Just an hour after the finale of the reality show ‘Rise and Fall’, the atmosphere around Arjun Bijlani was enthusiastic. With the trophy in hand, he was glowing with joy and was savoring every moment of his victory after 42 days, countless challenges and many emotional ups and downs. In an exclusive conversation with India Today/Aaj Tak in his vanity van, the actor said that he is ‘very happy and very excited’.
Recalling his journey on the show, Arjun said that he had to struggle every day to reach here. Who saw ‘Rise and Fall’. host of this show Ashneer Grover Were. The show tests contestants not only through tasks and stamina but also through strategy and social games.
Arjun Bijlani Said, ‘Initially no one wanted me to go up into the penthouse. People were nominating me in the basement. From there till here, the same people who were nominating me, now love me the most. I didn’t know that I would win the show because it was very complicated. It’s not just about voting. There’s a lot of internal voting that goes into it and yet winning this show and standing here and giving this interview, feels very special.
Winning is worth more than just a trophy
He admitted that this victory holds more value than just a trophy. It symbolizes years of sacrifice and personal growth. He never thought that he would do a captive reality show. But accepted it as a challenge. The hardest part of it was being away from his 10-year-old son Ayaan, who is very attached to him. The show also became a mirror of self-discovery for him, making him realize that he was more patient than he thought. After losing his father at the age of 19, Arjun recalled that he was a very angry person at that time. But today he feels proud of having evolved into a calmer, more collected person.
Four years ago, when Arjun Bijlani won ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’, he was accused of bias. What ‘Rise and Fall‘ Did winning, in which there was little outside voting, feel like a validation for him? He said, ‘Yes, it is special. Like I said, this show is not about votes. Of course, part of it is about votes. But it’s also about the people on the show, who are your competitors. What decisions do they make for you? What alliances did you form? Ashneer had also told me at the beginning of the game that everyone considered you a very strong competitor. Obviously they want to oust the stronger competition first. But to reach the end here and then hold the trophy, I think it says a lot about my game. I don’t want to call it a game. This is me.
She stressed that her greatest strength and the most beautiful part of her journey was her authenticity. Everyone who saw it or knew him could tell that he was not pretending. This was the real Arjun, unfiltered and true. He believed that this was what made his appearance different, as it was impossible to fake his personality under constant surveillance for 40 days.
for years Television But being a popular face, we asked Arjun if he was conscious about his image on the show. He said, ‘In the beginning I was very careful about what I say, what I do. But then I realized that I couldn’t do that, because it was suffocating me from inside. I’ll just be myself. If I get angry, I get angry, and I just let it go. I wanted people to know this side of me. You can’t be so controlled for 40 days. There are 200 cameras on you from the time you wake up in the morning till you go to sleep. You can’t act there. To be honest, I did not want to act. I just wanted to have fun in the show.
I cried in the smoking room
But it was not always easy to control emotions, as he said while remembering a special moment. He said, ‘I went to the smoking room because I did not want to cry in front of everyone. There were tears in my eyes. I told Bali how everyone keeps talking about this girl and boy. Don’t boys get respect? Sometimes it’s okay for men to take it out too. We are human beings.
He admitted that he would encourage his friends and colleagues to take up this challenge next season. Arjun said, ‘I think everyone can do this show, because it is also about challenges. You have to be physically active, use your brain, strategize and build relationships. I want Nia (Sharma), Karan (Kundra), Ali (Goni), Jannat (Zubair), Reem (Shaikh), the entire Laughter Chef gang to do this show. I am sure that after watching my season, a lot of people will want to do it.
Meeting my son is the most beautiful memory of the show.
When he was asked which memory would stay with him forever, Arjun became emotional. He said, ‘The first day when I was alone in the penthouse. I told myself that I want to rule this penthouse and win this show. When I held that trophy, I think that was the moment. But an even bigger moment was when I met my son in that red room. That is the memory of my life.
Now that the show is over, preparations for the celebration have already started. But before winning, Arjun admitted that he would have to attend many Diwali parties. He said, ‘I want to celebrate this victory, but before I plan any party, I have to go to five parties because Diwali is around the corner. But tomorrow I think I will sit on my balcony with my wife and watch the sunset with her. Arjun Bijlani won by defeating Aarush Bhola and Arbaaz Patel in the finale.
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