Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 13, 2020)

Many films that don’t get their due in theatres often end up gaining popularity when they release on OTT platforms. Hina Khan would somewhat relate to this, as her debut film — Vikram Bhatt’s Hacked — failed to create a buzz when it released on the big screens earlier this year, but its OTT release received a great response.

However, Khan, 32, says that she was disappointed with the poor reception of her film in theatres. “Recently, Kareena (Kapoor Khan) spoke up about nepotism and said quite bluntly, ‘If people feel there’s so much nepotism, then don’t watch our films’. I agree that it’s the audiences, who decide what they want to watch — be it movies of star kids or newcomers. We put so much efforts to get our movies into the theatres, but if we don’t get enough audiences, then blaming nepotism doesn’t help,” says Khan, who has been a popular face on TV for over a decade.

Khan, who stars in web series Damaged 2, and web film, Unlocked, believes that theatrical release of her film wasn’t appreciated due to a new cast. “People didn’t watch Hacked in theatres, as it didn’t have a big star’s daughter. But on OTT, it was among the most watched films during the lockdown. I want to urge the audiences to give us a chance to make it a level-playing field. Bollywood mafia, insider vs outsider — all debates will end if audiences give us equal opportunities,” she adds.

Unnati Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; September 5, 2020)

The coveted list of The Times 20 Most Desirable Women on Television 2019 is out. Based on their popularity and votes of an internal jury, these gorgeous women, who have wooed the audience on Hindi TV shows, have grabbed a spot on this list. Hina Khan tops the list for the second consecutive year. The actress, who played the demure Akshara in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai for many years, was appreciated for her style quotient on Bigg Boss 11 and as Komolika in Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2. Excerpts from an interview with the actress:

This is your second year as Times Most Desirable Woman on TV. What are your thoughts on grabbing the top spot again?
TV has given me everything that I wanted and more. I have a lot of respect for the medium and all my contemporaries. I must say that the title of the most desirable woman on TV is quite intriguing, and I accept it with a lot of love. It’s like being called the most-dreamed-about girl (laughs!), who wouldn’t like that?

According to you, what are the qualities that make you desirable?
I think what connects me to my audience is the way I portray each character that I play. Mostly, these roles are very different from who I am, but I try to bring in the real me in them as well. Also, I put in a lot of effort in the way my character appears — the mix of real, probable, sexy and dreamy, and I think that makes me desirable.

Who, according to you, is the most desirable man and woman?
For me, the most desirable woman is Priyanka Chopra Jonas. She inspires me, and I am sure, millions get inspiration from her in ways that even she wouldn’t know. As far as the most desirable man is concerned, I really like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his subtleties, calm persona and his charisma.

Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; July 31, 2020)

She played the demure Akshara on TV for eight years and then, Bigg Boss happened. The reality show gave us a glimpse into what the real Hina Khan was all about. Along with her straightforwardness, her style quotient, too, came to the fore. Thereafter, one saw a different Hina, who even walked the red carpet at Cannes — a rare opportunity for TV actors. She has often expressed that she has “big dreams” for herself. In a candid chat with BT, the actress, who made her Bollywood debut with Hacked this year, spoke about her journey, how challenging it is for TV actors to break into the world of cinema, and what has prompted her to play the new naagin on the small screen. Excerpts...

You are all set to return to television with Naagin...
Actually, I was focussing more on films and digital shows, and it was all going well. I even had two releases (on OTT platforms) during the Coronavirus lockdown, while talks are on for other projects. But then, Ekta Kapoor came into my life and dropped the bomb! She is not someone who will ask you whether you want to play this role, she just tells you (laughs!). On a serious note, we share a great rapport and I am doing a web show for her, too. When she mentioned Naagin to me, I told her that I didn’t want to do television, but she said that it’s just for one season, and I could do it for some time.

