Model-turned-actor Aryan Vaid is out of Bigg Boss. Is he happy, relieved or confused? “A bit of all that…because while the place was infested with more internal politics than all of Bihar and UP, I did find true love in that strange house in the middle of nowhere.”

Aryan is a bit offended by widespread suggestions that the Anupama-Aryan romance was a publicity stunt for the camera. “In all these years in the entertainment business I’ve been around with a lot of women. I’ve been with other women, had relationships. But nothing like this. In fact, I fell in love with Anupama [Verma] 10 years ago and wanted to marry her. But our relationship didn’t culminate as I wanted it to. Now in that house with her I rediscovered what a beautiful person she is. I fell in love with her all over again. Anupama is one of those rare people with a beautiful soul. It’s that rare quality of hers which kept me going in that crazy atmosphere where two of the girls, Carol Gracias and Rupali Ganguly, were constantly massaging Ravi Kissen’s legs and head. Even I massaged Anupama because she has a back problem, but only to the knees because I was well aware that the TV cameras were constantly watching. The guys all pretended to be friends with me. But except Deepak Tijori they all voted me out of the house. Can you imagine!”

Aryan is particularly disgusted by Ravi Kissen’s betrayal. “I thought he was a friend. I thought he wished my relationship with Anupama the very best. In fact, as late as on the Thursday afternoon when I was brushing my hair Ravi came up to me and said he wished me and Anupama could get engaged inside the house under the supervision of Bigg Boss. He kept saying how grateful he was that I pushed him into workouts and in losing 5 kg inside the house. And then he voted me out!”

Aryan feels this could be Ravi’s revenge on him regarding a woman who came between them a few years ago. “Everyone knows Ravi was dating his costar from Bhojpuri films. I had no clue about it when she decided to have a relationship with me. In fact, she got so close to me that we had a puja in my house to fob off all the evil influences that came in our way. Ravi tried to instigate her against me by saying he had seen me picking up White girls from a club in Dubai. He forgot to mention he also tried to do the same. I succeeded, he failed.” Today Aryan has left behind his footloose and fancy-free days forever. “I’ve never been more serious about any woman. I’ve proposed marriage to Anupama at least 20 times inside that house. Now it’s entirely up to her.”

Aryan hopes to see Anupama evicted from the house at the earliest. “I’ll wait a week to see if she’s out. If she doesn’t come out I’ll go to London to be with my best friend Karan. I hadn’t planned anything until January 15, thinking I’d be in the house until then. Now I feel a mixture of so many emotions. My weeks inside that house has changed my attitude to life. Now I value what I have. I’ve a lot more appreciation for my friends and family.”

So what did Aryan do after being expelled? Well, there’s been a big-time bonding among the eliminated participants of Bigg Boss. Aryan Vaid had a secret dinner with the two ex-recruits, Deepak Parasher and Rakhi Sawant, at the former’s residence Saturday evening. Reveals Aryan, “It was real and yet surreal. Deepak and Rakhi were people I had lately been isolated with.

When we look back at the Bigg Boss experience it seems so strange and yet so reflective of today’s times when nothing is private anymore. I did find true love in that place. But when I realised Anu and I were being watched by millions on television it felt strange. Having said that, I must confess Anu and I didn’t feel the least self-conscious about expressing our feelings openly. We forgot about the camera and the microphone. And we weren’t doing anything wrong. There was nothing sexual about our encounter. But I must say some of the massaging that the other girls gave to the other contestants was highly erotic, and embarrassing to watch.”

On Saturday night for the first time Aryan watched himself on television. “It felt like another world. But I was very upset when I saw Anu crying for me. I miss her. And I want to marry her. The only communication I’ve been allowed with her by Bigg Boss is a card that was reached to her through the show’s producers.”

Aryan admits Bigg Boss has changed his life. “People almost feel as though they know me in and out. There’s a sense of initimacy between the public and the contestants. After my elimination I’m being invited to attend various events. In fact, I was in Pune on Sunday to attend a kids’ function. It feels good to have connected with audiences, though I must admit I wouldn’t like to run into any of the men at the house in Karjat except the two Deepaks — Parasher and Tijori.”