Even though he debuted with a blockbuster hit Ashiqui, Bollywood wrote him off ages ago.
Today, he has risen from the ashes, and become the toast of the silver screen. Rahul Roy is on cloud nine after winning Sony Entertainment Television's popular reality show, Bigg Boss.
"The fact that I have won Bigg Boss is yet to sink in," Rahul tells us. "Until yesterday, I did not understand how huge this was. I was cut off from the world when I was inside the Big Boss house. But now, when I go through TV channels and newspapers, and see the amount of phone calls and messages coming in, it's unbelievable! But it's incredibly humbling and fantastic."
"I did not go (to Bigg Boss) to win, neither did I think that I would win at any point. It was when only two of us -- Carol (Gracias) and me -- were left that it dawned upon me that I have a 50 per cent chance of winning. That was when I prayed to God," Rahul continues.
The actor has bagged a prize money of Rs 50 lakhs. When asked how he would spend it, he said, "I would like to do something for children. My mom worked with the UNICEF for 36 years. I will also do charity work with an ashram in Akkalkott near Sholapur (in Maharashtra)."
For Roy, being on the show was exciting and terrifying as well, as it got people to face themselves and make them realise what they were made of.
"Bigg Boss made me accept my flaws," Rahul explains. "I will always have great memories of being on this show. Living 24/7 with different people for three months was worth it."
Unlike the other participants like Rakhi Sawant who had a bitter fight with Amit Sadh, Rahul claims he did not have many ups and downs in the show. "I believed in God," he says. "But I observed the pain that people went through in the show when they were missing their families, or when they could not convey what they felt to other housemates. I could feel their pain. That was heart-wrenching."
Rahul got along with Carol and Ravi Kissen the most. After all, the three of them remained in the house till the end.
"Ravi and Carol were winners too," Rahul says. "They were incredible and deserved to be there till the end. Anupama (Varma) and Ragini were great. I like Roopali (Ganguly) too. I got incredibly fond of Amit Sadh. Baba Sehgal was funny. Deepakji (Parshar) was very civilised, a gentleman who wanted to genuinely look after us. I have a lot of respect for Deepak Tijori, whom I have known for years now. Kash (Kashmira Shah) is independent. Rakhi (Sawant) was entertainment throughout. She is capable of giving love. But she should trust people more."
Of course, not everyone on the show felt so warmly about the other. In a Mumbai tabloid, Roopali claimed that Rakhi was 'third-grade.'
"I respect whatever Roopali said," Rahul replies. "But I have my views on Rakhi even though she changes her opinion and words often. I would still like to believe that there is a possibility of her being a good human being. Roopali might have felt bad about something Rakhi said and for which Rakhi probably would not have apologised. But that is something between them."
The actor rubbished allegations that his choice to be silent throughout the show was part of a strategy. "It's not the strategy; that is the way I live," he explains. "I do not jump to conclusions. I do not react to situations because if two people react in a volatile manner, there will never be a solution to any situation."
"It's not that I could not get along with anyone. It's just that Rakhi did not understand me. Eventually, she admitted it and even apologised. She still finds it difficult to understand me. So I can't say I hated anyone. But I will never forgive my roommates for making me wear a sari! I have never done that even in my films," the actor exclaims.
But the actor would not mind a second season of Bigg Boss. After all, the show brought him great offers from prestigious banners.
"I am going to do things, which will help me retain and maintain the respectability that has been given to me. I will be part of movies that I believe in. A person making a comeback is not unheard of. I have always approached life in a very positive way," Rahul concludes.
