After the war of words on Bigg Boss, one would have thought that winner Vindu Dara Singh and runner-up Pravesh Rana would never want to be seen within sniffing distance of each other. But the two are now back with Chak Dhoom Dhoom, a kiddie reality dance show on Colors, with Pravesh as host and Vindu as judge. t2 caught up with the big boys of Bigg Boss.

PRAVESH RANA

Why Chak Dhoom Dhoom?

After Bigg Boss, Colors and I have been talking about doing something more on the channel. When they offered me Chak Dhoom Dhoom, I thought it was an ideal follow-up to Bigg Boss because it’s fun and it again allows me to be myself, just the way I was in Bigg Boss. Plus, it’s always great to be with kids, because pretensions are less. Their emotions, reactions and disappointments will be for real and that will, in a way, help me to keep it real.

This is your first shot at anchoring a show. What’s the preparation been like?

Honestly, I have steered clear of any kind of preparation because I just want to go with the flow. I have a natural presence in front of the camera and I don’t want any kind of preparation to mar that. I am not getting into the show thinking, ‘okay, this is the way I have to behave, this is how I should say my lines’. It’s all going to be right there, right then for me.

Are you good with children?

Oh, I love kids, no two ways about that. Even in Bigg Boss, one of the most memorable episodes for me was the one in which I had to cook an entire meal for a group of kids who had come visiting. I am very comfortable with kids, very childlike in their company. On Chak Dhoom Dhoom, I want to be like an elder brother to the contestants. When they are happy, I will be happy. When they cry, I will wipe their tears.

Have you met any of the contestants yet?

The auditions have just started and I am planning to travel with the team to a lot of locations. Hailing from a small town myself, I will especially be rooting for contestants from the smaller towns and cities.

Vindu and you weren’t the best of friends on Bigg Boss. How will it be sharing screen space with him again?

There is no animosity with Vindu. On Bigg Boss, I did not like the way in which he was playing the game and I objected to it. Towards the end of Bigg Boss, we had buried a lot of our differences. Chak Dhoom Dhoom is a different show altogether and I am hoping that both Vindu and I can start on a clean slate. But if I see that things are again not going right, I will object again!

VINDU DARA SINGH

Being new to the judging process, how will you approach Chak Dhoom Dhoom?

To be honest, all the judging — in terms of technique, presence and style — will be done by the other two judges (choreographers Saroj Khan and Ahmed Khan). I will be the common man on the show. I will judge the kids in the manner they would be judged by a parent. As a person, I am all heart. You must have seen that even the smallest things in Bigg Boss made me burst into tears immediately. That’s the way I am going to be on Chak Dhoom Dhoom. Never critical or deprecating, always helpful and encouraging.

Judging children isn’t an easy job…

I know, I know. That’s why my plan is to approach the whole process very cautiously. If someone is critical of my daughter or scolds her, I know how bad I will feel. As I said, I will be like a second parent to these kids. They are all so talented and it is our responsibility to create a happy and comfortable environment in which that talent can be nurtured. I have known Sarojji for a long time now and Ahmed is like a younger brother to me. So I am hoping that the three of us, along with the children, will put up a great show.

Have you and Pravesh buried the hatchet?

All’s good with Pravesh. I am sure he will do well on the show.

Do you enjoy dancing yourself?

I don’t really enjoy it too much, but I don’t shy away from it either (laughs). To be honest, I just follow the dance master’s instructions. In fact, I am hoping that I get to learn a lot from the kids on the show. Few people know that I actually started my career as a Bollywood dancer!

How has life changed for you post-Bigg Boss?

Life couldn’t be better. I was in Dubai recently and the way I got mobbed there was crazy. I am getting more offers now than I did in the last 20 years of my career. But I am taking my time. I have waited all these years, a few more days won’t make too much of a difference.