same was the case with me. I somehow got a calling to visit the city especially Kashi Vishwanath temple with Vikrant, my husband. This visit was more special for me because I was visiting the city and Kashivishwanath Baba in the month of Sawan which is considered to be quite auspicious. The city looked more beautiful also because it was the full moon day and the newly built temple corridor looked mesmerizing," says she adding, "After the darshan, I went to visit my in-laws in Azamgarh. They live in Madiapar village in Atraulia. The best part about this visit was that I had a lot of fan encounters in Banaras where people recognized me and they still remembered me for my role in the TV serial Nazar. Some even enquired about the show's next season."

Not many actresses from the Bhojpuri belt are able to make it big in mainstream cinema or on Indian television. However, Monalisa has been one of the few exceptions from the industry. "The tag of being a Bhojpuri actress is still there with me. I don't mind having that tag but with that, people consider you only a dancer. However, I would first like to be known as an actress. For an actress in a Bhojpuri film, her dancing is always highlighted in the movie so woh jo ek acting hai woh kahin peeche chali jaati hai," she says.

However, Monalisa feels things changed for her post her reality show stint. "Things changed a lot for me post I appeared on Bigg Boss 14 in 2020. Somehow I got an opportunity to project myself as an actress from that reality show. Even though I might have done good work on TV but today when I sit back and watch several web series, I feel I still have a lot to explore in the field of acting," she says.

Actors in Bhojpuri cinema are earning so well and we earn a lot of fame from there. The industry is improving but at a slow pace. It will take time for the industry to be at par with other regional cinema.

Vikrant and I are definitely planning to extend our family now. We have just started to plan as we are ready for parenthood. Thankfully, as of now, we haven't faced any medical issues and are trying to conceive naturally.

At a time when most celebs have publicists or PR managers to help with their public image and ensure they stay relevant, actor Kavita Kaushik considers herself an exception. “I have never hired a PR person, except during Bigg Boss,” she tells us.

This, she says, has been a conscious choice and reflects who she is as a person. “I can’t do image-building like other celebrities. Even if I want to, I don’t think I have that talent. It’s just not me. You like me, great; if you don’t like me, I can’t help it. I cannot be one of those actors who call the press to their place and then behave all awkward,” says the actor, who will next be seen in the Punjabi film Carry on Jatta 3.

But, does this approach fare well with her peers and critics? “Sometimes, it may not,” Kaushik says. But, this does not affect her. “I am 42 and I do not care about what people think of me. It’s been 20 years that I have been in front of everyone. I have never cared if people thought I was brash. It is not my job to care about people and what they think of me,” she says.

Instead of paying heed to such gossip, Kaushik prefers focusing on her work. “I have been so busy and creatively active ki mere paas yeh ‘aao behen chugli karein’ wala time hi nahin tha kabhi. I did FIR (TV show) for nine years and I was so occupied that it kept me away from all the TV politics, who is getting what award or who is saying what,” she shares.

Speaking of one of her most popular shows, FIR, Kaushik says she never even had the time to soak in all the appreciation she received for playing sub-inspector Chandramukhi Chautala. “It was much later that I got to know about the impact the show had left on people as well as the Indian television [industry]. Even today, children are watching it and when they meet and recognise me, it feels strange, but special... Kabhi accha sunne ka time bhi nahin mila toh bura kya sunti,” she ends.

Sometimes, a statement made loosely about someone can have an adverse effect on their lives. A case in point is Abhishek Awasthi, who is living separately from his wife, Ankita Goswami, a chef by profession. The two tied the knot in 2018 and soon realised that they were incompatible. They are now headed for a divorce. But it’s not just incompatibility that marred the marriage. A statement made by his ex, Rakhi Sawant, on Bigg Boss 14, too, further messed things up between Abhishek and Ankita. In one of the episodes of the reality show, Rakhi told co-contestant Rahul Vaidya that Abhishek cheated on her with a friend. Abhishek had called those allegations baseless.

Recently, while talking about the impact the statement had on his marriage, he told us, “Unn logo ka bhi bada haath raha hai hamare jhagdon mein. When Rakhi Sawant spoke about me on Bigg Boss, it led to a lot of chaos in my personal life. Ankita had several questions for me after that episode aired. Kaafi impact pada tha. Kisi ka kuchh bhi bina soche samjhe keh dena national TV par can be damaging. One should be mindful of the impact a casual statement can have on another person’s life. People shouldn’t misuse their freedom just because the other person isn’t present to clarify his stand. I don’t want to stoop to such levels.”

The actor is focused on his work at the moment. He said, “I am in the best phase of my career. I am getting great offers and quite busy with work. That’s all I ever wished for. I am glad everything is falling into place professionally.”

Actress and politician Sonali Phogat, 42, passed away on Monday night in Goa after she suffered a heart attack. Born in a village in Haryana, Sonali started her showbiz journey as an anchor in 2006 and acted in a few Haryanvi films and the TV show Ek Maa Jo Laakhon Ke Liye Bani Amma (2016). In 2019, she also appeared in the web show The Story Of Badmashgarh. She had participated in Bigg Boss 14 (BB14) in 2020 as a wild card entry, post which she wanted to concentrate on her acting career, and she told us in an interview she was even planning to shift base to Mumbai. Her sudden demise came as a shock to her BB14 co-contestants, who remember her as cheerful and strong.

“She was a very strong, sweet and cheerful person. She used to always shower me with blessings. It was way too early for her to just depart like this. Sonali was a single parent, and her daughter Yashodhara is so young. I am not in a position to say much because it is very difficult to accept that she is not with us anymore. I used to be in touch with her regularly. I will need some time to come to terms with what has happened.”