What do you think about the current content on Indian television?
As a viewer, I don’t watch much TV, because honestly, the content does not interest me. Unfortunately, what we have on television is regressive, it’s not empowering. It’s sad when women are insulted and treated badly, and such shows are watched and also liked by people. We had some good content over 20 years ago, some good comedies and shows like Buniyaad, but those won’t work today. So, I don’t know where we are headed.

But, even you have been a part of daily soaps like Kasautii Zindagii Kay You also played Akshara for eight years on TV...
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai was my first show, where I played Akshara for eight years. She gets married, and initially, has to cover her head with a pallu and do a lot of things in her sasural. But, gradually, things change for her. So, somewhere, we were promoting the fact that women should not be caged. In many ways, it was empowering.

Would you agree that participating in Bigg Boss two years ago was a turning point in your career?
Absolutely, my real side came out. No one is flawless and I am happy that when I came out of the Bigg Boss house, people could relate to me. My fashion sense was appreciated, and viewers were surprised by it, because they had seen me in a particular get-up for years. That really changed the game for me.

Did you have any regrets when you came out of the house, perhaps, with the way the audience perceived you?
Not at all. Even people who didn’t like me at that time, apologised later. It’s a reality show and a well-edited one. They have no personal dushmani with anyone; whoever sells in whichever light, they keep on showing that. Not that I haven’t made mistakes, everyone has. It’s just about what they want to present to the audience. And, eventually, once you are out, your real side is seen.

Post Bigg Boss, are you happy with the way your career has shaped up?
There is a lot more to explore. I have big dreams and I am working towards them, too. I try taking up a variety of projects, so that people see me in a different light as an actor. I have been pretty lucky, and I’m glad that I am doing good work in different mediums. But sometimes, I feel that if I get more opportunities, it will help people notice what I am capable of as an actor.

Do you feel that even today, it’s tough for TV actors to break into the film industry?
Of course, it is difficult. Forget about work, television actors are not even considered when it comes to donning an outfit for a big designer. For me, things have changed because I went to Cannes (in 2019), and I am in touch with a lot of top designers. But usse pehle aisa nahin hota tha. Even to walk the red carpet there, I went through a struggle. Some feel TV actors utne professional nahin hote hain, but I don’t think they should be judged that way. If I had got big opportunities, even I would have done something magical by now, and would have been holding a Filmfare Award in my hand.

Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; May 11, 2020)

Having been in self-isolation since five days before the official Coronavirus lockdown was announced, Hina Khan feels she has mastered the art of patience while staying at home. From cleaning her house to sketching and now fasting during Ramzan, Hina talks about how the month is different this year, her biggest takeaway from the lockdown and how she’s happy spending time with her family.

Hina says, “Each year has been tough during Ramzan as I’ve been working while fasting. But this year, there isn’t any work to do, so resting at home and breaking the fast later in the day is all there is to do. I’m making the most of this time to ensure that I observe the festival to the fullest. My only wish for everybody is to emerge physically and mentally stronger from the lockdown. I’d be ecstatic if the situation improves by Eid.”

Talking about her daily routine, Hina says, “It is mainly household chores and activities I haven’t been able to do due to my hectic work schedule — cleaning the home, trying my hand at cooking and pursuing a new hobby like sketching.”

Hina says the one thing she never expected to do was wash a doormat. “It came quite as a shock when my mother asked me to wash the doormat, but it turned out to be quite funny, and I had a hearty laugh while getting it done,” she tells us.

What she has learnt from the lockdown is patience. She says, “This is an important time, when none of us are certain of when we’ll get back on our feet, so keeping patience and being composed is the only way of handling it better. I feel this is one thing I have managed to conquer pretty well.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 21, 2020)

The Coronavirus crisis has not spared anyone, be it the common man, economies or the entertainment industry. Actor Hina Khan believes that once the currently imposed lockdown is lifted, public gatherings would remain affected.

