Last seen in a cameo role in Maddam Sir, in which her track ended abruptly, Shilpa Shinde is set to return to television after over a year with the 14th season of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi.

Speaking about the gap between projects, she says, “People often ask me why I haven’t been working. It’s not that I don’t want to work, but I should get an offer that truly excites me. There’s a common belief that once you step away from the screen, you are finished. However, by the grace of God, that hasn’t happened to me. As an actor, I feel fortunate not to have an expiry date, and that’s because I feel content with what I have done and don’t panic. I want to be selective about my work, and for that, patience is key. Some people take up any project that comes their way, but as an artiste, main khud ko khatam kyun karoon by accepting everything offered to me.”

Shilpa seems to attract controversy with almost every project she has taken up. Whether it was her exit from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai a few years ago, her remark that “the judges should think before commenting” during her stint on Jhalak Dikkhla Jaa in 2022, or her clash with Gulki Joshi during Maddam Sir, she has been in the news.

Ask her about this, and she says, “Controversy ho jaati hai; create nahi kar sakte aap. The problem is that my truth becomes controversial. Regarding Jhalak, I just said what I felt. It was a normal message from my end that snowballed into a controversy. Sachhai kadvi hoti hai, and I feel people are intimidated by me. However, when they work with me, they tell me I am very simple and realize they fell for hearsay. People make assumptions and form perceptions about me without knowing me. That has happened to me a lot.”

Her portrayal of Angoori bhabhi in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, remains a landmark in her career, and her sudden exit in 2016 led to much speculation. In hindsight, does she regret her departure from the show? 

“I don’t have any regrets and look at it positively. If I had stayed, I would have continued playing the same role and wouldn’t have explored other opportunities. TV aapko wahiin baitha deta hai. Besides, certain characters become so iconic that they can’t be recreated,” she replies.

Unnati Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 12, 2020)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2020)

Sidharth Shukla’s journey on Bigg Boss 13 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride — be it his equation with friend-turned foe Asim Riaz, his loyalty to foeturned-friend Paras Chhabra, his dosti with Shehnaz Gill, his nok-jhok with Rashami Desai, or his support for friends Arti Singh and Mahira Sharma — everything he has done, or not done, made news. While his outbursts did raise quite a few eyebrows, he was also appreciated for being his true self in the house.BT had a quick chat with the actor, who was declared the winner of Bigg Boss 13 on Saturday night. Read on...

You are popular on TV, and given the fact that image is important for an actor, many expected you to be more in control of your emotions. But that wasn’t the case and you seemed to be yourself, even revealing your aggressive side...
Yes, that’s how I am and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Generally, you are supposed to think before you speak, but I was natural. If I was nice to someone, it’s because I felt it; if I was apologetic, that, too, came from the heart — this is how I have always been with the people around me. In the house, many people advised me to not react in a particular way, because they said you never know how your anger or the way you behave is perceived outside. But there are situations that crop up and you end up reacting to them. There are people who have the same reactions for every situation and they get into a pattern, but I don’t think I got into any pattern. I have always been good to someone who is good to me and vice versa. You can fake once or twice, but not for four months. If I was faking it or deliberately showing anger or love, then in the last task, I could have saved anyone else. But I saved Paras. I did that because I felt it. I may not have been perfect, but I was real.

Asim and you started off as brothers, but eventually, it reached a point where you guys were threatening each other and even spoke of settling scores outside the house. So, what happened when you met outside?
(Laughs!) I met him. Asim spoke to me and he cleared everything. We shook hands and it’s all good now.

Whether it was Shehnaz, Arti or Devoleena Bhattacharjee, they all liked being around you in the house. Do you feel you have the qualities that draw women towards you?
I like the sound of that. I would like to believe that there are some good qualities about me, but I am not aware which particular quality attracts women towards me.

You seemed to have a special connect with Shehnaz and she even said that she wants to be with you in future. But now she is doing a swayamvar show. What do you have to say about that?
Good luck to Shehnaaz for her show. I will always support her and may she get more work. Regarding the future, I can’t really comment because I always take things as they come. I am not someone who sits down and thinks about the future because that’s not in your hands. I like Shehnaaz because of the way she is and that’s why I was attached to her. That was not something for the show and it will not disappear just because the show has ended. I have always told her that whenever she needs me, I will just be a call away.

