Raj Rani with the Survivor India trophy

After 45 days of battling it out in The Philippines, 25-year-old Raj Rani, a gritty hockey player from a village in Punjab, defeated 21 other contenders to take home the Survivor India title and a cash prize of Rs 1 crore on STAR Plus. A t2 chat…

You seemed pretty shocked when you were declared the winner of Survivor India…

The feeling hasn’t sunk in yet. The win makes all the 45 days that we spent in uncivilised conditions — without proper food, with minimal clothes, sleeping out in the open — worth it. The fact that I won defeating all the men on the show makes it extra special.

What was your experience on the show like?

The moment I reached the island (Caramoan Peninsula), I was shocked by the uncivilised conditions in which we would have to stay. There was no food provided, we were allowed only two sets of clothes and we even had to make our own shelter with bamboo and leaves. I hail from a small village in Punjab and temperamentally, I knew that I would find it difficult to gel with the others. But I was determined to stick it out because all my life I have been known to be extremely tough and daring. I come from a family of farmers. I have struggled a lot to get to where I am and I knew this show was yet another way by which I could prove myself. And as everyone saw on the show, my willpower came through and I was better than all the men put together!

Did you want to quit at any point?

Never! Most of the contestants wanted to quit on the days we wouldn’t get a single morsel to eat. The two days when the island was struck by a typhoon and we lost even our basic shelters and most of our clothes was scary. But I have always been a toughie and I knew that nothing could bring me down. I had to win the show!

What were the most memorable moments on the show?

Every moment on the show would test our tenacity and patience. What I loved most were the rewards we would get for winning the tasks. They used to be basic things like a cup of tea or a pillow but in those conditions they were a godsend for us. The most memorable reward was the one in which I got to spend a night in a luxurious resort. I was so excited that I was able to shampoo my hair after 35 days!

Which was the toughest task?

That would have to be the one in which I had to stand on a thin pole for three hours! I don’t know where I got the stamina or the willpower from, but I managed to win that task. I hadn’t had a bite in days, my eyes were watering and my legs had turned to jelly, but I just stuck on. God was on my side.

Has this experience made you tougher?

It definitely has. After spending 45 days on the show, I know that I can survive in the worst possible conditions. I have even eaten uncooked rice on the show for days together! I have realised the value of food. I will never waste a single morsel of food ever!

What next?

I am already 25 and so hockey will have to take a backseat now. I am shifting base to Mumbai and I am hoping that I can make a career on television.