“I was talking to (casting director) Mukesh Chhabra about when cinemas would open for business again.You don’t know how many people will go to cinemas after the lockdown is over. Definitely, farak padega. If there were 10 releases in a month, maybe one or two films would release. Even then, seating would have to be managed. Apparently, airlines will leave a gap of a seat during flights and, theatres too, might use the same model. But someone like me won’t travel for a while,” says Khan, adding that the digital medium will be preferred for releasing new content or even films that are unable to hit theatres.

While going back to work is on her mind, the Hacked actor admits it will be a tough call. “They will have to cut down on the people on set and that will in turn affect technicians’ livelihoods. The light, sound, technical crew, costume, hair, make-up personnel are the backbone of the industry. It will be a difficult choice,” she opines.

Khan, 32, feels while the virus has caused mayhem, the Earth is healing during this lockdown. “We should learn from this experience and see how surroundings are changing. I think humans are the virus and now when we are at home, the Earth is healing. It would help if once a month, all of us stayed at home and let the Earth breathe,” she adds.

Hina Khan, who broke out of traditional mould on reality TV, shot an Indo-Hollywood film in animal skins and is now making her Bollywood debut with a cyber crime thriller
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 21, 2020)

This year, Hina Khan joins the list of TV actresses who graduated to the big screen from television, with Vikram Bhatt’s cyber-crime thriller Hacked. She plays a woman targeted by an obsessive young hacker (played by Rohan Shah). “We see such cases all around the world. Also, you expect horror and thriller from Vikram, but here he is exploring a new space,” she says explaining her reasons for doing this film. She adds that she’s never been in a similar situation but often receives text messages with bogus One Time Password that are known to lead to cyber fraud. “Sharing stuff on your own is different from it being done without your consent.”

The actress was supposed to make her big film debut with Hussein Khan’s Lines, for which she had walked the Cannes red carpet last year. Its theatrical release in India is delayed as it’s still doing the rounds of the global festival circuit. “Before Hacked, I wrapped up Country Of Blind, in which I play a blind woman who wears animal skins with no makeup. It is an Indo-Hollywood project. I might walk the Cannes red carpet again for this film,” she informs.

Hina acknowledges that participating in Bigg Boss was a turning point in her career. “I never thought I would become a fashion diva when I entered the house. I just wanted to break out of that traditional look (from her TV debut, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai) that I did for eight long years. After coming out (of the BB house), I discovered how much people appreciated me,” she gushes, adding that she shares a special relationship with host Salman Khan. “He is fond of me. When I told him about Hacked, he wished me luck and appreciated Vikram’s direction.”

The journey from TV to films has been fruitful. “I played an iconic role in my first show itself and never thought Id be able to break that mould but luckily, people accepted me in a negative role (as Komolika in the Kasautii Zindagi Kay reboot). Taking the risk of moving to films was a conscious decision as I wanted to move ahead in life,” she says.

Hina Khan is returning to the primetime as Urvashi Dholakia’s successor
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2018) 

The suspense around Urvashi Dholakia’s successor to play Komolika in the Kasautii Zindagii Kay reboot has finally been laid to rest. Hina Khan, who raised the hackles of fellow inmates and viewers in the last season of Bigg Boss, is returning to the primetime as the diva vamp.

“I got a call from Ekta’s (Kapoor) team to meet her. She took me by surprise by offering the role within minutes of the meeting. She said she was keen that I played the part and asked me to take my time. When I asked her why she wanted me for a negative role, she said that I should prove my versatility to the world,” Hina revealed.

The promo shoot was nostalgic for the actress, who’d shot a similar scene for her first show, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. “It was like history repeating itself. Nine years ago, I started playing Akshara (the show’s lead) with an introduction scene in which flowers are falling on her face and it was the exact same thing for Komolika,” she added.