On the day of the finale, ex Bigg Boss winner Shilpa Shinde claimed that she was in a relationship with you in 2011, but it wasn’t a good experience. Are you aware of this?
I know Shilpa well and I don’t think she is the kind of person who would claim anything like that. Also, I have just come out of the house, so I have no clue. I’ll have to read what she has said.

There were talks doing the rounds that you were one of the favourite contestants and your win was predicted even as the season reached midway. Do you feel it was a wrong perception?
I would not know if I was a favourite contestant in the house. Today, I am the winner because I have received tremendous support from viewers and it feels great.

Who did you think was your strongest competitor in the house?
I was not concerned about who my competitors were because I was focused on winning. I wanted to do the best I could to win. I am sure all of them were strong, but I never wanted to compete with them; I was just chasing the goal that I had set out to achieve and things just happened.

During your journey on the show, what did you realise about yourself?
Over the past four months, I have realised that people may say things about you, which are not true. I am not someone who really comes out and clarifies things when they are misconstrued because I feel it is not required. You won’t see this so-called aggressive side of mine outside the house because we don’t encounter such situations in real life. I also learnt that my perception about people is generally right.

Now that the show is over, what are you going to miss the most?
Bigg Boss ki awaaz and interacting with Salman sir on a regular basis.

Political parties are welcoming Tinseltown folk into their fold. A known face can go a long way in drawing crowds and win elections
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; April 28, 2019)

Tinseltown and politics have always had an intrinsic connect. There is nothing like roping in cine idols and popular faces from the entertainment world to draw the crowds and hopefully garner the votes. In the on-going Lok Sabha poll, several actors have tossed their hat into the ring to test their popularity. Last week, Sunny Deol joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Within hours, he was nominated the party's candidate from Gurdaspur, Punjab. Singer Daler Mehndi is the latest to join the party and was welcomed into the fold by leaders singing his track, Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra.

Though it is not a new phenomenon - there have always been actors-turned-politicians - the rush by politicians to get film folk to endorse their respective parties is seen as a one-upmanship game. It is well known that some celebrities endorse it for money, especially those who do not harbour ticket aspirations. Others, for a party position and there are those who do it because they want to test new waters.

Former Bigg Boss contestant and Haryanvi dancer Sapna Choudhary has been campaigning (right) for BJP candidates in New Delhi. She says, "I have not joined the party. I am doing it because my friends are contesting." She considers Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari her pal, so has been part of his roadshows.

Last month, she found herself courting controversy after she found herself being welcomed by both the Congress and BJP into their fold. There was talk that she would get a ticket from Lucknow. "I didn't want to contest or join any party. But when my friends, who are standing for elections call me, I go."

Television producer Saurabh Tewari who has made shows like Zindagi Ke Mehak and Krishna Chali London too joined the BJP because of the friend-in-the-party factor. He is currently taking time off the shoots and has parked himself in Patna to canvas for Ravi Shankar Prasad who is taking on Congress's Shatrughan Sinha. Explains Tiwari, "I know him, this is the reason I joined the party. I am still a newcomer, so this election is like a training ground for me. I am still learning the ropes. I accompaned him to fill the nomination."

Tiwari says may be in the future he will take the electoral plunge but for now, he is happy canvassing for Prasad. "Right now, my production house is set and I can take off to do other things. Earlier, when I was just setting off, there was no time to do anything else."

Another television name who took the political plunge was Shilpa Shinde (left), best remembered as Angoori bhabhi on Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain and winner of Bigg Boss season 11. So far, she has not canvassed for the party but is planning to go to Bhopal to muster support for Digvijaya Singh. "I know his wife [Amrita Rai]. She called me and told me that as I was a popular face, they would like me to the campaign. I consider it an honour that they are aware of me and my work."

Shinde says she was always politically conscious thanks to her father, Satyadev Shinde. "He was a social worker and a die hard Congressman. I have grown up watching him interact with leaders like Sharad Pawar and Sushilkumar Shinde. So you can say, I was exposed to politics."

The actor adds that she did not join the Congress to get a ticket. "I am still new in politics. I do not want things readymade. May be in the future, I may harbour aspirations after I have got a first-hand experiene what elections are all about."

Shinde claims she was offered a ticket to stand from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, but she declined it. "Uttar Pradesh is the hotbed of politics and I did not see myself being a part of it."