“Samajh nahi aa raha mujhe abhi… Do din pehle hi baat hui thi unse. . . I am not feeling okay.”

“Sonali ji was like an elder sister to me. She had come for my wedding, and recently when my single released on Friendship Day, she asked me to send her the song. I am in deep shock. I wouldn’t call her a friend, she was more like a mother figure to me, very affectionate. ”

“She was like a mother to me. On August 7, we spoke, and she told me she was going to Goa, after which she was going to come to Mumbai, and we were planning to meet. She was a very warm person. I remember how she used to look after me in the Bigg Boss house. ”

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TV actor, former Bigg Boss contestant and political leader Sonali Phogat, 42, died of a heart attack in Goa, on Tuesday. On Monday night, she was taken to St Anthony’s Hospital And Research Centre at Anjuna in North Goa after she complained of uneasiness, sources said.

Actor Jasmin Bhasin, who was a part of the reality show with Phogat, says, “I woke up to this news and it is very shocking. I am numb. I don’t even know how to express my feelings. She was always nice to me and Aly (Goni, actor and boyfriend). She was a darling; she’d often text us. I had known her since Tashan-E-Ishq (TV series). She was very ambitious and wanted to do so much for women and society.”

Actor Nawab Shah, who played Phogat’s on-screen husband in her first TV show, Ek Maa Jo Laakhon Ke Liye Bani Amma, is “sad and shocked”. He shares, “She went too early. There was so much that she wanted to do [for society]. I remember, while doing the show, I would help her out with acting, as it was her first gig. But she was always keen to do a good job. Also, it’s quite alarming how people are losing their lives to heart attacks.”

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BJP leader and actor Sonali Phogat died of suspected heart attack in Goa on Monday. In 2020, she had entered Bigg Boss as a wildcard contestant. Her co-contestant, producer, Vikas Gupta shares his memories of her. “Sonali epitomised grace for me. It was a shock for me when I heard that she had passed away so suddenly. A reporter called and gave me the news. People have been passing away too soon and I get affected by it. Sonali was someone who went out of her way to make sure she did well in life, was health conscious and raised her daughter Yashodhara so beautifully. That is very inspiring for me. Sonali was not the way she was portrayed in Bigg Boss, but full of grace, warmth and kindness. She felt that people needed to behave like that in Bigg Boss. In real life, she was very positive, full of confidence and a sorted person. Any woman who makes it big from a small town might have an attitude which people may not like. But not everyone with so much grace as Sonali can actually come so far, whether it is politics or coming on Bigg Boss 14.”

Gupta says his heart goes out to Phogat’s daughter. “Yashodhara had come on show and told her, ‘Aap Bigg Boss ke ghar ke andar dekh lo, baahar hum log sambhal lenge.’ For a young kid to say that, was mature. I feel very disheartened because people like Sonali are so much loved and needed. She was a young-hearted, vibrant person.”

Post Bigg Boss they kept in touch too, says Gupta. “She was the one who would keep in touch always. Whenever she was in Mumbai, she would want to meet. Sonali was very kind to me because apparently, I was good to her on the show. She was supportive always because she remembered this incident where one group she had encountered was unkind to her and they had reprimanded her. I had consoled her and told her, ‘Look who you are. You are an amazing person and you are playing along with people who may not have the same outlook like you.’ That’s when she became herself again.”

Kavita Kaushik has not been a part of fiction shows in the last few years and is happy to make a comeback with Lakshmi Ghar Aayi. While there are reports of the show wrapping up soon, Kavita remains unfazed. She says, “It’s a cameo and an interesting role, quite different from the usual roles that I have played. After my show FIR, I did a couple of Punjabi films and I was really happy doing them, because after playing a cop for so many years in FIR I wanted to feel like a woman. But yes, one thing is for sure the kind of attention that television gives you, no other medium can give us actors.”

Ask Kavita if she is averse to doing regular saas-bahu sagas and pat comes a reply, “Yes, I am averse to wearing heavy jewellery and shoot for 30 days in the Mumbai heat. I have crossed that age now. Also, I have crossed the hunger to do so. I salute all the artistes who do that. I can max shoot for 10-12 days and do a cameo on a show. However, even today I wouldn’t mind another season of FIR.”

Married to businessman Ronnit Biswas, ask if she has any plans to extend the family and she says, “I have a cat and a dog and they are my family and I have no desire to bring a child into this overpopulated country.”

Kavita’s Bigg Boss journey in the last season didn’t go quite well as she landed herself in arguments with several housemates. “Being inside that house might do good to others, but for me staying hungry and lack of sleep brought out the worst in me. It brought out the animal in me, which I have been taming for so many years. So indeed, it was a learning experience for me,” she says.

It’s been a busy time for Rahul Vaidya. However, he ensure that he always finds the time to catch up with his friends whenever he can. He did that during his recent trip to Delhi, too. “I usually have a packed schedule when I am in Delhi. There are business meetings, and then I meet my friends, so it is always hectic, but fun,” he tells us. In a candid conversation, the former Bigg Boss contestant talks about life after marriage with Disha Parmar, acting plans and why being a runner-up has been lucky for him.

Rahul and Disha have been among the most popular couples of showbiz. From Rahul confessing his love for Disha during his stint on Bigg Boss 14 to their wedding pictures, their fans have witnessed every bit of their love story. Ask Rahul if anything has changed in his life after marriage and he says, “People make a big deal out of it — shaadi ke baad yeh hota hai, woh hota hai — but nothing has changed for me.”

