Dampening their spirits amid the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, singer Rahul Vaidya and his wife, actor Disha Parmar, have both been suffering from dengue. He tells us, “I went to Pune on September 1, I am sure mujhe tabhi kaata hoga mosquito ne. By the time I got infected and the symptoms started showing, it was the night of September 5.”

He adds, “I was shivering and had a high fever. Those five days were the worst days of my life. Bhagwan kare kisi ko kabhi yeh bimaari na ho. The weakness was so bad that I wasn’t able to get up from the bed for four days.”

Vaidya, 36, says that his wife had accompanied him to Pune, and hence, she, too, got infected: “We are on the way to recovery, but abhi thoda time lagega, kaafi weakness hai. Our medicines are on, we eat only light food and do not workout. I had already committed to an event for which I had to travel for a day in between. Our platelets are also low, so we are taking regular blood tests and measures to improve them.”

Thankfully, their daughter, Navya, who will soon turn a year old, is unharmed. “Luckily, woh nahin aayi thi Pune. Her daada and daadi are taking care of her. She is a calm and independent girl, she doesn’t need us all the time.”

The singer is upset that despite having Bappa home, he couldn’t be part of the Ganeshotsav festivities this year. “We were on the bed the whole time. My mum managed everything, including the prasad and attending to guests. Mere doston ne aake Bappa ka visarjan kiya, hum kuch nahin kar paaye. I felt really bad,” he ends.

Rahul Vaidya can’t keep calm, as he’s a dad now! In his first interview after becoming a father, the singer tells us that he is “on top of the world”. “Ganesh ji ke saath Laxmi ji aayi hain hamare ghar,” he says about his daughter, born on Wednesday — a day after Ganesh Chaturthi.

Ask what it was like holding her in his arms for the first time, and he can’t help but well up a bit while saying: “I was happily numb for three to four hours. Mujhe samajh hi nahin aa raha tha ho kya raha hai. I have cried several times since she was born. Whenever I see her, I get teary eyed. I’m still choking while talking!”

The feeling of becoming a father is just about sinking in, says Vaidya. “While completing the hospital formalities and filling up forms, whenever I read ‘father’s name’, that’s when it would hit me [that I am a father],” he says, revealing that singer Sonu Nigam was among the first ones to congratulate him. “He called and said, ‘Humara bachcha baap ban gaya!’” says the former Indian Idol contestant.

Have he and his wife, actor Disha Parmar, zeroed in on a name yet? Vaidya says they have shortlisted a few: “But, hum rashi ke hisaab se rakhenge. Let it be a surprise for now!”

The singer is set to turn 36 tomorrow. His birthday, this time, will be all the more special: “Disha and our child will get discharged from the hospital on the same day. So, I will bring my baby home on my birthday.”

Though the due date wasn’t until October, Vaidya says he had a feeling the baby may arrive earlier. “Till Tuesday, we were going to people’s houses for Ganpati darshan... I somehow had a strong feeling the baby will arrive around Ganesh Chaturthi. So yes, I manifested this,” he signs off.

Rahul Vaidya celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi at his home every year. But it’s extra special for the singer and his wife, actor Disha Parmar, this time around, as the couple is expecting their first child. “Like every year, I am bringing Bappa home, but it is more special because my baby is also going to arrive around the same time. Disha is due to deliver between September 19 and 25. I’m just hoping everything goes well,” shares Vaidya.

He adds, “Usually, my mum goes to select the Bappa murti. She sends it in our family WhatsApp group and then we all choose one together. Disha takes care of the decor and we bring Bappa home for five days, so logon ka aana-jaana laga rehta hai. Though Disha will do all that this time too, we will make sure she doesn’t overexert.”

Vaidya, who recently released a compilation of six Lord Ganesha aartis, says he always looked for a musical piece that consists of all the aartis together with the perfect sound, but couldn’t find one, which motivated him to work on this compilation.

“I didn’t like whatever was available on YouTube. Moreover, the ones available didn’t have the right pronunciation. So, I thought I’d make one,” says the 35-year-old, who has a personal connect with the composition.

“My mum, her friends and my extended family also feature in the video. There’s not even a single person in the video who I don’t know. Jab ghar par aarti hoti hai, your loved ones are around. So, I wanted the same feeling in the video,” the musician ends.

Actress Disha Parmar and singer Rahul Vaidya’s love story came to light when Rahul proposed to her in the Bigg Boss 14 house in 2020. They tied the knot a year later and are expecting their first baby next month. Disha says Rahul has been the calming factor during her pregnancy. She shares, “We both don’t stress about things, but I was getting a little worked up in these months. However, Rahul has helped me stay calm.”

Disha adds, “Right from the beginning, he has been there for doctor appointments and has been by my side. I’m sure that Rahul is going to be a hands-on dad.”

Rahul is on cloud nine and can’t wait for their little one to arrive. He says, “Disha’s delivery date is coming closer and there are changes happening in her body. The baby’s movements can be felt clearly now and that’s when it hits us that we are going to be parents soon. It is an incredible feeling.”

He further adds, "Each time we feel the baby’s movements, it hits us that we are going to be parents soon. It is such an incredible feeling. We are excited and waiting to see if it’s a boy or girl. If it is a girl, we already have a name in mind. If it is a boy, I’m sure we’ll come up with something nice."

Disha pays no heed to unnecessary advice on social media. She told us, "Yes, I get a lot of advice, but I don’t listen to anyone except my parents and our doctor. The worst advice is on social media where people tell me what to wear and what not to! I don’t pay heed to such comments."

