Amar Upadhyay

Amar Upadhyay, the man who had the nation hooked as Mihir Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi a few years ago, is a surprise entrant into Bigg Boss as the show enters its second week…

Was it part of the plan that you would enter Bigg Boss only in Week Two?

Well, the channel (Colors) and I have been talking about it for a while actually and these guys wanted me to enter later so as to register the maximum impact. There already are 12 women in the house now and only one man (Shakti Kapoor). The addition of every new man will naturally generate a lot more interest.

What are your reasons for entering Bigg Boss?

My reasons are not much different from what it is for the others. I am someone who can’t sit still in one place. I am constantly on the move… very restless. I multi-task a lot… I love going out…going on drives….shooting for 12 hours at a stretch…. I am also a complete party animal and a gizmo freak. I am always on the Internet. So, basically, I want to challenge myself and see how long I can last without these things in my life. Am I disciplined enough to be locked up in a house with strangers and with nothing to entertain or distract me? That’s what I want to discover about myself. And there are so many women in the house… that’s an even bigger challenge!

With so many women around, are you going in with any kind of strategy?

Well, I did have some strategy in mind, but after watching the first few episodes, I have realised that no strategy is going to work there. With women around, you really can’t plan! I just plan to go with the flow. But yes, I can promise that I am going in to make the show a lot spicier. Things will no longer be boring with me in the house.

What has been your impression of Week One?

This time Colors has been thinking out of the box as far as the format and the contestant line-up are concerned. This season has definitely been different from previous seasons. Some have liked it and some haven’t, but the fact that almost everyone has an opinion about the show is a positive thing. Shakti Kapoor has been one of our biggest villains in Bollywood. I have been watching his films ever since I was eight years old. His presence in the house is definitely something that adds weight to the line-up. And now that I am entering the house, things will only get better.

Do you have any plans of teaming up with him since you two will be in the minority?

I don’t believe in gangs or groups. I am very upfront and I just hate any kind of plotting and politics. I am usually very blunt — what I feel is on my lips. I don’t play games and I don’t talk behind people’s backs. So there is no question of me teaming up with anyone against the others.

It’s been years since you played Mihir and yet the tag remains. Is Bigg Boss an attempt to shed that image?

Most definitely. I am not Mihir, I am Amar Upadhyay. That was just a character I played a long time ago. People should not think that I begin and end with Mihir. The real Amar Upadhyay is what you will see on Bigg Boss.

Which is?

Blunt and bold… wicked…. To know the rest, you have to watch me on the show!

Nihita Biswas

Nihita Biswas

Nihita Biswas — better known as conman Charles Sobhraj’s wife — is the first contestant to be evicted from Bigg Boss…

You must be very disappointed…

I am devastated. I never thought I would leave so early. Losing to that person (TV anchor Pooja Missra) has been a huge disappointment. Never in my dreams did I think that the people of India would keep back such a negative person like her in the house and vote me out.

What do you think went wrong?

Well, the other contestants nominated me without even knowing me as a person. Because of my husband, they came in with preconceived notions about me. They kept telling me that I was wrong in marrying him and that I should leave him. You must have seen me break down many times during the week. But as time progressed, they came to know the person that I actually am. They realised that I am not at all like what has been written or said about me. But by that time, it was too late. But again, I have to repeat that I am shocked I lost out to Pooja. But I guess she has her friends who voted for her while I am not even from India.

How would you describe your Bigg Boss stint?

I had a really good time. There were many wonderful moments…. Bahut unique experience. There were a lot of ups and downs, there were compromises… but I made quite a few friends. It was wonderful there.

Who did you bond with?

I became very close to Mandeep (Bevli). Shakti ji (Kapoor) took care of me and treated me like a younger sister. He nominated me, but later realised that I am a good person at heart.

You went in to show the world the real Nihita. How successful have you been in just a week?

It was too short a time. I just didn’t get the chance. I had also gone to tell the world who the real Charles Sobhraj is. What a caring and gentle person he is… completely innocent. When you get to know him, you will see what a wonderful man he is. But I just wasn’t given the chance to clear his name. Also, I wanted to show everyone that I have an identity beyond being just Charles Sobhraj’s wife. But that’s something I really couldn’t manage in such a short time.

Given a chance, would you want to go back to Bigg Boss?

I didn’t want to leave… I came out crying. I want to go back sometime and get Pooja out. With her around, the environment is very negative.

What next?

I took a break from my studies in Nepal for Bigg Boss. I will just go back and start again. And no, I am not looking at a career in showbiz. I have a husband to go back to.

PR