Rahul says, “I’ll give you an example. My work here was not done, so I had to extend my trip. And I was thinking, ‘How do I tell her?’, but even before I could, she herself said, ‘Why don’t you stay back since your work is not done. Meet a few friends, enjoy yourself.’ So, when you get a partner who is so understanding, it makes life easy.”

With Rahul and Disha both stepping out for work, how do they manage time? Rahul says, “I am busy with my work and she is shooting for Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2. The only time that we get to spend with each other is when we have dinner. But I am fine with it because work keeps us going, it keeps us happy. When you end up spending too much time with each other, you end up fighting (laughs!). Whatever time we spend with each other, it is very beautiful, and I don’t want to change that,” he says.

While Disha is resuming work on TV now, will we see Rahul in an acting project anytime soon? “When you are interested in something, you work towards it. I am not working towards any acting projects, to be honest. This week itself, I got an offer for a TV show as the lead, and I said no to it. TV is something that I am not programmed to do. If there is an interesting project, where I have to shoot for 30-40 days, that is something that I am open to. And if something comes my way organically, I would love to explore,” he says.

Rahul, who was the second runner-up of Indian Idol 1 and the first runner-up of Bigg Boss 14, shares that the runner-up position has been lucky for him. “Some people win shows, some win hearts. I have always believed in winning hearts. My career started with Indian Idol and I lost that show. I was the second runner-up, kuch fark nahi padha. Life was great, I did so much work after that. For me, the runnerup position is luckier than being the winner,” he says.

The singer says that his life has changed after participating in Bigg Boss 14. “The show has made me a massy name. In our industry, everyone only strives for one thing — to become a massy name. I don’t think I could have ever asked for anything better. I never thought of doing Bigg Boss because I always thought that a person like me was not made for something like that. But then Coronavirus happened, live shows were not happening, and that is my bread and butter. That’s why I said ab kya karun, kuch nahi toh yeh karke aata hoon,” shares Rahul.

He adds that he decided to do the show not for fame or money, but because he wanted to earn loyal fans. “Show par hote hue trend hona roz ki baat hai, but even today, after six months of the show, I am still trending everywhere. It is such a magical feeling that I really can’t put into words. This is the only reason that I had gone inside the BB house. I was like zindagi mein naam, paisa toh log kama lete hain, but if you can earn some loyal fans then there’s nothing like it. I had not done that show for name or money, but to earn some lifelong fans, and I am so happy that happened,” he ends.

Kavita Kaushik was recently in the news for her stint on Bigg Boss 14. The actress, unhappy with the way things shaped up in the house, walked away one day, never to return. Now, Kavita has turned down Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, too, and says she doesn’t want to take up another reality show again. So, what has prompted her to take such a stand? Read on...

I have realised that I have no patience for a reality show. I also lack the dramatics and theatrics required for it. Being on a reality show doesn’t make me happy; in fact, it makes me so uncomfortable and out of place that it shows on my face and makes me an angry person! Not that I haven’t done reality shows in the past; I participated in Nach Baliye 3 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 8, but I did those only when I wanted to buy a house. I have a few houses that I own now, so I don’t need to put myself through the pain of being in a show and stand in a line to take marks for something that I don’t believe in, just for the money.

I am not a people pleaser, and that disinterest shows on my face, so I think it’s highly unfair on my part to be on a show and not give my 100 per cent. In fact, I don’t know why people are offering me these shows despite me refusing them every year. A reality show has done more harm to my career than good whenever I’ve done one. Also, I think it’s getting repetitive and boring... me walking out of reality shows!

In the case of Jhalak, I walked out of the finale, not the show, due to some banter, which I didn’t want to be a part of. So, maybe that’s the thing, I don’t like to be at the mercy of others, be controlled or have to take jibes and insults. I guess that’s a weakness in today’s times.

I don’t even want to ask, let alone fight for it. The fact is that I did walk out and refused to go back to the house despite repeated attempts by the team. I like to play fair. I have nothing against the team; they are wonderful and hard-working.

I highly disagree with this notion that what one sees on a reality show is the truth. Those who can project themselves perfectly will be the winners and rebels will fail at such a game. I would want to connect with my audience by giving them different roles and characters to enjoy. Being an actor is my strength and I am passionate about that. Actually, how does it matter what Kavita Kaushik is all about? Kisi ko apni behen ka rishta karna hai kya mere ghar? (Laughs!) Sorry, but I don’t think that way.

Yes, FIR might just be back with a new season if and when the team reassembles. There’s a new Punjabi film and also a web series where I play an investigating officer. 

After forging a strong bond on Bigg Boss (BB), Eijaz Khan and Pavitra Punia’s love has only blossomed in recent months. The couple, who fell for each other hook, line and sinker on the show, are taking things one day at a time. But falling in love was never on Eijaz’s agenda. In fact, the actor in an exclusive interview to BT, before entering the BB house, had said, “I will never go near a woman or have any romantic feelings, because I don’t want to catch people’s attention by romancing anyone in Bigg Boss. And after living alone for many years, I think I will remain single now, akela aaya hoon, akela jaunga.”

Well, that was then. When we remind Eijaz about his stance then, he laughs and says, “I have to eat my words. Though I must say, it was not the plan. I realised that I had feelings for Pavitra only after a month. We even had talks of how we should not indulge too much and let go of our sight of the game that we were playing in Bigg Boss. But as the famous saying goes, life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

Eijaz justifies why he said he wanted to remain single before entering the house. He says, “The lockdown period had changed my perspective. I had spent eight months living alone and I realised the fragility of life. I am 45 now and had been single for quite some time. When you live alone, you become set in your patterns and want to live life a certain way. I had planned that since I will remain single, I would dote on my sister’s kids and if I feel lonely, I would stay with my friend in the USA. But the lockdown made me realise that I needed to do many more things and Bigg Boss also taught me that there are other things left to do in life. In the midst of this, I realised I had a soft corner for Pavitra. It was not because she is gorgeous or took care of me, but I genuinely felt she was the right person for me.”

