Exclusive! Sahil Shroff after eviction: Pratik Sehajpal has 1 million retweets, we applaud negativity

Sahil Shroff/ PR image

Sahil Shroff, the first contestant to be evicted from Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 15, speaks to mid-day.com about his journey, the challenges he faced and what he's up to in the real world.

How does it feel to be back in the real world after Bigg Boss?
It's weird but I value things that I never valued before, a lot more. My mother needed me back for some work which I did not know, so I'm glad I'm back from that perspective. I value my life more.

Any struggles you had to go through in the house?
I can be without my phone, family and friends; but here they had erratic sleep timings. We had to sleep with a light on so it's tough. For the first few days I didn't have the energy to pick up a fight with anyone because I was mustering the energy to survive. Slowly, I started getting used to that cycle of sleeping for four to four-and-half hours. I didn't have clothes for tasks for four days and I couldn't wash them for three days. It was not difficult but it was challenging. I believe I took on the challenge well, but that's not enough to keep you in the house (laughs).

How did you deal with other contestants screaming and shouting, besides Ieshaan Sehgal and Meisha Iyer have already started their love story in the first week itself…
It's a game and everyone is using tactics except Karan Kundrra. After coming out I see these people getting applauded. The love relationship that I saw was a nice one but I've come out and seen they are getting a lot of negativity. So you don't really know what's happening when you are inside. I was watching all of this around me but my strategy was different. I was the underdog trying to make my way in. The nominations come from contestants so I was watching the fights, but if seven people are screaming it's impossible for a guy like me to scream louder, unless you get personal. No one was messing with me... I was hoping someone would, no one did because I'm a big guy. I think I was on the right track, just that never in the history of Bigg Boss have 13 nominations happened in the first week.

Had you been following the show as part of your prep, are there any previous seasons you watched?
All I know is there was this individual Rahul Roy (winner of season one), and everyone I spoke to would say I'm similar to him. However, you can't mess with me... if you come in close proximity you will get it. I was under the impression that Bigg Boss allows people of all personalities to find their way. I saw Sidharth Shukla be his own self, that is who he is. I can't be that.

Anyone that you feel has the potential to win this season?
Karan Kundrra, because he is real and being himself. He's a friend of mine, and we got really close. He told me I'm on the right track and he has a lot of experience in reality shows. He's not blind by chaos, he is smart and intelligent.

Are you planning to take a break before your next project or starting something immediately?
I'm ready to work. I was ready for three months, which is why I gave three months to Bigg Boss. I'm spending a few days with my parents, after that hopefully I'll start something new.

Rakhi Sawant had a lot to say…
Rakhi gave thumbs up to Pratik Sehajpal and told me I need to up my game. I said Simba and I will, half an hour later I was leaving the house. I don't know if that was advice or a warning that you are leaving.

Are you open to more reality shows?
I want to do a show with tasks, like Fear Factor, you fight less there and perform more tasks. I love acting but if something good comes along in reality why not? Now I've understood the game, I will start screaming the minute I walk in for no reason. Everyone will go nuts and then they will realise three weeks later he's such a calm guy.

Who did you get along best with in the house?
Everyone from Meisha, Ieshaan to Simba, Karan and Vishal. Jay Bhanushali and me... we were just starting to get along. I was also friendly with Vidhi Pandya. When I was eliminated, they were shocked and I had to console them.

Would you agree calmer contestants don't get focus?
It is a strange world where Pratik has 1 million retweets and we applaud that. We applaud negativity. We don't show a contestant like me and the other contestants doing meditation, we don't show things people can learn from. If someone like Rahul Roy can't win, how can I at least survive? Everyone deserves a chance, I come from a well-travelled background. The kind of places I've lived in, I've had hand-to-hand combats for a long time in life. I decide not to have conflicts. The art of war is not one page, we live in a society where drama is highlighted. Do I feel bad I'm out? Hell, no!