Another actor who recently took the political plunge was Isha Koppikar (top image), who joined the BJP. Best remembered as Bollywood's Khallas girl after the chartbuster, she says, "I joined politics because I wanted to serve the country. I liked the transformation and governance in the last five years. I was inspired by the leadership of Narendra Modi. There have many positive changes in terms of the Swaach Bharat campaign, infrastructure and our presence in the global market. I am sure the BJP will continue doing better work if elected again. I am supporting the development of our country."

Koppikar has been appointed the executive chairman of the party's transportation wing. She did not want to contest the election. "I have campaigned for the party in Jalna (below) and Goa," she says. Shinde is now hopeful that she will bag a party post. "We will have to wait till May 23 [the day of the counting of votes] because only then a clear picture will emerge. Right now everyone is busy with the elections."




Sapna Choudhary


TV producer Saurabh Tewari (extreme left) campaigns for Ravi Shankar Prasad in Patna

Actor has enlisted friends to appear on his TV show that made a comeback after nine years but no aam contestants anymore
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 17, 2018)

In the wake of the lukewarm response to Dus Ka Dum, Salman Khan’s gameshow that returned to TV after nine years on June 4, the makers have decided to pump new energy into it by way of tweaks. The show has moved from the daily primetime slot to weekends with the new name — Dus Ka Dumdaar Weekend — and will now feature only celebs instead of commoners as participants.

The actor, who had taken a break to perform at his concert tour in the US and Canada, resumed shooting from Monday. A source from the sets reveals, “The first to shoot for the celebrity episodes were Salman’s long time friend, (composer-actor) Himesh Reshammiya and singer Guru Randhawa, who was also a part of his tour. Followed by TV actress and Bigg Boss 11 winner Shilpa Shinde, who was up against Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor Karan Patel.”

Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan made an appearance on the show recently but left after briefly interacting with Salman. Earlier, celebrities like actor comedian Sunil Grover and singer Neha Kakkar have also made an appearance. Dus Ka Dum first aired in 2008 and was followed by a second season. It’s the Indian version of the popular international reality show, Power of 10, which premiered in the US in 2007 with stand-up comedian Drew Carey as the host.

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.

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; January 16, 2018)

While reality show competitors are quick to forgo animosity towards each other once they are off set, Bigg Boss 11 winner and television actor Shilpa Shinde refuses to put her dislike for close contender Hina Khan behind her. Shinde, a favourite since the controversial reality show kicked off in October, beat Khan, a popular TV star, last evening, taking home the R44 lakh prize money.

In a post-win interview to mid-day, moments after bagging the trophy from host Salman Khan, Shinde said she has only Khan to blame for her troubles on the show.

"Hina was the meanest person on the show. She would be sweet only if she wanted something from you. If you confronted her about the comments she made, she would deny them outright," she said, adding that she had secretly hoped that the final fight remained between her and Khan so that she could beat her. "I'm glad it happened that way."

Khan was not the most popular contestant in the house during the three-month-long stint, and it was often that fans of both actors would be at loggerheads on social media. Shinde alleged that Khan, who gained popularity as Akshara in the daily soap, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, "treated me like a servant."

Accused of spending most of her time cooking meals for the housemates so that she could avoid participating in tasks assigned by Bigg Boss, Shinde described her experience as "horrid". "It's not easy to cook for 20 people. If I made extra food, they would complain; if it fell short, it was again an issue. Hina squirmed if the food was stale. Despite doing everything [I could], she wasn't appreciative," Shinde said, adding that things got worse because Khan chose to mock her misery.

But the win has turned tables. Shinde called it a "slap" on the face of those who criticised her. The only housemate she hopes to keep in touch with is Puneesh Sharma, who she claimed appreciated her for who she was.

The other contestant, and close contender for the prize, Vikas Gupta, was another thorn in her flesh. That he was responsible for her ouster from the hit comedy show, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai [BGPH], which led to her being out of work for two years, was a topic of discussion throughout the season. Although she and Gupta managed to bury the hatchet in the house, Shinde said she doesn't foresee a professional collaboration with him.

"I want to finally be known as myself, not as a character from a daily soap," she said referring to Angoori, the character that catapulted her to fame. "I won't do another reality show either. I want to now try my hand at hosting [shows] and acting in films."