Eijaz reveals that being with Pavitra has made him feel like a collegian. He says, “I have been tom-toming about my relationship like a college kid, but I only have the best intentions at heart. Currently, as a couple, we are working through a lot of things like families, Coronavirus, getting out of the Bigg Boss mode, etc. I’ve also realised that I need to undergo therapy for certain things. People assume that when you are in a relationship, you are in a happy space and your companion is like your therapist, but that is not how it works. Pavitra is my companion and I want her to be that. After spending so many months in Bigg Boss, I wanted to go to a therapist and talk about my feelings. I wanted someone to make me understand and process these multiple thoughts that keep coming to my mind.”

So, is marriage on the cards this year? “Currently, Pavitra is busy with work and I am looking for work opportunities. We are happy spending time with each other, sometimes she compromises and sometimes I do. I am not a difficult boyfriend — I am a mixed bag of sometimes going to one extreme and being an understanding boyfriend. We live in unpredictable times and all that anxiety that had started last year at this time, has returned due to the current pandemic situation. But nevertheless, it is a beautiful feeling to be in love. However, there is no deadline that we have set for anything,” he signs off.

Rahul Vaidya, the runner-up of the recently concluded Bigg Boss 14, won hearts on the show, but lost his own to actress Disha Parmar. The talented singer was lauded for his straightforwardness during his stint inside the house. However, it was his love life that caught everyone’s attention and grabbed headlines. Rahul entered the show as a singleton, but professed his love for Disha, who was seen in the TV show Pyar ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara, just a month into it.

Talking about realising his love for Disha and proposing to her on the reality show, the singer tells us, “Uss ghar mein aapko log buri buri baatein bolte hain. Initially, nobody used to even speak to me. I would often wonder main kahaan aa gaya. I was a complete misfit. During that time, I started missing Disha immensely and wanted to meet her. I hadn’t met her on my birthday in September or before going inside the house. I regretted not telling her that she was the love of my life when I was outside. Woh ghar aisa hai jahaan aapko baahri zindagi ke harr rishte ki ahamiyat realise hoti hai.”

Disha admits she was taken by surprise with the proposal. She says, “I was celebrating my birthday with my friends when a promo of him proposing to me broke on television. I was taken by surprise because I had no idea that he would do something like that. Hum date toh kar nahi rahe the ki proposal aa jaaye. There was no denying that I liked him, but I was shocked. We liked each other, but never spoke about our feelings and he straight away proposed for marriage! It took a little time for things to sink in. Then I thought about it. There was no way I could have said no. Even my family was surprised. I had tears in my eyes while watching the promo. He came out for a week in between and we got an opportunity to discuss it.”

Rahul says he was worried sick of Disha’s family’s reaction to his proposal. “There was no response from her for some time. I was scared ki kuchh gadbad ho gayi hai — either her family hasn’t liked it or she didn’t appreciate it. What if her mother hadn’t liked me proposing marriage to her daughter on national television! Aap uss ghar mein harr angle se sochte ho. Achha kam sochte ho, negative hi zyada sochte ho. As far as my family was concerned, they knew that I would marry the girl of my choice. And they are extremely fond of her,” he shares. Disha confirms that her family is also happy about the match.

So, how did it all start between them? Apparently, Rahul and Disha started chatting on Instagram in mid-2018 and soon became friends. Disha shares, “I liked a song by him and commented ‘Loved it’ on the post.” Rahul adds, “I thought itni sundar ladki hai toh mauka kaise chhod dete (laughs!). I messaged her, we started chatting and soon exchanged numbers. We hung out for the first time in Delhi while shooting for my single, Yaad Teri, in November 2018.” Recalling how their friendship blossomed, Disha says, “We were shooting for four consecutive days. So, we got time to sit down and talk. I had a soft corner for him. We were good friends before he entered the Bigg Boss house.”

We asked the love birds what attracts them to each other. Rahul says, “Iske chehre par bohot shaanti hai. I have never heard her speak ill about anyone, including people she may not like. This quality of hers amazes me. She is simple and extremely beautiful. I realised my love for her quite late, but people around us always wished for us to be together.”

Disha loves Rahul’s sense of clarity in thoughts. She says, “Kya chahiye, kya nahi chahiye, kya karna hai kya nahi karna hai — he is clear about everything in life. He is honest and romantic, and that’s amazing (smiles!). I’m sure that he is going to be a great husband.”

The couple is all set to take their relationship to the next level and plans to tie the knot soon. Rahul reveals, “We are still in the process of finalising a date, but marriage will happen in three to four months.”

Any pre-wedding jitters? “Both of us are calm people. We aren’t fussy at all. I have performed at a lot of weddings and have witnessed all the grandeur, which is why I would prefer mine to be simple and intimate. We will host a function for the fraternity later,” he signs off.

She might not have won the Bigg Boss 14 trophy, but the self proclaimed drama queen won hearts with her entertainment ka dose during her stint on the reality show. Well, out of the house with Rs 14 lakh in hand, Rakhi Sawant says she is happy that she took the fastest decision among the five finalists to hit the buzzer for the money. She says, “My bank balance is zero at the moment. My mother has been suffering with intestinal issues and all my earnings have gone in her treatment. I desperately wanted to earn, so that I can help my mother.”

