Bigg Boss 18 has now begun and unlike the previous seasons, this time around, there is a plethora of contestants to look at and there will be instant fireworks with over 20 celebrities in the show.
One of the contestants to enter the show is actor and fitness coach, Sara Arfeen Khan, who is actually entering the show with her husband, Arfeen Khan as a couple.
In an exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz, we asked her about what was the reason for her to do the show this time around, entering as a couple, Hrithik Roshan’s reaction to them participating in the show and much more.
Q. I think it’s probably one of the biggest steps you would have taken career-wise, at least in the public eye. So what led you to finally take the plunge I’m assuming you would have probably been offered earlier as well. So what was the reason that you felt this was the moment that you decided to do it?
Sara: I think before I wasn’t ready. Now, I think I’m ready. And I think I’m ready to take on the challenge, actually. And I’m, by nature, a risk-taker. I would love to take this risk. It’s more now than when.
Q. We all know that you’re going in with your husband, Arfeen Khan. And you know, the history of, you know, having couples being in the show. It’s interesting in itself, like, you know, for the lack of a better word, it’s interesting.
Sara: (Laughs) You know, I think after so many years of marriage and experiencing it all and doing it all and, you know, being content in the relationship, I think both of us couldn’t handle it. And I think both of us needed some triggers. And I think we needed some shaking and electrifying experience, which is why we decided, okay, come on, you guys can disturb our mother, father (laughs) We’ll do it.
Q. What’s interesting is that you know, the past, when it comes to the couples who have gone in the past, either they have been actor couples, you know, or there has been a similarity of, you know, when it comes to work and everything, though you and your husband do have some, you know, similarities in that aspect, but your husband is a life coach. And he’s the one who, you know, who’s obviously on the other side when it comes to motivating people. And this is the kind of show that’s going to test you mentally, literally daily. So what has been the kind of conversations so far, the both of you have had, because I’m sure he’ll also be under as much scrutiny as you will be.
Sara: Actually, we’ve not had a chance to have a conversation, which is why my frustration is right now. I don’t know what he’s thinking. He doesn’t know what I’m thinking. And I’m telling you, Kunal, since we’ve returned from Dubai, it’s like we’ve not got a chance to sleep. It’s like one thing to another. I haven’t had a peaceful five minutes of tea or coffee. So let alone discussing anything. I don’t know what he’s going to have. I think they do it on purpose. This is also a strategy, I guess. So now it’s like, bring it on.
Q. And of course, you know, the history of the show itself is, you know, everybody knows it. What has been the kind of mental stability or, you know, the mental preparation that you’ve planned for? And how do you think, you know, you’ve prepared yourself?
Sara: No, as I said to the others as well, one cannot prepare themselves for such a thing. It’s just that you have to be ready because you have just, you have willingly gone and you’ve willingly accepted that you are ready to take on the challenge. Whatever comes your way, like, you know.
Q. And what is going to be the trigger point? Because as I mentioned, everybody has one. Maybe it’s not necessarily going to be a specific thing.
Sara: Yeah. I think the trigger point is where people get too personal and then, you know, you get into your zone of family and then all that. So that’s the thing that’s funny also. But yeah, I could get triggered because at one point, I don’t think I’ll find anything funny.
Q. People know you are so close to Hrithik and, you know, you’ve been his fitness coach and you would have had a million conversations. Was he aware about this, and when you told him what was his reaction?
Sara: Oh, he was, like, excited. I mean, I didn’t have a conversation but Afreen told him that, you know, can we go into Big Boss? He’s in Italy right now. I’m sure he would have come with us here to introduce us. But unfortunately, he can’t but he’s really wished us amazingly well and he said that this time he is going to watch Big Boss. He doesn’t watch Big Boss usually but he said he would love to see our dynamics of in the show and how we perform, what we do and what crazy things we do inside with ourselves and the contestants. So he’s very eager to know what happens because as much as we are out there, we have never actually shared our personal space with anyone.
Q. Have you had a thought about what are you going to gain or lose from the show? And if so, what is the kind of thing that you, you know, what is the kind of takeaway would you want, no matter what, how much longer you stay in the house.
Sara: Look, I’m taking it as it comes. I just don’t want to think too much because you know what happens. Most of the people, they think too much and they ruin the present moment. I’m just taking it as it goes. I want to enjoy the process. I want to be a contestant and I want to play the games and I want to be a part of everything that comes along with it. And I don’t want to think too much. I don’t want to think about the strategies. I don’t want to think about the games. I just want to be simple, raw and ready to take on.
Q. And finally, how are you going to make sure to not piss Salman Khan off? Because if he goes crazy, and he’s probably going to slam you or any other contestant. So how are you going to make sure that you don’t come into his radar of being, you know, schooled for something or not?
Sara: Listen, all these 18, 19 contestants, whoever is going, there is going to be a point where we all are going to turn by turn. And that’s how it is. That’s how the show is designed to be. We are going to be targeted. None of us are completely 100% all the time. One week there could be three idiots and one insane. And the other week there could be one idiot and the rest. Think about it. We are out of social media, out of the world outside. We don’t even know the time, or what time zone are we in. I mean, it’s just going to come out on each other. So, it is going to happen.