Shantanu Maheshwari has done it! The Calcutta boy and t2 throb was the last man standing on Saturday night when the extreme reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi came to an end. A t2 chat with Shantanu, the champ!

Congratulations on the win! Looking back, how would you sum up the Khatron Ke Khiladi journey?

The journey has been really amazing! Going to Spain, doing the stunts, meeting my co-contestants... it’s been great. It’s been challenging too. It was a challenge to attempt all those different kinds of stunts... not only attempt, but also complete them and perform well.

What was the winning moment like?

I was numb, actually. I didn’t believe that they had actually announced my name. I did not expect to win.

You were the most consistent performer this season and yet you didn’t expect to win?

Actually, I did not want to expect anything. I expected to win Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (a celebrity dance show on Colors where Shantanu ended up as second runner-up) but it did not work out. When you expect things and it does not work out, then it keeps playing in your head. This time I did not want to expect anything. Bas mann mein tha jo hoga so hoga.

You’ve earned so much praise as a dancer and actor. Was this the first time you stepped out of your comfort zone?

Yes, it was something that I had never, never tried before. This is always going to be close to my heart because it was a very different experience since KKK is a skill-based show. Not only did it make me step out of my comfort zone, but also made me test myself in a new way. It feels great, you know... to be recognised for skills apart from dancing and acting. I have owned the title, I would say. I am not trying to boast, but I have worked hard, performed well and completed all my tasks.

Was the desire to break out of the mould the main reason to decide to do the show?

I did it to overcome my phobias and challenge myself as far as my fears are concerned — that was the only reason. Free adventurous activities karne milenge, yaar! (Laughs) I am an adventurous person but before this, I never got a chance to explore that side of me because I have been dancing from an early age. So my parents would always restrict me from getting into activities that could injure or hurt me. For example, playing sports like football or playing cricket with a seasoned ball was a no-no because they thought ki leg ko injure kar doonga toh dance kaise karoonga. This time, for them it was like bada show kar raha hai! Spain jaane mil jaa raha hai kuch toh achha hoga hi! (Laughs) Ab unko kya pata bada show toh hai lekin stunts karne mein kya haalat ho jaati hai (breaks into a giggle).

So what fears have you overcome through the show?

I have managed to partially overcome the fear of heights after doing the height stunts. Also, I have become comfortable with water instead of being scared of it. I try to take my Desi Hoppers team (his dance crew) swimming in our free time. Kisi ko nahin aata properly. I try to teach them.

When you started the show which contestants did you think were your competition?

Initially, I thought Rithvik (Dhanjani) and Geetadi (Phogat) would be tough competition. But once I got into the show and I started seeing others perform, tab realise hua sab ek se badh ke ek hai.

Has the show changed you as a person?

Oh yes! I do see a change in myself. My approach towards things then and now has changed. The various scenarios that we were put in have made me believe that fear is a liar. Fear restricts you from giving your best. Fear is just for one or two seconds and if you overcome that, there is nothing that can stop you. We were put into scary situations… like putting snakes inside our mouths! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able to do it. But when I was put into such a situation, I felt I was capable of doing it and I did it.

Which was your favourite task?

The finale (task involving fire, water, cars and heights) was my favourite. The whole season was summarised in that one big task.

What is your earliest memory of Khatron Ke Khiladi?

I had only seen Fear Factor on AXN, which I would follow regularly, but never Khatron Ke Khiladi. When I watched Fear Factor, I would picture myself as a contestant. I guess everybody does that when we are kids! (Smiles) All the tasks are okay except the tasks where you have to eat weird things. It creeps me out.

So who would you dedicate your win to...

My family and my Desi Hoppers crew.

What was your equation with host Rohit Shetty like?

He was my mentor on the show. He knew that I had my own way of doing stunts, so I would tell him, ‘Sir, main aise soch raha hoon karne ka’ and he would guide me accordingly and say, ‘Haan theek hai, kar le’. He always says that fear lasts just for a few seconds, if you overcome that then you will remember that moment for the rest of your life.

So did you make friends on the show?

Haan haan... all the boys were like long time ke bichhde huye dost and bade bhais. We have a WhatsApp group where we chit-chat and keep in touch.

Manasi Shah
Did Shantanu deserve to win Khatron Ke Khiladi?
Tell t2@abp.in