The untimely death of actor Sidharth Shukla sent shock ripples across the entertainment industry. When the news of the 40-year-old’s passing broke on September 2, his good friend Jasmin Bhasin was enroute to Mumbai.

The actor was in Kashmir with her boyfriend Aly Goni on a trip. The duo was quite close to Shukla, as both of them had worked with him in TV shows. Bhasin says, “I heard the shocking news only after I landed in Mumbai from Kashmir. It was a devastating feeling.”

The actor, who worked with Shukla in the 2017 TV show, Dil Se Dil Tak, adds, “We had fun working together in the show and had a warm and friendly rapport. He was such a lively person. I just can’t get over the reality. He was only 40. Is 40 an age to die? Life’s uncertainty is certain. Everyone should live in the present. All I remember now is his ever-smiling happy-go-lucky face.”

Bhasin recalls they shared some fun times together and those memories are all that are left. She says, “We had some good times working together on the set. He was a good friend. When you lose a person you know well, it’s very painful. I am speechless. I pray for strength to Shehnaaz Gill and Sidharth’s mom and family in these trying times. The loss is irreparable. May his soul rest in peace.”

Ousted after merely 100 days, Bigg Boss 14 contestant Jasmin Bhasin says she has no regrets — instead, the Dil Se Dil Tak actor is looking forward to eating her favourite food and pampering herself at the salon now that her confinement is over. While her eccentric behaviour and romance with Aly Goni kept the viewers entertained, she also received flak for crying at the drop of a hat and being a drama queen. In a chat with mid-day, Bhasin addresses it all, one controversy at a time.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Honestly, I thought I would make it to the finals, but the show is unexpected and one doesn’t know when his/her journey may end. Having said that, I am not upset because I wanted Aly to stay in the race.

Rubina and I are not friends, but I have no hatred towards her. I will be cordial if I ever meet her again.

In the last two weeks, Eijaz has been calm, quiet and less aggressive. I have seen a different Eijaz every week [laughs]. So, I still don’t know him well enough. 

Their comment [when they visited the house] has been taken out of context. My parents met him once, much before the show came our way, and loved him. They believed that I should play a solo game in the house and not depend on anyone. [Their observation stems from] the episode where I was ousted from the captaincy task because he was trying to help me, and in the process, we broke a few rules. My parents would be thrilled to see us together forever.

It is wrong of Rashami to use the word ‘bullying’. Aly is not capable of doing something like that. After they had an argument, Aly profusely apologised to Vikas, who responded rudely. I know Rashami is not fond of me. Had she [made the bullying remark] in front of me, I wouldn’t be kind with my words.

I did not start that conversation. It was purely a reaction to Rakhi’s comments about my face, my body and the way I look. She said unwarranted things about me, and I reacted. I would never bring up someone’s cosmetic surgeries because in the future, I may opt for them. I believe there is nothing wrong with surgically enhancing your looks if it makes you happy.

Rubina can take the trophy home because she is a clever and manipulative woman.

After staying in the Bigg Boss house for 100 days, Jasmin Bhasin was evicted from the show. But the Dil Se Dil Tak actress says she is happy as her BFF turned BF, Aly Goni is still in the house. “I was sad about my eviction, it was shocking. But I was very happy for Aly. I wanted him to stay. He left the show once for me, I didn’t want him to go again. I will definitely miss him, main roz subah uth ke sabse pehle usko dekhti thi, I will miss that now,” she tells us.

After leaving the show, Jasmin decided to not go to her house, and instead, visited her friends Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa. “After leaving from the Bigg Boss house, I was thinking about a lot of things, including my fans’ reaction towards my game. I didn’t know what people outside were thinking about me. So, I was a little low and decided to go to Bharti and Haarsh’s house first. They are my support system. And I felt lighter after meeting them, phir maine chhole bhature bhi khaaye aur mutton biryani bhi,” she says laughing.

When Jasmin’s parents visited her in the house during the family week recently, they pointed out that her love story perhaps is taking precedence over her gameplay. They even asked her to play solo. And it didn’t go down very well with Aly. “My parents were misunderstood. They asked me to focus on my game, jo bhi kaha unhone woh game ke liye kaha. Why will my parents have any problem with our relationship? I have had a discussion with them and they are very happy,” she says, adding, “I have fallen in love and it’s a beautiful feeling. I don’t mind getting married this year; my parents are okay with it. Once Aly comes out, they will meet his parents. We need to know what his parents have to say about it. I have met them a few times, but pehle hum sirf dost thay. Once they approve our relationship, phir main wait nahi karungi, I will get married. I know Aly is the one for me.”

Jasmin and Rakhi Sawant’s recent altercation has grabbed a lot of eyeballs, though not for the right reasons. Mention that to her and she says, “I still believe that I didn’t hurt her, she banged her head multiple times on the table and injured herself. If it was because of me, I am really sorry about it. I didn’t want to hurt her intentionally. Maine unse maafi bhi maangi hai. To be honest, it’s not easy to live with her. She is entertaining when you see her one-minute videos on social media or watch her for an hour in a show. Living with her 24X7 is not easy. She is very irritating, har baat par drama karti hain woh. I didn’t like her personality and main unke game ki ninda karti hoon. I was always nice with her, unhone mera dil dukhaya hai by saying things about my character. But it’s done and dusted. Now, if I meet her, I will be nice to her.”

Talking about her on-and-off friendship with co-contestant Rubina Dilaik, Jasmin says, “Rubina and I had a very beautiful bond initially, but it got ruined during the show. She always spoke behind my back, while I said everything to her face. She was very mean to me. I don’t think we can ever be friends, but I don’t have any grudges against her. I think we can chill together if we meet socially.” Despite that, she feels Rubina can win the show. “She can win because of her cleverness and manipulation skills. I also see Aly as a winner because he has a clean heart and is playing well. He is equally strong,” she signs off.