Talk to Rakhi and it is inevitable that the conversation veers towards the most controversial part of her life — her marriage to businessman Ritesh. Ask her if he actually exists and pat comes the reply, “Of course, Ritesh is there, I am married to him and we love each other a lot. Though we got married, our marriage never got solemnised in the true sense. Later, I got to know that he already has a wife and child, which was a secret all this while, but now it is out. He always wanted to keep our marriage a secret for a lot of reasons. But at the same time, I don’t know if we’ll ever divorce each other.”

She adds, “Now my priority is to become a mother and experience motherhood. I don’t need a Vicky Donor for my child, I need a father. I don’t want to be a single mother. I don’t know how this will happen, but I really wish it does. I just hope I find a solution for this as I still have my eggs frozen.”

After 143 days, Bigg Boss 14 finally got its winner — Rubina Dilaik was crowned the queen of the reality show’s latest season. The Shakti — Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki actress is on cloud nine after her ‘Bigg’ win. “I am ecstatic. I always wanted to reach till here (the finale win). It was a dream, but the feeling of victory is yet to sink in. Kehte hai na, sab kismat ka khel hai, probably I was destined for it. This has been an incredible journey where I discovered myself. And I am very proud of it,” Rubina says.

Rubina’s husband Abhinav Shukla, who was also a contestant, was seen rooting for his wife at the finale with other contestants. Talking about their reunion, she says, “When I won the show, he congratulated me, we hugged and kissed. It was beautiful to have him there with me. Abhinav’s support made me stronger. Ab main bas destination wedding ke baare mein soch rahi hoon (laughs!). There will be a second wedding, and a journey of a lifetime, which we had promised each other on the show.”

The relationship of RubiNav, the portmanteau the couple earned during their stay at the Bigg Boss house, became a talking point after Rubina revealed during the show that the two had contemplated divorce.

Does she regret talking about it on national television? “Absolutely not,” she says, adding, “The kind of challenges we faced together in the show has made our relationship stronger. In the outside world, you have choices and you can escape, but when you are locked up in a house, you have no choice except to either fight or take a flight. We chose to face the challenges head-on and win it for ourselves and that in turn made us, our relationship and our bond stronger. Having your life partner with you on a show like this definitely provides you with emotional support but to be honest, having your personal life exposed on a public forum is like walking on eggshells. It was a mental and emotional challenge to balance things. Only couples will understand it.”

Rubina’s love-hate relationship with Jasmin Bhasin was another hallmark of the show. Ask her if she wants to give their friendship another shot, and she shares, “I tried to mend our relationship multiple times, even when she came back (in the house) during the family week. But once again, I sensed rejection from her side. Now, I think I will give her the time she needs and if she wants to connect after some time, I will welcome her with open arms. I have left it to her now."

What about Aly Goni? “I will stay in touch with Aly without any doubt. We had a natural connection, I connected with him on a spiritual level and I think he felt that, too. I see our relationship evolving further,” says Rubina.

On her relationship with Rahul Vaidya with whom she had many tiffs during the show, the actress says she is willing to forgive, forget and start afresh. “For me, Bigg Boss has been a life-transforming journey. The moment I stepped out of the house, I promised myself that I will forgive and forget. I entered the house with a clean slate and I consciously stepped out with a clean slate. So I will start everything afresh, be it my relationship with Rahul or any other contestant,” she says.

So, will she be attending Rahul’s wedding? Rubina replies, “If he invites me, I would definitely go. But I don’t think we are that close, he might not invite me (laughs!). I just want to wish him and Disha (Parmar) all the best for their life ahead.”

Rubina is now looking forward to spending some quality time with her parents. “They flew down from Shimla for the finale, I want to be with them for some time. Also, for the next few days, I am only going to sleep and eat (laughs!)," she says. 

Rahul Vaidya started his Bigg Boss journey not knowing that he would be in the top two at the finale. He is the runner-up of Bigg Boss Season 14, while Rubina Dilaik took home the trophy. In a conversation with Bombay Times, he spoke about his journey in the show. Excerpts:

I’m happy that my journey in Bigg Boss has ended. I would’ve been happier to be on the winning side, but there can only be one winner. However, I believe in winning with dignity and losing with grace. Honestly, I am very happy that now I can get back to my family and my girlfriend and spend quality time with them. I have done my bit, and being in the top two means a lot. I am so surprised that I am not sad at all.

No, I don’t think that is the reason, because people don’t keep these things in mind. There’s no point in you being inside the house throughout and not performing well and I’m sure my competitors, too, messed up a few times. People keep your journey in mind and forgive you for your mistakes. As Salman Khan sir said, we both were at par with each other, but somebody was just a bit ahead. And, I humbly accept the decision of the public.

Hum rahe ya na rahe, kal yaad ayenge ye pal, pal yeh hai pyaar ke pal, kal yaad ayenge ye pal.

I have got what I wanted the show to give me. I wanted to gain new fans and reach more people who had not seen or heard of me. That has surely happened through this platform. An artiste is nothing without his or her fans and I am happy to have found new fans.

I can probably blame my luck a bit. But I would rather be happy for whatever my luck has given me rather than complain about what it hasn’t. Fifteen years ago, when Indian Idol happened, I was a different person, and now I am a completely different person. I have no regrets.

Not really. I met my family after I came outside. When I was in the house, I was missing them a lot. So, that comfort of meeting them reflected in my behaviour, I guess.

Let’s see, because one should never say never. If something excites me, then why not?

I am very good at handling my temper, and I always been compassionate. I have kept that grace intact and never lose it by getting nasty with anyone.

