Mumbai: Ever since Gaurav Khanna lifted the ‘Bigg Boss 19’ trophy on December 7, haters have been alleging that he won because of his popularity and association with Colors TV.
The television actor broke his silence on the allegations in an interview with Faridoon Shahryar.
“People say I won because I am famous, but I have really worked hard. Twenty years of hard work is no mean feat. I have not been a Colors face for the last 15 years. My last show on Colors TV was Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam with Yami Gautam, which aired in 2010. So, if in 2025 people still think I am a Colors face after doing just one show with them 15 years ago, I must be really great then. There are no free lunches; I won’t just win a show because of my pedigree or body of work, I also have to perform well in it,” said Gaurav.
He further said that ‘Bigg Boss’ proved to be a learning experience for him.
“I never went there to compete with others. Being a part of television for so many years, I know people will target you on Bigg Boss, they will shame you, defame you, and try to pull you down. But my entire aim was to become a better person. My life has been the sum of my choices. Bigg Boss is a very intelligent game if you play it intelligently. I kept that in mind from day one; I wasn’t there to please those 15-16 people,” Gaurav stated.
The actor won the reality show without engaging in unnecessary fights, emotional drama or bitter rivalries.
Gaurav was initially criticised by host Salman Khan for not taking a stand in the house and playing on the back foot.
After the fourth week, Gaurav slowly began expressing himself and his opinions strongly.
In the grand finale, Gaurav defeated Farrhana Bhatt to clinch the ‘Bigg Boss 19’ title and took home a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh.
