Every reality show junkie is familiar with the name Prince Narula. On Saturday night, the Roadies and Splitsvilla champ added another, and bigger, reality show trophy to his mantle — Bigg Boss Nau. t2 caught up with the 25-year-old Chandigarh boy — the favourite to win the show ever since he stepped into the Bigg Boss house in Lonavala 104 days ago — minutes after host Salman Khan crowned him champion.
Roadies, Splitsvilla and now Bigg Boss. You have seriously cracked the reality TV code!
(Laughs) Thank you so much! I don’t know if there is a code actually, but please trust me when I say that I
didn’t go into any of these shows with a strategy. At the end of the day, what works for you if you are a reality TV contestant, especially in shows with long formats like Roadies, Splitsvilla and Bigg Boss, is that you try and remain the person that you are. You can fake it for a week or a month, but beyond that, the world will see through you. I think what’s worked for me consistently is that people have realised that I am a
genuine guy. I am young, brash, hot-tempered maybe, but beneath all of that I am a good guy (smiles).
Unlike the other contestants, you always seemed confident of winning...
Confidence in myself is something that I have always had. Yes, sometimes it just goes over the edge and becomes overconfidence (laughs), but every reality show that I have participated in, I have walked in from Day One thinking: ‘Haan, main yahaan se jeet kar jaaoonga’. Confidence can take someone very far in life.
But 104 days is a long time to spend inside the Bigg Boss house, didn’t that confidence waver at times?
Kabhi kabhi. Like when Kishwer (Merchant) bowed out of the show so that I could go on to the finals, my confidence level came down a notch or two because I started thinking: ‘Kishwer has made such a huge sacrifice for me. Will I be able to live up to her expectations and win the show?’ But then overall, I always had faith in my ability to draw in votes. I knew I had won two big reality shows... winning a third was just all about playing my cards right.
What was that moment like when Salman Khan announced your name on stage?
I think my heart stopped for a moment! (Laughs) I had to strain my ears above the pounding of my heart to hear whose name was being announced, although Salman Sir was about half-a-feet away from me! But then he announced my name and simultaneously put my hand up and there was this whole confetti blast and loud screaming all around... I was lost, but then recovered quickly enough to realise that I had made it (smiles).
You dedicated your win to Kishwer...
Yes, it was very important for me to do that because if she hadn’t quit the game, I wouldn’t have gone to the final so easily. In her, I have made a sister for life and I know she will always be there for me, as I will be for her.
Rannvijay Singh Singha has been a mentor ever since your Roadies days. How much credit would you give to him for your win?
He’s my brother. In Mumbai, I live in Rannvijay’s house... we chill together, we eat together, we hang out together. Even today, he was there in the audience to cheer me on. Bhabhi (Rannvijay’s wife Prianka) was also there. It was such a special feeling. I know he’s always there for me.
What have been the standoutmoments from your stay?
I think every day was a new challenge and a new beginning. I made many friends, but also had quite a few run-ins. But everything that happened contributed to my growth in the show. Going bald for a task was a major step for me. So was the task in which I sat inside a car for more than 48 hours on the trot. Overall, every moment in the show has been worth it.
You also fell in love on the show, not once but twice! How are you planning to handle that outside Bigg Boss?
(Smiles) Both Yuvika (Choudhary) and Nora (Fatehi) are nice girls and I really like them. Let’s see how things go from here.
With both?!
(Laughs out loud) Nahin, nahin... dono ke saath kaise?! Only with Nora. I won’t be able to handle both. That much confidence even I don’t have!
This year, Bigg Boss’s popularity dipped. How do you think the show can regain lost ground?
Did it? I always feel that Bigg Boss is one show that can never get boring. People love watching a show like this, but maybe a change in format helps once in a while. For instance, I just heard that next season common
people will get the chance to come in as contestants. I feel that’s quite a good move.
What do you plan to do with the prize money?
Out of (Rs) 35 lakh, I have committed a certain amount for Salman Sir’s Being Human foundation. The rest of the money, I am not sure yet. I will rely on my family and friends like Rannvijay to help me out in terms of deciding what to do with it.
So, what next for Prince?
I plan to chill out for a bit... take a vacation, maybe, and also spend time with Nora. And then get back to work... I have a TV show commitment to fulfil, but Bollywood has always been the larger goal.
Priyanka Roy
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