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Mandeep Bevli: Pooja Missra is not normal
Mandeep Bevli was evicted from the Bigg Boss house over the weekend because she had become the weakest link on the show. She was unwell and was unable to take the pressures of the Bigg Boss house.
An Ex-journalist, Mandeep was pitted against Pooja Misrra, Mahek Chahal and Amar Upadhyay.
During her stay in the house, Mandeep did not take sides during arguments and tried to solve the problem by finding its root cause. Her housemates thought her uninterested and cold and also saw her as a lazy person. On the very first day she took a crack at Nihita Biswas by asking about her sex life. But after that, she took a back seat and maintained a low profile all through her stay.
In coversation with Rajul Hegde, Mandeep talks about her experience on the show and her fellow inmates.
You often talked about your health issues. Was it one of the reasons you were happy when you came out of the house?
Yes. I was physically uncomfortable from the very second day. I got sick due to the unhygienic condition in the house. It is very difficult to have fun when you are in pain, and the house is filled with tough and testing moments.
I was deprived of sleep and my immunity was completely down and I couldn't do many tasks due to health reasons. I am glad that I remained dignified throughout the show and didn't stoop low just to get footage.
How did you get this offer?
I was in Los Angeles when I got the offer. I was offered Fear Factor too but I couldn't take that due to health reasons. I thought this show might be fun but I didn't really know the format of the show. I did not enter the show for the usual reasons of getting more work. I thought let's just do this and have fun. My basic motive was to develop a working relationship with the agency and the housemates.
'I think Mahek has a shady past'
You say you weren't aware of the format. Is that possible when you have spoken so much about Bigg Boss on your channel (Headlines Today)?
We get six-seven packages (clips) of Bigg Boss fights, and we cover it from the fight angle. I knew there would be fights but had no clue about the physical tasks and limited hours of sleep. I am a calm and not high-energy person. It takes a lot to get me angry so I was confident that I would be able to survive in the house. But I was wrong because I was unprepared. The constant fights and the negative vibes made the atmosphere torturous.
You supported Akashdeep after he had an ugly argument with Mahek where he spoke about her past.
Yous should decide beforehand whether you want to bring in the past; don't use it when it suits your convenience. If you are trying to hide something then do not come on a public platform, and make it clear that there are certain things from the past that you want to hide. Do not say 'I do not want to hide anything' and then act differently. Your actions should match your words. I think she has a shady past otherwise she wouldn't have reacted that way.
'The house is filled with tough and testing moments'
Did you use your journalistic skills to get more information from the housemates?
No. I had gone there as a contestant.
But on the very first day you asked Nihita Biswas whether she had sex with Charles Sobhraj...
It was a normal question and I was curious to know about it. It was her choice to answer or not. I didn't force her to answer my question.
But her mother was upset that you asked this question on national television. Did you apologise to her?
No. Why should I? What was wrong with my question? If someone had asked me the same question I wouldn't have had any problem.'Laxmi is the biggest attention seeker'
Do you think the show is scripted?
When I saw Pooja Missra picking fights with everyone, I thought the show was scripted. But when I heard her speaking to Sanjay Dutt in the same way, I was convinced that it was her nature and she doesn't know how to talk to people. She thinks she is normal but she is not.
Who do you think is playing a dirty game?
Most of them are playing dirty games inside and some are fighting for footage. There is nothing true and honest about the show. I don't like fights and can't stand them.
I tried my best to make things better and easier but the situation there is just beyond anybody. I was just being vocal about my feelings without being rude and loud like others. I wasn't scheming either.
Did the situation change after Akashdeep's entry?
Yes, to a certain extent. Laxmi is the biggest attention seeker around and wants to be a part of every discussion. She wants to play her transgender card 24x7. She forever goes 'mera beta', 'meri beti' and one feels like telling her to shut up.
Akashdeep told her to stop playing games and reveal her true side to her fellow contestants. He also told her to stop appreciating people to their face and bitching behind their backs. She would go and sit on everyone's lap but nobody had the guts to tell her not to do so. When she tried doing the same with Akash, he gave her it to her nicely and told her to shut up.
'Most of them are playing dirty games inside the house'
At any point did you feel uncomfortable because you are from a different field from the other housemates?
No. I was like one of them. I have anchored shows on different channels and have acted in a film (Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula) too.
Who do think will win?
I want to watch the show from outside and only after that I will be able to name that person. It's premature to talk about it now.