Hina Khan

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 16, 2018)

Shilpa Shinde, TV’s original Angoori bhabhi, emerged the winner of Bigg Boss 11, on Sunday night. It was her straightforwardness that propelled her to victory. From locking horns with her arch-nemesis Vikas Gupta — their rivalry began two years ago — and then warming up to him; being at loggerheads with fellow inmate Hina Khan, to becoming ‘ShilMa’ to Arshi Khan and Akash Dadlani, the audience witnessed several but real shades of Shilpa, whose sole reason to participate on the show was to show her true self to the world. Here are excerpts from her candid chat with BT after the win...

‘HINA IS ARROGANT AND MEAN’
The actress says that she wanted Hina in the final two, to compete with her for the trophy. She says, “I was hoping for her to be the other contestant when I win the show.” The actress couldn’t strike a chord with Hina, though we saw them team up against Vikas just before the show reached its final leg. So, can two actresses never be friends? With her characteristic bluntness, Shilpa replies, “Many actresses have been friends, but Hina is different. She is arrogant and really mean. I will have to think hard to count the good things about her; I haven’t been able to find any till now. When we entered the house, she seemed to know everything about the show, as she has followed every single season. So, I asked her if we could keep our belongings in the drawer and she replied, ‘Mere papa ka show hai kya?’ I was shocked at her response. She would say mean things and then claim that she has never said it. Hina commented on my dress sense and said that I can’t pull off Western clothes. It’s up to me; If I don’t want to wear Western clothes, I won’t. Actually, unko lomdi (vixen) bola tha show mein kisi ne. Though I felt bad for her in the beginning, eventually, I couldn’t agree more with that term. Hina is probably the only person I won’t meet outside.”

Shilpa adds, “I was really fond of that girl. I thought she was pretty and liked her work. But many people, including the technicians of her show, had warned me to be careful of her. Many told me, ‘Hina Khan aa rahi hai show mein, bahut chaalaak hain’.”

‘EVERYTHING IS FINE BETWEEN VIKAS AND ME’
While her equation with Hina wasn’t good, Shilpa actually mended ties with her archrival, fellow contestant Vikas Gupta. She says, “Vikas has been a good player and his journey on the show was interesting. I think I was also instrumental in making it interesting, though I don’t know if he will give me the credit. After locking horns with Vikas in the beginning, there came a time when I handled the matter maturely and took a back seat. However, people viewed that too with suspicion, wondering how I could become friends with him in just two days. What people didn’t notice was that Vikas was trying to be nice to me since day one, but I didn’t reciprocate.”

There were even stories of her marriage with Vikas when they were inside the house. “It’s a joke. Mere itne bure din aaye hain kya?” she asks.

Shilpa says that she wouldn’t even mind collaborating with Vikas professionally. “Everything is fine between us. During a task, he promised to cast me on a show. Since I have committed, I will work with him, but I don’t want to take up a daily soap and be bound by a character. I hope I get good work in Bollywood. I had signed a film, but they were waiting for Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s dates. I entered the house during that time.”

‘SALMAN JI KE LIYE KUCHH BHI KAROONGI’
Apart from her fans who broke Twitter in her support, the one person who praised her on multiple occasions was the host himself — Salman Khan. Has he offered her anything yet? “He hasn’t offered or promised me anything yet. Also, we haven’t got a chance to speak about it. I have no qualms about asking Salman for work; I feel I can ask him directly. But then, I have never asked anyone for work. His support is enough for me. He praised me and said that we will meet. He had such nice things to tell me. He said that I am a really nice person, which is such a good feeling.”

So, will the television bhabhi agree to play Salman’s bhabhi in a film and pat comes the reply, “Salman ji ke liye kuchh bhi karoongi, anything!”

‘I HAVE BEEN CALLED MAA AND IT’S A THANKLESS JOB’
About her graduation from bhabhiji to ShilMa, Shilpa says, “It’s been a great journey and I have been my real self. Many people had issues with me cooking in the kitchen. However, I would like to say that on days when food wasn’t enough, I have skipped my meal and fed others. I cooked again if it got over. Hina once mentioned that she would recommend the future Bigg Boss participants to learn cooking, if they wanted to win the show. I got the title of ShilMa because of my honesty; I don’t know if they used it for their game or wanted to show me as old, which even Salman Khan mentioned once on the show. He said, ‘Aapko maa bol kar aapka istemaal kiya gaya hai, game ke liye, ki aap badi dikhe’. I never hid my age, though. I couldn’t understand the real intention, but I was happy with the title. I have been called Maa and it’s a thankless job. But it’s wisely said that one shouldn’t expect anything. Duniya ka dastoor hai ki neki kar dariya mein daal.”

