He’s been Mr Popular of Season 8. On Saturday night, TV heart-throb Gautam Gulati was crowned Bigg Boss winner by host Farah Khan, finishing ahead of Karishma Tanna and Pritam Singh. t2 caught up with the 30-year-old minutes after his big moment. 

Congratulations! Your first thoughts on winning Bigg Boss?
Bahut, bahut, bahut achhi feeling hai. Besides the win, which was of course all that I had strived for in the 120 days that I was in the house, I am overwhelmed seeing how much people have started loving and respecting me. Random people have come up to me after the win to tell me that they watched the show only because of me and how I showed the world that one can survive in Bigg Boss without gossiping or backbiting. To be honest, I am completely numb right now. So many people are waiting to meet me that I haven’t even had the time to spend two minutes with my family! 

Numb, nervous, excited… what were you just before being declared the winner?
I have never been nervous, whether inside the house all these days or on stage. I am someone who never takes anything in life too seriously, personally or professionally, and that’s always worked well for me… at least till now! (Laughs) When I was on stage and Farah ma’am was holding my hand and Karishma’s hand, boxing-bout style, I somehow felt very confident because I could see in the eyes of everyone present in the audience that they believed that I was already a winner. Everyone was smiling at me. That was a special feeling. The bonus, of course, was to hear my name being called out (smiles). The win convinces me that what I was doing… the person that I was inside Bigg Boss… I was doing it all right. 
 
 

How would you describe your Bigg Boss journey?
I know it sounds cliched, but during the show, never for a moment did I think ki main jeetunga! I always felt that if I play the game straight and fair and remain the person I have always been, then that would work for me. Of course, I started off on a bad note within the first few days itself when I had that argument with Karishma. (Gautam and Karishma had a major fight during a task and Gautam, who got abusive and violent, was subsequently boycotted by the rest of the housemates.) But as the weeks and months wore on, we became cordial with each other and even friends towards the end.
I think what worked for me the most was that I was very honest while doing my tasks. At the time others would spend their energy fighting and abusing, I would focus on winning my tasks. While I won inside the house, the audience ensured that they voted for me and made me win outside (smiles). I am someone who always listens to my heart and that’s what’s made me win Bigg Boss today. 

You’ve had more lows than highs in Bigg Boss. What would you count as your most difficult period?
I think the first few weeks were the toughest when everyone boycotted me after Karishma and I had that fight. The contestants unnecessarily targeted me and I was completely targeted. Then Salman (Khan) sir intervened and asked everyone not to stretch the fight like a rubberband and that’s when I decided that enough was enough and that I wasn’t going to take things lying down anymore. I kept fighting till the time I won today. I felt that initial fight was necessary to make my Bigg Boss journey what it turned out to be. 
Besides the win, what other positives will you take from the Bigg Boss experience?
I have learnt a lot about friendships and how to maintain an equation with people. I have never said one wrong or humiliating thing about any of my co-contestants. If I did, I would have been sitting ashamed in a corner all alone like most of the other contestants. And yes, I have lost about 5-6kg! (Laughs)

This has been the longest Bigg Boss season. Did you lose patience at any point of time?
I did at times, especially when Ali (Quli Mirza) got abusive towards me in the last few days. I couldn’t control my emotions and I felt that a dam had burst inside me. The only time I lost my patience during a task was the ‘Torture Cage’ task because Ali got very abusive and I had no support from the others, especially after Puneetji (Issar) was eliminated. Apart from that, I enjoyed my time in the house. 

Besides Puneet Issar, who was your father-figure in Bigg Boss, who are the other contestants you would now like to keep in touch with?
I would like to keep in touch with everyone because I am a very positive guy. Even Ali… his family came up to me just now and apologised for his actions. Now, you have to ask them if they want to keep in touch with me! (Laughs)
And will we see you and Diandra Soares take forward the relationship you had started on the show?
Diandra will always be a close friend. Yes, we did get attracted to each other on the show, but we both know that this relationship has no future. We have different mindsets and come from different cultures… I will clearly tell her that there is no future to this and she is smart enough to realise that herself. Abhi attraction ho gayi toh we got into the Emraan Hashmi zone and kissed each other! (Laughs) But there will be nothing more between us. I believe she lobbied hard for me and asked people to vote so that I win Bigg Boss... that’s very sweet of her.

So what next for Gautam Gulati?
I plan to go to Delhi next and spend time with my mom and brother. I haven’t seen them in ages. After a week or 10 days, I will get back to work. Let’s see what life has in store for me.

Priyanka Roy
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