It’s the morning after the win. Has the feeling sunk in yet?

I am someone who has never been known to show much reaction. Whether I win or lose, I always remain calm and collected. Main bahut khush hoon lekin aisa bhi nahi hai ki main halla ya uchchal kood kar raha hoon (I am very happy but I am not shouting or jumping with joy). Even when I won Roadies, I was happy, but calm. Mere English teacher jab past tense, present tense padhate thhe, tab mujhe laga ki zindagi mein sirf tension hi tension hai. That’s why I live my life without any tension.

Was there never any kind of tension, even when you knew that a crore was at stake?

Mujhe paise ka koi moh nahi hai. Do roti aur ek chhat mil jaaye main usee mein khush hoon. I never gave a thought to the fact that so much money was waiting for the winner at the end of three months. My job was to play the game in a fair manner and that is what I did.

There were 12 other better-known faces in the Bigg Boss house. What do you think clinched the title for you?

Yeh toh janta hi bata sakti hai, main toh sirf apne karam kar raha thha. The voting public and the media has really supported me. Unhonein itne bade bade dhurandaron ke beech mein se ek chhotey sheher ke dhabewaale ko jitwa diya hai. (There were bigger names in the house but the media and the public ensured that a small-town dhaba owner emerged as the winner). I want to thank everyone who voted for me. If I really have to say what worked in my favour then it would probably be the fact that every common man in India sees himself in me.

How have those 97 days spent in the Bigg Boss house changed you as a person?

There hasn’t been any change as such, but I have learnt the art of self-control. Mujh mein ek thehraav aa gaya hai which people didn’t see in me during Roadies. Apart from that, I haven’t changed. But then again, I will realise if any changes have taken place in my nature only when I get back into the routine of daily life.

During the course of your stay in the house, when did you realise that you could win the show?

Meri confidence hamesha high level ki rahi hai. Roadies mein bhi main bahut confident thha. But I think my confidence grew when I was saved from eviction a number of times and when I entered the last stages of the game.

What are your best memories of your time in the house?

Jab mujhe sachchey gharwaale ka award diya gaya. That was a very big thing for me. That apart, every day was well spent at the house. I had a lot of fun. I also learned a lot.

And the most difficult times in the house?

The last day was extremely difficult because every hour and every minute felt so long. In fact, I was so bored that I slept for the greater part of the day. Main bothered nahi thha ki Bigg Boss ko bura lagega kyunki woh aakhri din thha (laughs). Diana’s (Hayden) and Rahul bhaiya’s (Mahajan) eviction was also a difficult time for me. Woh mere liye bahut dukhad memory hai.

What was Diana’s reaction to your win?

Woh toh bahut hi zyada khush hai. She is a very nice person and I respect her a lot. Even when there was so much backbiting and scheming going on in the house, she kept away from it all. She has taught me a lot about how to deal with people.

And your family’s reaction?

Unhonein mujhe ek aam ladke se aaj itna bada hote huye dekha hai. They are obviously very happy.

After three months of following orders, if you had to give one order to Bigg Boss, what would it be?

I am here to listen to Bigg Boss, not to give orders to him. Main Bigg Boss ka abhari hoon ki unhonein mujhe kaabil samjha.

Where does Ashutosh Kaushik go from here?

I am interested in acting and am waiting for offers from Bollywood. I also want to anchor shows. Lekin abhi main sirf aapni jeet ka anand lena chahta hoon.