Remind her how the gharwaale called her ‘flip’ during the show and she says, “Gharwale khud flip the isliye main flip dikhti thi unko. I don’t know when I flipped.” She adds, “People who know me know main kaisi hoon. That’s the reason I entered the house with Salman mouthing his famous dialogue: ‘Ye dil mein aati hai samajh mein nahi’. I don’t have many friends in the industry, but jo mujhe jaante hain unhe pata hai main kaisi hoon. People used to say usko chhedo mat, shaant hai woh. Meri satakti hai toh satakti hai. Aata maajhi satakli.”

‘I WANT TO SEEK DIVINE BLESSINGS’
And just as the victory is sinking in, we ask her what she plans to do with the cash prize of Rs 44 lakh and she replies, “Laddoo milega toh sab mein batega. Honestly, I haven’t thought about it yet. The first thing I am going to do is visit a Hanuman temple. I want to seek divine blessings.”

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; January 16, 2018)

After three months of struggle, fights, drama and emotions, Bigg Boss 11 has found its winner. TV actress Shilpa Shinde has won the trophy this year. The actress, who also received an amount of Rs 44 lakh, talks to us about winning the show, her future plans, and why it doesn’t involve daily soaps at all.

Weren’t you expecting to win the show?
(Smiles) Yes, I won’t say that I wasn’t expecting it. In Weekend Ka Vaar episodes with Salman ji he used to tell us how we were faring and that gave me confidence. I’m happy that I was shown the way I am. I was aware that this game was about strategies, which is why I was never fond of Bigg Boss in the first place. I said ‘No’ so many times. It took the people from the channel seven hours to convince me. After I entered the show, I was just being myself.

Being a TV star, you had the baggage of an image, which could’ve been destroyed once you came on Bigg Boss. Was that always playing on your mind?
See, Hiten (Tejwani) and I are like this in real life, too. Whatever you have seen on the show is how we are. There were times when I used to ask Hiten to react and not be cold. I’m aggressive at times and there are also situations where I get very angry. But I also let it go after a point. Even when I got out of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, I did the same. Nothing is permanent. So, yes, I was aware that viewers have seen me in a particular way but then, nobody can act for three-and-a-half months.

Do you see this as redemption?
Yes. I’m happy that I have won a show where there was public voting and my fans made sure I got the trophy. I always wanted to give an answer to whatever was being said about me, but I waited for the right time.

There were a record number of tweets for you...
I haven’t completely heard about it but when I was at the mall (for the live voting), there were posters which said ‘Record break on Twitter’ so mujhe thoda andaza toh ho chuka tha. There were people who came and told me that they are watching the show only for two people — Salmanji and me. Then, there were people who came and asked me not to trust Puneesh (Sharma). The craze was overwhelming. But staying in that house is no joke. It was a horrible experience because of the conditions that we are put in. I’m happy I won because of my willpower but it’s crazy inside.

How have you changed post Bigg Boss?
Whatever I have gone through outside, it helped me to withstand whatever happened to me inside the house. Otherwise, I would have gone mad. It gave me the power and energy to face difficult people. Logon se zyada bhayankar kuch nahi hai life mein. From the first day, people started calling me aggressive.

It’s between Vikas (Gupta) and me and it’s up to me how I’m handling it. So my whole experience has helped me understand how to deal with everyone better.

You and Vikas had your share of nok-jhonk. Would you be friends with him?
We never became friends inside the show. In the whole incident that happened to me (referring to her decision to quit Bhabi ji Ghar Par Hai), Vikas was the root cause. He just disappeared and whenever I would take his name in the media, it would be beeped. I got to know on the day of Bigg Boss’ premiere that he was also coming on the show. I knew that iske peechhe zaroor koi raaz hai. Because aaj tak, no producer has come inside the house. So I took it as my chance to take revenge and maine haste haste apna badla liya.

