Karan Kundrra: I have promised Pratik Sehajpal that I will look after him

Karan Kundrra

'Bigg Boss 15' has just wrapped up and popular contestant and finalist Karan Kundrra opens up to mid-day. com about his experience and the bonds he made in the house.

How does it feel to be back in the real world?
At the point where they asked us to switch off the lights and leave the house, we saw the stars and I pointed out ‘look Teju (Tejasswi Prakash) stars.' It's so different to just come out of the house. There were dogs near the set and I started shouting ‘oye kutte.'They took our mics off and I felt like I had been wearing it for years, why are they taking it off! Everyone was in PPE kits and we were trying to recognise people.

And what did you miss most while in the house?
Sanity! I'm a very private and shy person in real life. I'm not used to have people around me for 24 hours, I like my alone time. I'm that person who wakes up with the slightest noise but after a few days I slept in between massive fights happening around me. I like watching the news and keeping myself updated on what's happening in politics and science, that was cut off. I kept thinking ‘Kahan phas gaya pagalon ke beech mein.' After a while you start losing your mind, you have no recreation. I've had a phone in my hand for 20 years and information on my fingertips. I was not in touch with my family, when I'm used to Facetime and group calls every morning. After spending two months in the house, you start forgetting things from outside, like names and lyrics. After a point you have nothing new to talk about and you don't want to talk about what's happening in the house, so it's a life of its own.

Making it to the Top 3 is quite a feat…
I entered the house absolutely clueless! You can pretend for two-three days, then your real self starts coming out. I took everything as it came. It was a journey of discovering my real self and what kind of people I vibe with and don't. All my inclinations and progressions were natural. I thought I would live in 5-6 weeks but the kind of response I got inside the house, relationships that happened even though I tried to hold back…after a point I gave up and said let things happen as its meant to be. Every time someone would come from outside I would ask them ‘is my reputation still alight outside?' but now I am more self-aware and secure as a person.

Your made quite a few strong bonds in the house despite the ups and downs, like Umar, Tejasswi, Nishant…
I did not know Umar as a person and did not expect we will become friends. I was trying to be friends with Jay (Bhanushali) because I knew him from outside but whenever there was a stressful situation, Umar and I would react the same way. I never made friendships for the benefit of the game, so whatever bonds I made be it Umar, Tejasswi or Nishant these were natural. Nishant and I never played for each other, he threw me out of VIP Room but at the end of the day he used to run to me when I was emotional and vice versa. We were rivals but still had a beautiful bond.

You had said you are not looking for love but still found it in Tejasswi…
I was fighting with myself that emotions run high in the house and there will be attractions, but don't fall for it. I told Teja as well, that in real life maybe we wouldn't even have spoken to each other, we are different. I don't know when I started getting fond of her, though I tried to fight it a lot. Now, I'm glad we were in the same house and felt that way, it's only getting stronger. In the house, your reactions are very real.

Will you be in touch with Pratik Sehajpal? Which other contestants will you remain in touch with?
I have promised Pratik that I will look after him and that he will consult me before every decision, be it work, finance or anything. I'm just a call away! I was also following him before we entered the house. I supported him in OTT and that time I didn't even know I would do 'Bigg Boss'. I am in touch with Tejasswi (laughs) and every moment we get we run to each other. I just spoke to Nishant. Rashami (Desai) called me, Umar is a tough nut but I love the way he is. Rajiv Adatia too, all the people I loved in the house, I will remain in touch with.

Are you finally going to learn Marathi and impress Teja's family?
I don't think she's going to have it any other way. Spending time with Nishant and Tejasswi, I'm learning Marathi but I'm sure she has learnt more of Punjabi. Every time I lost my mind, I would speak in Punjabi, when I was happy I spoke in Punjabi, so that's how everyone around me learnt the language!