'Iss Jungle se Mujhe Bachao is very real'

Says Chak De girl Chitrashi Rawat, as she recalls her adventurous days spent in the reality television show

Think of Shah Rukh Khan's Chak De! India and you can't help but recall mini dynamite Komal Chautala, the Haryanavi chhori essayed to perfection by actor Chitrashi Rawat.

After the success of Chak De, the former national hockey player moved on to Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion, where she played a fashion coordinator with much ease, followed by Luck.

But the last few weeks saw the young actor from Dehradun surviving in the jungles of Malaysia as part of the reality show Iss Jungle se Mujhe Bachao. She was evicted from the show this Friday and is home relaxing. She speaks about the real parts of the reality show, love and life.

How was jungle life?
It was fantastic. I loved every day and enjoyed my stint completely. I always wanted to do something related to adventure. I was even invited to participate in Fear Factor season one but I didn't have the time to spare, so I couldn't be a part of it. When I got a call from this show, I knew I had to say yes.

I was supposed to enter the show from the first episode but my dates clashed again and finally I was brought in as a wild card entry. I loved the attention I got from the other contestants.

You lost to contestant Jay Bhanushali in the Maha Jungle Challenge.
I have always feared water and when I saw that the challenge involved water, I knew I would lose it. I wanted to give up but went ahead because I have never given up in my life.

But reality shows are also controversial and allegedly stage-managed. How much reality was shown in Iss Jungle...?
It is as real as it can get. They add some masala for high TRPs but that's absolutely fine.

Are you in touch with other actors from Chak De?
Of course, I am in regular touch with Shilpa (Shilpa Shukla), Vidya (Vidya Malvade) and Tania (Tania Abrol). We are like family and our friendship is forever.

Interestingly, not many are aware of your love life.
I am in a relationship for the past two years. His name is Honey Juneja and he is a business management graduate and is in London. I met him when I returned to Dehradun after shooting Chak De. He too is from Dehradun. Our long distance relationship is working out quite well as we give each other enough personal space.
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He has supported my decisions. We compensate for the distance between us by talking on the phone and chatting online.

Interestingly, he is the first guy I have dated because I always wanted to get into a strong relationship.

What's next?
Right now I am relaxing at home. Next you will see me in a comedy movie called Don't Worry, Be Happy. I am playing actor Rajpal Yadav's daughter and Vinay Pathak plays my father-in-law.