'When Mr Amitabh Bachchan was the host, he did not react to what happened inside the house and the fights. I react... and get a lot of criticism for it.'
Salman Khan takes us inside Bigg Boss 9!
Salman Khan got quite 'emotional' when he was asked if Aishwarya Rai Bachchan would be invited on the sets of Bigg Boss 9.
"Kya Jazbaati sawal laai ho aap (What an emotional question you have asked)," he replied mischievously, punning on his former girlfriend's comeback film Jazbaa.
The superstar was generous towards his rival Shah Rukh Khan as well.
"I would love him to come on the show (and promote his film Dilwale)," Salman said. "But I don't think he will go inside. If he has dates, he is welcome to come and meet the contestants. I don't want to pressurise him. He should come, promote (his film), have fun, share his life experiences... he has lots of experiences to share," Salman said.
Salman was in a fun mood as he fielded questions from the press during a promotional event of Bigg Boss in Mumbai.
"After you host the show for three months, you get exhausted. But there is a long association and a huge connect with the audiences. So you start missing it after some time. There are educated people and celebrities on the show -- either they do things in dramatic or in a subtle way," Salman said.
"Sometimes when the contestants go overboard, I feel why should I even tell them anything? Am I their father or brother? Why should I tell them?" he asks.
"But then I feel I should stop them as this will not get them work in the industry. Sometimes I get a lot of criticism for getting into something that is not my space," he adds.
"Like when Mr Amitabh Bachchan was the host, he did not react to what happened inside the house and the fights. I react... and get a lot of criticism for it. It starts affecting me, and every time I think I should not continue the show. But it is a good show. It's about people and relationships. And if I am able to share experiences from my life, then why not?"
The new season is called Double Trouble but the actor does not like it.
"I do not agree with the title. There is always trouble in my life, so this time it will be double! They said that was the show's concept and I thought it was funny," Salman says with a grin.
Salman claims it's his mother and Karan Johar's mother Hiroo Johar who watch Bigg Boss and give him feedback.
I do watch certain episodes and make notes," he says.
The actor claims he does not "act" in Bigg Boss at all.
"I am being Salman Khan, son of Salim Khan, brother of Sohail, Arbaaz, Arpita and Alvira," he says.
Bigg Boss 9 will premiere on Colors on October 11.
Salman plans to start another reality show called The Farm with Colors, an Indian version of the international reality TV show.
"The show is on the same lines as Bigg Boss," Salman explains. "It puts a group of celebrities together in a farm, and is shot entirely there. The contestants will work as farmers, raising animals, milking cows and farming."
The rights to the show have been bought already.
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