Disha’s show Bade Ache Lagte Hain 3 went off air a few weeks ago. She says, “I managed to work through my pregnancy. I shot for six hours every day and used to get two days off in a week. The production house made sure I was not overworked.”

So, when does she plan to return to work? She says, “I am not thinking about it at the moment, but I don’t want to take a long break. I would like to recover, get back in shape and return to work within a year. I am not rigid about that, let’s see how things go.”

Just like every other year, singer Rahul Vaidya is bringing Lord Ganpati to his home on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi for five days. The singer shares, “As always, I am very excited to welcome Ganpati ji home. Sweets are made and the decorations are done, and it’s a very joyous environment around.”

Bappa is known for fulfilling wishes. Vaidya, however, is averse to the idea of wishing for anything. The 34-year-old shares, “When I was younger, I would ask Ganesh ji for a lot of things, but now, I’ve stopped wishing for things. I only ask for the good health and well-being of my friends and family, and that’s all what matters to me.”

The Yaad Teri singer also reveals how his singing career started because of Ganeshotsav. “I think I started singing because of Ganesh ji. My mum made me sing at a Ganpati pandal, and that’s where my musical journey started. So, I owe my singing to Ganesh ji,” Vaidya confesses.

While walking down the memory lane, he adds, “When I was young, there used to be these competitions, where everybody would sing one bhajan. That’s how my mum taught me all the bhajans, and I sang one of them, and that’s where it all started.”

Ask if he wishes for a baby this year from Bappa and Vaidya replies, “Honestly, there is no plan for a mini Rahul or mini Disha (Parmar; actor-wife) as of now. Both of us are very busy, and I still think there is some time for it. All I ask for is good health and luck for myself, and my friends and family.”

This Valentine's Day marks singer Rahul Vaidya and actor Disha Parmar’s first post their wedding last year. Though they will be working during the day, they plan to spend the evening together. Not a big believer in Valentine’s Day, Vaidya says, “Love fades away after a point, but it’s each other’s temperament that keeps the relationship strong. If you have a sense of loyalty, you will sail through.”

For Parmar, an ideal relationship is one where a couple shares similar values: “My kind of an ideal relationship is when two people are on the same page, want the same things from life and respect each other. Rahul and I share that.”

They credit each other for bringing stability into their respective lives. “I used to be very moody. That has changed with Rahul being around. I throw less tantrums now,” says Parmar. So, do they fight? “There are days we don’t talk to each other, but it makes our love grow stronger,” reveals Vaidya, 34.

The Woh Apna Sa actor chimes in, “We have small, dumb fights, at times, which we make up for a few days later. Both of us don’t believe in fighting or showing our anger in a livid way.”

Talking about the most compatible trait between them, the Yaad Teri singer says, “We don’t like to go gaga about love on social media. We like to live a normal, simple life.”

Parmar, 29, quips, “We sleep and wake up at the same time, which is important. That, I think, is also the cutest thing we share.”

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.

Singer Rahul Vaidya and actor Disha Parmar are days away from walking the aisle on July 16 and the wedding madness seems to have enveloped them. “The frenzy has made me realise why people marry only once. There are so many things pending. I’m looking into every detail. While we were dating, we never had to do much, things happened smoothly. Shaadi mein bahut mehnat lag rahi hai,” the singer quips. After they made their relationship official, fans created a hashtag #Dishul that crossed a million Instagram posts.

With such attention on their relationship, ask him if it gets a bit too much and he replies, “I don’t take it any other way than being happy about it. Celebrities work all their lives for attention. I do not mind it. It is the most special day of my life and I am glad that so many people want to know about our special day! It doesn’t pressurize or burdened at all.”

The couple hasn’t decided on their honeymoon yet as Vaidya has three music videos to shoot while Parmar has some pending work as well. “We would love to go to Switzerland or Austria but it won’t be possible due to the pandemic. We wouldn’t mind going to Goa and chilling for a week, maybe,” he concludes.

Two weeks ago, Rahul Vaidya had told us that he was hoping to announce his wedding date soon. Now, we have exclusively learnt that the singer is all set to tie the knot with his girlfriend, actress Disha Parmar, on July 16. It will be an intimate affair and only a select few have been invited to the wedding. 

Rahul shares, “Disha and I have always been in favour of a close-knit wedding. We want our loved ones to attend our big day and bless us. The marriage will be held according to the Vedic rituals and we will also have Gurbani Shabad sung at the ceremony.”

Disha adds, “My idea of an ideal wedding ceremony is an intimate affair. Marriage is a union of two people and their respective families with their dear ones in attendance. I have always wished for a simple ceremony and I am glad that’s exactly what we are going ahead with.” The couple is currently busy making final arrangements for their big day.

Rahul and Disha started chatting on Instagram in mid-2018 and soon became friends. They shot for Rahul’s single in November 2018. However, it was during his stay inside the Bigg Boss house that he realised his love for Disha. The singer proposed to her on national television, which she accepted. They have been going strong since. Soon after the show wrapped up, the couple in an interview had told BT that they planned to tie the knot in three-four months. While Rahul told us that he had to alter their plans for the wedding owing to the pandemic, they will finally exchange nuptial vows on July 16.

On the work front, Rahul will be seen in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. Disha, who became a household name with Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara, was last seen in Woh Apna Sa.

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.

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.’