Faisal Khan, the winner of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 8 on Colors, greets t2 with ‘Kemon achho?’ just after we congratulate him on his big win on Saturday night. The 17-year-old baby-faced dancer, who floored the nation with his moves over the last few weeks, started his TV journey winning Dance India Dance Li’l Masters 2 (Zee TV) in 2012, before becoming a household name as the young Maharana Pratap in Bharat Ka Veer Putra — Maharana Pratap (Sony). 

You have won a dance show before. How special has the Jhalak win been? 

It was special because I won another reality show and that too a dance show as big as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Honestly, it was unexpected! I can’t tell you how shocked I was when the result was announced. I always wanted to do this show. I was offered the show even last season. The arrangement was such that I would do Jhalak for three days and Maharana Pratap for the next three days. But I refused because I wanted to concentrate on the show completely.
  
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I believe in Shah Rukh Khan’s dialogue in Om Shanti Om: ‘Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho toh poori kainaat usey tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.’ I am a big SRK fan and I believe that this is not just a dialogue, but the truth of life. In all the previous seasons, non-dancers have won. Therefore, I wanted to prove that dancers can win and a little boy can also win (smiles)!

You were the youngest contestant. Was that any kind of added pressure? 

Everybody was under pressure... everyone worked hard to perform well. Even if I hadn’t won, I always knew that I wanted to reach the finale and create a place in people’s hearts. I had decided to be a winner — with or without the trophy! 

Apart from the win, what were your most memorable moments on the show? 

When I mimicked Shah Rukh Khan in front of Karan Johar sir. He loved it and praised me and said that I have the qualities to become the next Khan (smiles)!

Judge Shahid Kapoor was also a dancer before he became an actor. Did he give you any tips? 

Shahid Kapoor speaks very nicely. He is down-to-earth. He told me that I deserved to win. I know he has worked very hard. From a background dancer in Taal, he has become a superstar. I am inspired by him. 

What was your equation with the other judges Ganesh Hegde, Lauren Gottlieb and Malaika Arora Khan? 

Ganesh sir encouraged me a lot and gave me an ovation... standing on the judges’ table! Nobody else was given that honour. Lauren ma’am couldn’t win when she had participated (in Season 6). She told me that if I win, she would consider it as her win. Malaika ma’am said ki unke ghar mein jo bhi bachche hain, woh mere fans hain. Khan-o ke ghar mein mere fans... Mere liye woh bahut badhiya baat hai! 

You have achieved so much at an early age. How are you handling your new-found fame?  

I don’t want ki mera dimag ghoomey. I want to stay grounded. 

What after Jhalak? 

I don’t want to leave studies because it does matter (Faisal is currently studying in Class X). I want to graduate in commerce. As far as acting is concerned, I am right now at an age where I get offers but I don’t always suit the character. I want to act in films, but I have no formal training. I want to train in acting because I need to learn a lot. 

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