But what’s the status between you two now?
Abhi, it’s okay. Khatas mit gayi! By heart, he’s not a bad person and you can see that when you watch him on this show. But when you are at a particular position, everyone wants to dictate terms to you. I had told him that he got the wrong picture of me and he should have given me a little more time. I was asked to do Code Red, which I had refused because I didn’t want to juggle two shows. When he knew all this, he shouldn’t have reacted. Nobody knows exactly how things happened but I know that he was the main culprit.

But he wants to work with you...
Yes, I’ve promised that I will work with him and I will maintain that. I told him clearly that I won’t do a daily soap ever again. So he has offered me a web series and I’ll do it. Story bhi suna chuke hain woh mujhe! He’s like now, ‘I’ve told you, bahar jaake palto mat’(laughs). So, I’ll definitely do it. But I don’t have the capacity to do any daily soaps.

Do you look forward to doing more reality shows then?
As a TV contestant or celebrity, I would not participate in any reality show. I don’t have the stature to be a judge yet, so obviously, I can’t take up that role either. But I want to host TV shows. I’m very interested in that.

And there are talks of a film as well...
Yes, you are right. There are one or two offers. I was supposed to start in November-December but I participated in Bigg Boss without informing the makers. So now, I don’t know what’s the scenario. But there were a couple of films, so let’s see.

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.’

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 15, 2018)

After hours of extended primetime suspense, Shilpa Shinde pipped cocontestant Hina Khan to win the 11th season of Bigg Boss, as announced by show host Salman Khan live at 11.30 pm. The actress had been a popular choice across social media even before the result was announced on the show.

While the final four, including Hina Khan (below), Vikas Gupta and Puneesh Sharma, had large fan followings of their own, the scales tipped considerably in Shilpa’s favour with 70 per cent votes, with many likening her victory to Bigg Boss 8 winner Gautam Gualati’s for knowing exactly which battles to pick inside the house and how to be discreet during conflict.

While the winner has been typically announced much before 11 pm on the show’s previous seasons, Bigg Boss 11 took an unprecedented turn, when at 11.06 pm, Salman declared the voting lines open again for 10 minutes. They had been closed a day earlier as per schedule but fans had flocked with requests to open them one last time. Meanwhile, reports of Shilpa’s victory gained momentum around 9pm on the show but the winner was announced only after voting lines were closed one last time at 11.15 pm and subsequent counting completed by 11.30 pm, marking a first for the show with a half-an-hour deferred telecast.

Shilpa had started her TV career in 2001 with the telly soap Kabhi Aaye Na Judaai, also featuring in the titular role of Amrapali in another show, and as Koyal in Chidiyaghar. She hit pay dirt in 2015 as Angoori Bhabhi on Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, eventually calling it quits in early 2016 following issues with the show’s makers. Soon after her widely-publicised exit from the show, she did a special number in the Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Vir Das-starrer film, Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi.

The Bigg Boss 11 finale had featurd acts by all the four finalists, along with evicted contestants like Bandgi Kalra, Arshi Khan, Akash Dadlani, Luv Tyagi and Priyank Sharma. Akshay Kumar was the special guest on the show but it was the winner that everyone wanted to know about.

TV’s hot bhabhiji talks about how she was scared to commit to a daily soap, her equation with former costar Shilpa Shinde and why she chose to keep mum about her marriage
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 11, 2018)

Saumya Tandon is in no hurry. She likes to take her time while making key decisions, be it professional or personal. It’s evident from the fact that in a career spanning 10 years, she has done just three fiction shows. Currently popular as ‘Gori Mem’ on Bhabi ji Ghar Par Hai, Saumya takes us by surprise when she reveals that it took her seven months to give her nod to the show.

She says, “Nothing inspiring was coming my way. I wanted to take up a seasonal or non-fiction show because being committed to a daily soap is nothing short of a marriage. It’s a huge decision, which is why I developed cold feet. However, Bhabiji... seemed to be the perfect choice, as I am not cut out for a mythological show, a typical saas bahu saga or a slapstick comedy. Also, I was busy hosting non-fiction shows, which left me with ample time to pursue other interests.”

For an actress who is constantly seeking quality work, doesn’t playing the same character for three years get monotonous? “The best part is that I get to play a different character every second week. I have played a politician and a cop in the past on the show. Having said that, the day I lose inspiration, I’ll throw in the towel,” she replies, adding, “You see, the struggle isn’t to get work, it is to get good work. A thinking actor is always struggling for impressive scripts, especially on TV where there is so little quality work. I hope to reach a position in my career where I can pick the best of roles.”