No, I haven’t figured that out yet, but we will think about it, I’m sure, when we both are at peace.

She was really upset. She was sad, but I told her, ‘Baby, it’s fine, and we are all good.’ 

Kavita Kaushik, who is known to speak her mind, entered the Bigg Boss 14 house a couple of months ago with a lot of promise. But things didn’t seem to work out, and one day, she chose to walk out of the house never to return. The actress, who maintained silence so far, has finally opened up. In an exclusive, no-holds-barred interview with Bombay Times, Kavita spoke about all the controversies...

Indeed, it didn’t work for me! In the 14 years that I was offered the show, during each season, I believed that I was an absolute misfit for it. I knew that I would say something that I wouldn’t mean or walk out. And that’s exactly what happened.

What went wrong was that I had no strategy. I took everyone at face value and was too brash and real. I reacted to every provocation with anger, instead of being cunning and manipulative. I lacked the art of impressing the cameras with my words.

No. I am glad I left because I am not so smart with my words. I realised that I was so done with the fake fights for image building that I could raise my hand on someone in helplessness, and I do not promote violence of any kind.

In my entire journey in the BB house, I never started a fight. Each time, I was provoked to get into an argument, and yes, thereafter, I lacked the shrewdness to watch my words. In anger, I would say things that would take some other turn, leaving behind the actual reason for the fight. I felt this is not who I am, my good qualities are not coming out on the show, so it’s pointless staying inside. I was not so desperate. I was lucky that they gave me the option to leave that day and opened the door. It was like Mahadev ne khulwa diya tha darwaza mere liye. People die to stay in the house, I couldn’t wait to leave.

I did not know Rubina, but yes, I knew Abhinav and whatever happened is really sad. I don’t blame anyone. My husband Ronnit felt helpless, when he saw Aly Goni kick a box that injured my leg and arm and then he saw Abhinav telling me laafa maarunga.

When I walked out, Ronnit vented on Twitter, and in his tweets, he mentioned our conversation regarding Abhinav, where I had told him about an unpleasant experience of how our friendship had ended in the past. He later deleted it because when your anger subsides, you know it’s childish and would be embarrassing for both parties to talk about a past equation or a fight. But I also understand Ronnit’s feelings. I don’t hold those messages against Abhinav as we all have done such stupid things. I have done worse, you can make a movie on them! It’s our bad to have spoken about it, however, it’s absolutely not a lie.

I guess we will ignore each other in the building with better grace.

What happened with Eijaz is so surprising. Indeed, he wasn’t a friend, but was an acquaintance and a senior. I did not know him personally at all, he was standing next to me during that conversation that took the nation by a storm, where I was telling Salman Khan how we weren’t friends, and Eijaz asked, ‘Toh mere liye dabba bana ke kyun deti thi?’ And I replied saying that it was during the lockdown when I was checking on one and all. I thought he lived alone and made chicken because he asked me to. Since I was saying it in anger, it sounded harsh. It’s hilarious that people gave the tag of “unkind” to someone who cared compassionately for all. I don’t want to speak about the number of strangers I cared for during this lockdown. It’s highly immature of those misunderstanding this issue as I’ve been around for 20 years and my life has been about an act of giving... if they could just pause and wonder why she said what she said.

Why should I put it behind me? A bad decision doesn’t define me, but the lessons it has taught me, will. It taught me some harsh life lessons; I won’t trust easily now, I will definitely do less for strangers and speak correctly, especially when angry. I am on a road trip covering Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Being in the mountains, jumping into the rivers, visiting my village and staying at my ancestral place has helped me introspect and heal.

When your career goes on for two decades in a field, it’s natural to feel stagnated. I’ve done most roles I aspired for. I will now do something that gives me the motivation to go on a set. Like I said on BB, I am happy and satisfied.

I see myself doing a dark action-comedy about a misunderstood woman. That will come naturally, yeah? (laughs!)

It feels like Big Bad 40 with na maan ka moh aur na apmaan ka darr!

Right after he got evicted from Bigg Boss 14, Abhinav Shukla left for Kolad, Maharashtra, to beat the fatigue. “I made a short trip to a friend’s farm. This was a much-needed break. I wanted to swim in the river and unwind in the lap of nature,” he tells us.

The actor, who is now back in Mumbai, says he is still getting used to life after Bigg Boss. “When I was inside, I was only communicating with my housemates, and now, suddenly I’m getting so many calls and messages and there’s so much happening on social media, thoda confuse ho raha hoon (laughs!). But I will adapt to it again anyway,” he says.

The last couple of weeks in the BB house were quite eventful for Abhinav. “Maine socha tha Ruby (Rubina Dilaik) aur main finale mein saath mein stage par honge and Salman sir will be holding our hands. I was a little upset because I was so close to the finale. But I guess it’s okay. The best part is that my fans didn’t vote me out,” he shares.

Abhinav was voted out by his co-contestants’ connections, who are currently in the house. While fans called his eviction unfair, the actor feels it’s a part of the game. “It is what it is, one can’t question the design of the game. You have to play it by the rules. There was a task and somebody had to go. Unfortunately, it was me. It’s a game and people get evicted, no hard feelings,” he says.

Abhinav and Rubina’s (aka Rubinav) relationship became the talk of the town when the latter revealed on the show that their marriage was on the brink of a divorce. Talking about it, he says, “Everything is fine now. There’s no divorce happening. The show made us stronger and strengthened our bond. When we were discussing the show before giving it a nod, I jokingly told Rubina that once you see the fights inside the BB house, you might forget the little fights we had. Jo tab humko badi lagti thi, woh actually bahut choti-choti ladaiyaan thi. During our stay in the house, we realised that we were making a fuss about minor issues. Now, when she comes out of the house, hopefully after the grand finale, we will look into our issues and resolve them.”