What about comparisons with the original Komolika? “As a kid, I would watch the show with my mother, grandmother and aunties. Urvashi and I are two different actors and people. She did a fabulous job and so did Shweta Tiwari, Cezanne Khan and Ronit Roy (Kasautii... protagonists). I don’t believe in comparisons. Each one of us has our own style and times have changed. I don’t want people to compare us but approach it as a new show,” Hina asserted.

And what about her co-stars, Erica Fernandes and Parth Samthaan, who play the new Prerna and Anurag? “I haven’t watched their shows but I have met them once or twice before,” the actress signs off.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2018)

For eight long years, she ruled Indian television as the docile beti and bahu. However, when Hina Khan — popular as TV show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’s Akshara — became a part of Bigg Boss Season 11, the audience were in for an unexpected twist. For, here was a strong and opinionated woman, who was not afraid of speaking her mind. While many admired her courage and confidence, there were some who felt that she was too arrogant. But Hina, in her own words, ‘doesn’t fear being judged’. In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, the actress talks about reality shows, romance and future plans.

‘I HAVE NO MEMORY OF BIGG BOSS’
Ask her if her image has suffered a setback after appearing on Bigg Boss and she replies, “No. On the contrary, I feel that people relate to me even more now. My fan base has changed and it comprises more educated people. The feedback that I am getting has left me surprised.

I jokingly ask Ro (boyfriend Rocky Jaiswal), ‘Isne aise bola hai, isne poora show dekha hai na?’ I keep telling him that I am now better prepared to be a part of Bigg Boss, as I know what I have to do inside the house. However, he tells me that I will do the same thing again because that’s how I am. He has asked me to just concentrate on acting (laughs).”

She adds, “While trying to be real on reality TV, I forgot that I had to play a game. Mujhe politically correct hona nahi aata hai. People shouldn’t expect me to behave like the character (Akshara) that I played, it doesn’t work like that in real life. Akshara will be remembered for what she was, par kabhi toh real Hina saamne aayegi na. You can like or dislike me. You are entitled to form an opinion about me and I don’t fear being judged. After coming out of the house, I watched a few episodes of my altercation with Priyank Sharma and Luv Tyagi, and wondered how I could react like that. But that’s how the house is. Some contestants have reacted in a worse manner. I am blessed that I quickly forget things. I have no memory of Bigg Boss.”

‘DIDN’T PLAN ADMITTING TO MY RELATIONSHIP’
The actress had always been fiercely guarded about her relationship with Rocky, who was the production head on her daily soap. However, when he entered the house during a special task, emotions took over and the duo uttered the magical three words on national TV. So, it took a Bigg Boss for her to admit to the relationship. “Yes. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise. It wasn’t planned; I have always been very guarded about my personal life.”

While the couple is serious about each other, marriage will have to wait. “I will get married after a couple of years,” Hina says. Ask her if she will learn cooking, something that she was often derided for not knowing inside the house and pat comes the reply, “I haven’t learnt it yet because it doesn’t interest me. I might develop interest a few years later, but not now. Shaadi ho jaayegi toh kar loongi.”

LEARNT TO VALUE RELATIONSHIPS MORE
Hina says that above everything else, the show has taught her not to break a relationship over petty issues. “Uss ghar mein maine ek cheez seekhi hai ki I will apologise to my dear ones, who I have fought with over petty issues. Inside the house, you will still talk, laugh and eat with the same people you have had nasty fights with,” she observes.

Does that mean that she will iron out her differences with producer Rajan Shahi, who introduced her to the industry with Yeh Rishta...? She replies, “Main Rajanji se kab baat nahi karna chah rahi thi? Even if I bag the biggest award, he will be the first one I will go up to, not my father. I will never forget him as he is the one who brought me into this industry and believed in me.”

‘I WILL HUG SHILPA IF I BUMP INTO HER’
Talking about mending fences, what about fellow contestant Shilpa Shinde? In an interview with BT, Shilpa had said that Hina is the only contestant she would not like to meet outside the house.