Considering the fact that Bhabi ji... is about two neighbours hitting on each other’s wives — a concept that could have easily bordered on crudity and vulgarity — was she apprehensive about taking the risk? The actress admits, “I was really scared, but fortunately, everything turned out fine. I won’t take any credit for it, though. The show is blessed with a great team.”

The show was in news after her co-actor Shilpa Shinde was replaced overnight. So much so, people had even raised doubts over the fate of Bhabi ji... Saumya says, “I would be the wrong person to answer that, as I don’t understand the dynamics of television viewing. The shows I haven’t liked have fared well and actors, whose work I have appreciated, have not won awards. However, I did fear that the show will take a hit because the audience associates a face with a character. Moreover, it’s difficult to replace an actor, especially in comedy, as the genre needs performers. What saved Bhabi ji... is that no one actor is big on the show.”

About her equation with Shilpa, Saumya elaborates, “I had a strictly professional relationship with her. All I know is that she fit the role perfectly. People can see how she is in real life on Bigg Boss. I watched an episode of the show, but couldn’t follow it further.”

Ask Saumya if she would like to participate in the reality show and pat comes the reply, “I would be a disaster; I will be shot dead by the makers as I won’t give them any controversial content. I can’t fight.”

On the personal front, Saumya tied the knot with businessman Saurabh Devendra Singh in December 2016 in a hush-hush ceremony. Though she refused to talk about the wedding then, she finally opens up to us. “I am ferociously protective about my personal life. When something is precious and close to your heart, you wouldn’t want it to come in the limelight for people to judge. In fact, I declined to be a part of Nach Baliye for the same reason,” she says, adding, “I keep telling my husband that I was snatched in the cradle as he is quite older to me (laughs). I have known him for 10 years, but we didn’t date as we were never in the same city for almost seven years. He moved away for further studies when I was in college, and we were in touch only through mails and phone calls. I eventually told him that we have to be in the same city if we wanted to give our future together a chance. That was also one of the reasons I didn’t talk about my relationship — even I didn’t know what lay ahead, and life and relationships are unpredictable. However, he left everything and returned to India for me; that’s something I will always cherish and appreciate.”

With so many marriages falling apart, what’s her mantra for a successful marriage? “I am still figuring it out. I hope my marriage works, I will be shattered if it doesn’t. I was in a long-distance relationship for years, and there was an unspoken commitment between us. That said, I wouldn’t recommend a long distance relationship to anyone as it’s horrible. You miss each other and don’t know what to do about it. Our relationship survived because our bond was strong,” she signs off.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 25, 2017)

After months of raising hell in the Bigg Boss 11 house with her outspokenness, Arshi Khan has become the latest evictee and says she wasn’t prepared for it. “After coming out, I discovered that the audience feels 90% of the season ran because of me, with Aakash (Dadlani) and Puneesh (Sharma) being the least popular. If people liked me so much, how did I get less votes? Even the housemates were quite sure I would not go,” she tells Mirror.

Arshi first raised hackles among fellow housemates when she called TV actress Shilpa Shinde ‘maa’ and later fought with her. She even accused Shilpa of misbehaving with her father when he had entered the house as a guest. “Shilpa and I had always been close which is why I started addressing her as maa but she is very possessive, which is not right. I tried to lend support to Hina (Khan) when she was lonely and that’s when my relationship with Shilpa deteriorated. She was forcing me to choose between Hina and her and she got angry quickly,” Arshi explains.

When prodded on her flirtatious behavior with Hiten Tejwani, which had grabbed eyeballs, she says, “I had a great rapport with Hiten as well as Vikas (Gupta). The three of us would have fun and also discuss our issues. Bigg Boss gave me the opportunity to send Vikas to the semi finale that is as good as winning for me,” she contends, adding, “Hina is fake, she wants everyone to listen to her but she refuses to listen to others. Shilpa is fake in another sense. I would cook in the house but she made it seem like she did everything,” Arshi grouses, adding, “I regret being out while people who aren’t providing any content continue to stay on. Puneesh is not playing the game. Neither are Luv Tyagi and Priyank (Sharma). It’s really insulting that I got out before them.” Up next, Arshi has big plans for the future. “I want to work with Salman Khan. I would also like to meet former BB contestants Kamya Punjabi and Gauahar Khan,” she signs off.