He adds, “I haven’t discussed our personal issues with our families yet. But I will talk about it, I am waiting for the right time. They are also very understanding, so there is no issue here.”

Ask him about his current equation with Jasmin Bhasin, and he says, “To cut a long story short, I don’t know Jasmin (pauses), I don’t know her anymore.” What about Rakhi Sawant? “Rakhi is very smart, she knows what she is doing. But whatever happened inside the house, I have left it there. I have no grudges against her, I will try to move on and erase that memory,” he says, adding, “I have made a few good friends — Naina Singh, Rahul Mahajan, Sara Gurpal — inside the house and will be in touch with them.”

Abhinav says that he is overwhelmed by the support he received, during his stint on the show. “Mujhe life mein itna appreciation, pyaar aur support kabhi nahi mila. This is the first time. I wasn’t expecting this, but I am very thankful,” he signs off.

It wasn’t love at first sight for these two Bigg Boss 14 contestants. However, Eijaz Khan and Pavitra Punia have now taken their love-hate relationship to the next level and made it official to the world that “we are dating”. Interestingly, their love-hate rapport continues even outside the house, as just before talking to us exclusively, the two revealed that they fought over something, but then patched up in no time. Excerpts from the conversation...

Pavitra: I have always believed that love is a very beautiful feeling. We both are feeling it now. We fought inside the Bigg Boss house and still had feelings for each other there. Now, we have come out of the house and have confessed our feelings for each other. It's blissful.

Eijaz: I was too confused inside the Bigg Boss house. Everything there was from a game’s perspective. But anything and everything that came from Pavitra, was very real. Now that I have come out of the house and I see those clips of our fights, I see that hesitation and smile on my face ki arre yaar mujhe Pavitra pe gussa kyun nahi aa raha hai? Love for her, I think, was always there, and now I have confessed my feelings. And now, I can’t wait to torture her for the rest of my life!

Eijaz: Abhi bahut papad belne hain shaadi ke liye. Shaadi inshallah hogi, aur bahut sahi waqt pe hogi. We are keeping our fingers crossed and if all goes well, Pavitra and I will get married this year. Abhi humare ghar waale bahut phaile hue hain, pehle unhe samet le and then we will think about marriage.

Pavitra: Things will happen very soon. We can’t predict our future, but we can be hopeful and wishful about the future.

Eijaz: My brother and my cousins have met Pavitra. I have also met her brother. Woh ho chuka hai, now the planning for the other generation to meet is on.

Pavitra: Just before this call, we were having the ‘Bigg Boss time’ again where we were fighting and he was saying that do not raise your voice at me. When a relationship is real, you fight and make up and this cycle continues. This journey can’t always be sweet. People thought our fights were fake, but they were all real.

Eijaz: Earlier in the house, we used to fight over ridiculous issues like nominations etc., but now, we fight and argue on real things. She is teaching me how to look at life from a bigger perspective during the fights and counsels me on how not to have a bad day over things that are not in my control. Our fights are real and so is our making up. It is not because we have a Weekend Ka Vaar and so we are together, it is genuine.

Eijaz: Take a guess! I said I am sorry and you are right! It is always like that.

Pavitra: It was so because most of the time, he is wrong and when he is wrong, I need to shout and then he takes brownie points by saying, ‘Sorry, I won’t do it again!’ But if you see, he was wrong in the first place! He creates the fight and then says sorry (giggles!).

Eijaz: We wanted to watch it together, but both of us have been busy with our work and have not had the time to catch up much on the episodes.

Pavitra: Going by Eijaz’s image, whatever she is doing is completely opposite of what his image is. He has mostly been quiet and has not been violent the way she has been in the recent episode. Eijaz ne ghar ko kabhi bhi nuksaan nahi pahunchaya. But having said that, going by the tough competition inside the house as of now, I think she is giving good content to be there in the house. Eventually, content matters, which the audience and the makers love. I would love to see more of this side of Devoleena because by doing all this todphod, she is going to be in the show, which means Eijaz is in the show.

Eijaz: I have lost touch with what is happening inside the house. If I go as a competitor now, I have a lot to catch up on, and I am ready for it.

Ever since self-proclaimed ‘drama queen’ Rakhi Sawant went inside the Bigg Boss 14 house, she has been making news for some reason or the other. But one thing that has constantly made news is her marriage with Ritesh. The actress, whose husband Ritesh still remains a mystery to the world, has been questioned several times about her marital status.

However, defending his sister, Rakhi’s brother Rakesh Sawant, a filmmaker, says, “I want to clarify to one and all for the last time that my sister, Rakhi Sawant is married and my jiju Ritesh is not a fictional character. He exists and is very much there in Poland. In fact, when the marriage took place, both sides of the families were present. Even my mamaji and mamiji went for the wedding. There isn’t any need for Rakhi to lie about her marriage. When she was unmarried, she didn’t pose to be married, and now when she is married, she has announced it to the world.”

Ask Rakesh what’s stopping Ritesh from coming out in the public eye and he says, “Well, that is Ritesh jiju’s personal choice. All this while, he only wanted one thing, that his identity should not be disclosed as he is a very private person. Ritesh has also been approached by Bigg Boss makers and he is really trying hard to come to India. His mother is not well and there is also a serious lockdown in Poland because of Coronavirus. But I am still hopeful that Ritesh jiju might make it to Bigg Boss 14.”

