INTERVIEW | Salman Khan sends home-cooked food every weekend: Hiten

Samarth Srivastava

Lucknow: “Everybody was scared of a personality like him. Someone who was quiet, understanding and dignified,” this was host Salman Khan’s one of the best compliments for any evicted Bigg Boss contestant.

The untimely eviction of actor Hiten Tejwani, one of the noblest contestants of Bigg Boss 11, left everyone in surprise. Even host Salman Khan was disappointed over his elimination and said that he may have not won the trophy, but he won hearts outside.

Hiten said that Salman Khan sends his home-made food for all the contestants on every Saturday, on Weekend Ka Vaar episode.

Despite being a celebrity, Hiten took his grounded persona as his stronghold and dealt with several tricky situations with his matured outlook. He spoke at length with newstrack.com in a telephonic interview and revealed some inside stories of BB 11.

How was the experience in Bigg Boss 11?

The experience was lovely. I am happy the way I came back the same way as I am. Infact, with lot of more respect. I am happy that I kept my calm.

How is normal life different from Bigg Boss' life?

We are not aware about day, night, date or time inside the house, if we do not do bit of calculation. We are bound to face the contestants whether we like them or not. No mobile phone, nothing to read; while in actual world we have got everything. Look, it all depends on will power.

Every morning I'd be woken up with the sound of that pounding music. I don't think I want to hear those songs ever again in my life. Nor do I ever want to wake up to the sound of music.

Now, you have come out. Does everything look changed?

Yes, I saw several happy and sad faces after 77-day long stay inside the house.

You have been known for keeping your calm. Once in a season you were seen losing it. Tell us about that?

I lost my calm because Luv Tyagi was interfering with my personal stuffs. Moreover, I came to know that he is the one who is doing all that and then he is not accepting it. Audience also saw that Hiten Tejwani only reacts when it is needed the most.

Say some words about Hina Khan and your argument with her also.

Hina Khan is fake and she does things to be noticed. She was saying something and doing something else. I think she should practice what she preaches. Be it any task, I will help my friend and I really do not find it wrong. I wanted Vikas to win that task so I did not park Hina's pram inside.

You would have known Hina before this show also?

Yeah, I met Hina 3-4 times during Star Parivar awards but we did know each other very well.

Also read: INTERVIEW: Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar inspire me the most: Hiten Tejwani

How was your experience with the 'host' Salman Khan?

I am mesmerized by him. We all use to anxiously wait for the episode of Saturday as Salman Khan's energy is infectious. We felt motivated with all the positivity and we carried the energy from Monday to Friday. He is a very genuine and humble person. I've never seen a host who sends food for the contestants. He used to send food for all of us on every Saturday. We have limited food to eat in the Bigg Boss house and Salman sir was like a God for all of us during that time. He always updated us with what was happening outside the house.

Tell us about your chemistry with Vikas Gupta?

I want Vikas to win the show as he is my friend. He always treated me like an elder brother. He actually respected me inside the house. He always took my advice in each and everything. He stood by me right till the end. Yes, Vikas was loyal to me. While the others who pretended to be my friends, betrayed me.

When your better-half Gauri came to meet you as a part of a luxury budget task. What was that feeling?

That was the most special moment for me inside the house. When my wife Gauri visited the Bigg Boss house. I can't tell you how overjoyed I was to see her. The level of isolation in that house hit me hard when I saw her there. I had been away from her for shootings. But we were always in touch. There was always the phone. Here for the first time, I was on my own with a house full of strangers. It was a life-changing experience.

Also read: Bigg Boss 11: Did Karan Patel call Hina Khan’s fans dogs and cats?

Put some light on your chemistry with Arshi Khan?

In the very start of the show, I was uncomfortable with Arshi. But, then I came to know that she is doing all that just to seek attention and then I was like okay. But, she respected me. Arshi always took my side and remained loyal to me, which matters the most.

Shilpa Shinde played the role behind your elimination. Tell us about that?

What Shilpa Shinde did is against sportsmanship. She wants the strongest contenders to be out of the game. I was a competition for her. I am happy that I was one of the strongest contenders for her. But that shows you don't want to play with the strong contestants and wishes to bag the trophy, competing against the weak contestants.

Even Salman Khan was disappointed after your eviction and he never spoke to any evicted contestant for so long as he talked to you.

Exactly, he told me that he is sad. He said that the game is like that and those who are playing dirty tricks in the game are there inside the house. It is good that you have come out as you have entered.

What are your plans after Bigg Boss?

Bigg Boss has exhausted me. Now, I want to relax for some time. I would love to go for Khatron Ke Khiladi. There are several Bollywood projects also which I was discussing before entering the house.