However, Hina says, “If I have to work with Shilpa, I will be okay. I am very professional, I can work with my enemies, too. My habit of forgetting everything is a good quality. Also, none of the contestants are my enemies. Shilpa and I are different people and so is our approach towards life. I won’t be judgmental by saying whose is good or bad. If I bump into her, I am definitely going to say hello to her, hug her and ask how she is doing.”

THE PLANS AHEAD
Hina says that she has had her fill of reality TV. “I would like to take up a fiction show or a film now. My work will be my priority. However, I want to be on a break for a few months before I return with a bang,” she signs off.

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; January 16, 2018)

After eight years of playing the ideal bahu in a long-running soap, Hina Khan admits that on Bigg Boss 11, she showed a side of hers that her fans were not really aware of. While many people feel that Hina lost out to Shilpa because of her high-handedness and arrogance, the actress clears the air in an interview with BT. Excerpts...

You came close to winning two major reality shows — Khatron Ke Khiladi (runner-up) and now, Bigg Boss. Are you disappointed?
I am overwhelmed because I got to meet my parents, Rocky (boyfriend) and my loved ones after a long time. It was a roller-coaster ride for me; this is not an easy show to do and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It is emotionally draining and because I am strong, I could survive for so long on the show. When I decided to participate in both the shows, I thought I would last perhaps for four-five episodes. I have emerged a strong person, survived the odds and though I did not win either of the shows, I learnt many things.

What did you learn, Hina?
In real life, after a fallout, we tend to stop talking to our friends, but in the Bigg Boss house, even after an ugly fight, we would patch up the next day. Why can’t we do that with our real friends? Life is too short to make enemies.

What do you think did not work in your favour, after coming so close to winning the trophy?
I realise that nobody is bigger than the show. If people like someone in Bigg Boss, they will remain loyal to him or her. And I think any or every contestant who plans to be a part of the show should accept that. Today they voted for Shilpa, next year the same audience will vote for someone else. But in this whole process, I never felt that my fans don’t love me. I realised that maybe people did not like the way I played the game as much as they liked the way the other person played it. But that’s okay. There are no hard feelings; I played with my heart and I did not understand the planning and scheming. I decided to voice my opinion whenever I felt something was wrong.

Before entering the show, you specifically said that if you fight and become abusive on the show, people should not judge you. Do you still stand by that? A lot of people feel that you lost because of your arrogance…
It’s true that I asked people to not judge me. Even during the show, I pleaded with folded hands to my fans and audiences to refrain from judging me just because I played a character on a show for eight years. I want to tell people that I am not Akshara; I am a human being and I can make mistakes. People have a certain image of me due to the role I played. Most of the lead characters on Indian television are flawless. But as human beings, we are not perfect. So, if I was perceived as someone with many flaws, it’s okay. I am not your flawless bahu in real life. I keep remembering the line, ‘Imperfection is the new perfection’. We all learn from our mistakes. Maybe I did a few things wrong, but that’s okay… we move on.

On a show like Bigg Boss, it’s important to play it right. Weren’t you apprehensive that your issues with fellow inmates would affect your votes?
I was playing myself on the show. The audiences were watching only a 45-minute episode, but we were living with each other 24 hours every day. There were so many things that transpired, which people are not aware of.

Your comment on the ‘bulging figures of South Indian actresses’ did not go down well with many actresses in the South...
I was talking of my experience. I was offered two films by two very big production houses, which I refused since they asked me to put on weight and flaunt a bulging figure. I was not commenting on anything else. I was in the house, so I don’t know if it was not portrayed well or taken in the wrong context.

You finally opened up about your relationship with Rocky Jaiswal on the show. Are you planning to get married?
Yes. That’s why I am emotional and happy to meet Rocky after so many months. We are in love and I am glad that I have him in my life. We are not thinking of marriage right now, there is a long time for that. We just want to be with each other and enjoy this phase in our lives. I would say, ‘Let us just be happy in our own la la land.’