Rajkumar Jangra, a BJP party worker in Hissar district of Haryana, is unsure about how Sonali Phogat, who has just exited the Bigg Boss house, will be received when she gets back to active political work. "It's her good luck that she reached where she did, and we, as party workers, are only happy for her. But everyone has their own point of view."

Ask him if he is referring to the conservative nature of politics in Haryana, and he agrees. "Dehaat mein [rural India] people are conservative. So, of course, the masses may have a problem. But we can deal with it. Madam has always been a person who takes people along as she moves ahead. She gets along well with everyone, and gets the work done. She finds solutions," he says of Phogat, who held the position of National Vice President of BJP's Mahila Morcha.

Phogat agrees with Jangra. She think it's what saw her through the last 33 days on what's considered one of India's toughest reality show challenges. Phogat was eliminated last weekend from the hit show's 14th season, and while we had expected her to be back in Hissar, Phogat intends to hang on in Mumbai and explore work opportunities. Last Wednesday in fact, she was at a post-show press conference posing for photographers in a red pant suit, eager to talk. It's not the garb you expect a conventional politico to be in. But then, Phogat doesn't seem to play by the rules.

She didn't inside the house either, when she confessed to on-off friend Arshi Khan that she had the hots for fellow paticipant, television actor Aly Goni. "Just because I am in politics, will I be targeted for my feelings? I've also always liked Dharam ji [Dharmendra] and had told my husband to organise a meeting with him. When I used to talk to him for hours, my husband got jealous. I feel that about Salman Khan as well. I like them. Aly is a nice guy," she says, adding after a pause, "I want to tell all the kids who are trolling me that they will be 40 one day. Will they not have feelings then?"

Phogat's straight talk has been discussed even before she decided to try her hand at reality television. Born into a farmer family in Haryana, she was married right after Class X, and lost her husband early. She became an actor on the small screen with Ek Maa Jo Laakhon Ke Liye Bani Amma and made a big-screen debut with Chhoriyan Chhoron Se Kam Nahi Hoti. Phogat has also been an active performer on popular video app, TikTok. But it was in 2019 that she made headlines when she received a BJP ticket to contest the state elections from the Adampur constituency. In 2020, she was caught on camera assaulting Sultan Singh, the market committee secretary in Haryana, whom she claimed had made a derogatory pass at her.

In the house, the aggression was on display on few rare occasions, including a bizarrely quirky moment when she decided on a whim to pour water over Arshi Khan for shooting her mouth without a thought. Also, her fights with actress Niki Tamboli have been acidic, and her verbal repartee with Rubina Dilaik has ended with Phogat using the choicest expletives in Hindi.

In the early days of her joining, Phogat didn't manage too much screen time, with the likes or Tamboli branding her a nobody. After a few wise words from superstar Salman Khan, who headlines the show, she seemed to step up her game by speaking up, picking a fight if needed, and admitting that she had a soft corner for Goni. "In politics," she says, "we have to abide by certain beliefs and toe the line. Here, [on the show] it was the opposite. You can move ahead by cheating people, which you shouldn't do in politics. On the show, things just happen to you; you react in a way you didn't know you would. So, I learnt a lot about myself this last month. When I get angry, I break the rules. And it did happen a couple of times on the show too, but I was being myself. I don't fake it. I am sure that will take me far in politics." Politics, which Phogat says took up most of her time until now, may have to wait a bit. While her team is carrying on with work in Hissar, Phogat is in the mood to act some more.

Jangra says they will be happy when she returns as it's always good when a party worker shines elsewhere too. The messages from female party workers that came to her once she was out is proof that she was entertaining enough for them to have watched the show with their children. "My daughter said, 'I didn't think you would even last one week'," Phogat says of her 14 year-old.

Politics and Bollywood make happy bedfellows, she knows, making her plan to divide her time between her interests a feasible one. "I lasted 33 days in the house, so people must have liked me. I think they saw that I tried to take people along, and help them bond. That matters in politics. But I was discriminated against. Niki said, 'Who is she?' Well, I must be someone and that's why I was called on the show. My aim now is to make sure no one gets discriminated. Neither in Haryana, nor in the country."

Arshi Khan.

Seven.

Personality.

Attitude and fake laughter.

Aly Goni.

Rubina Dilaik.

When a celebrity declares their love on national television, it is often believed to be not-so-genuine and just for the camera. But Pavitra Punia wants the world to know what Eijaz Khan and she feel for each other is real. The latter professed his love for Punia on the reality show Bigg Boss 14 and she, too, has reciprocated.

“Our feelings are real. What we have is real. It takes courage to say something like that on national TV. When we were in the reality show, it was never fake. Even my friends asked how real it is, but let me tell you no one will ruin their personal image for publicity. We will take it forward slowly,” says Punia, who feels people doubt them as they had a love-hate relationship on TV.

“When we were apart for over a month, it was the moment of truth for us. Our feelings didn’t change. Future toh unpredictable hai! We can only decide and live in the present. It is a blessed moment for us. Earlier, we felt attachment and care, now we are in love. Love is when you know you are there for someone and that person is there for you. I love his aura, his personality and stubbornness,” she smiles.

She says as both of them are now shooting, they’re spending their free time together. Punia and Khan have met each other’s brothers and reports suggested she might meet his father, but she says it’s too soon. “Meeting siblings is fine as they are more like friends. I am a shy person, so though I want to meet his dad, but what we have is too new,” she adds.

Asked about hotelier Sumit Maheshwari’s claims that he was married to her and Punia says, “I don’t want to comment on my past. I only want to focus on my present.”