Happy to be out the house?

I am not out yet, you know. They have kept me locked up in this hotel room in Lonavla for the last two days. So I am yet to be free. I have not been allowed to watch TV or contact anybody, you know.

Isn’t it a case of so close, yet so far?

No, I have done my job. I was not here to win, you know. I had not joined Bigg Boss for the prize money. I wanted people to know who the real Rahul Mahajan is. Good or bad, they now know who I am. This whole thing that happened was because of hunger and not anger, you know. We would have just eaten somewhere and come back. We did come back and then Bigg Boss gave us the punishment and the punishment was nomination. I was like if you push me this far, I would like to take all the responsibility and I would like to get out of the house. Don’t punish everybody… somebody has to go because there will be three in the finale. And since my purpose was done, I thought it’s better to sacrifice and increase the chances of winning for the other three.

If you were to describe in short your entire stay in the house, how would you describe it?

It was amazing, you know… somewhere like life itself. Bigg Boss was like God and all of us, no matter how much we fought with each other, we had to stay together at the end of the day. And make it a beautiful place. It’s a test of patience and there’s also a lot of work to be done like washing of utensils, washing of clothes. You cannot be your marzi ka malik, you know… you have to share things with other people. If you compare this with society, such an exercise would make everyone a more sociable person.

You were nominated almost every Friday. What was the feeling like… getting ready to come out and then somehow managing to stay back?

The first one or two times it was really scary. But then I got used to it, you know. It’s not a joke, you know, staying in the house for 82 days and 81 nights and that too on national television. I want to thank (producers) Endemol and (the channel) Colors for giving me such an opportunity.

You said that you wanted the world to see the real Rahul Mahajan. So whatever we saw, every gesture of yours, was the real you?

Yes, yes I was myself only. You see people saw the entire range. Some times they saw the childishness and then they saw my mature self. How I took responsibilities and sacrificed… I know everyone made fun of me behind my back but at the end of the day I was the only guy inside who was honest, genuine and just like how I am. You can love me, you can hate me but you cannot ignore me.

At different parts of the show, you showed your feelings for Payal Rohatgi and Monica Bedi. Which was more genuine?

See, I had a talk with Payal… I had a talk with Monica… they understand me more than anybody else. Payal has been a friend for a long time. She was always a good friend. Monica became a friend through the show. And I don’t make friends with people’s past or surroundings. I make friends with their present and how good and genuine they are. But they are nothing more than just friends. Payal is as good as Raja to me and Monica is as good as Zulfi to me, you know.

Who do you think was the best player inside the Bigg Boss house?

Before this I thought Raja deserved to win. But when I asked Raja, whom should I vote for when I am out of the house, he said Ashutosh. I think Ashu needs the money to lead a better life. The kind of background he comes from, he needs the money for basic requirements.

Political parties were waging wars over your antics inside the house. Do you plan to tender an apology?

I am not aware of that. There was nothing indecent that I was doing inside the house. In my heart I was a child. But if unintentionally I have hurt the sentiments of my fans and viewers or anyone, I would like to apologise for that and I do apologise for that.

Where do you go from here?

I want to go back home and start my life again. How does one live life outside the Bigg Boss house? Then I will see what I want to do. My entertainment business is my bread and butter and in terms of political career, I would see if I have any positive chances. I wouldn’t like to mix business with social obligation. I will wear my white shirt and blue jeans. I wouldn’t change that for anything. If a good film offer comes, I will take it.