'Someone wanted to sabotage Khatron Ki Khiladi'

Aarti Chabria won the fourth season of the reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi after she defeated singer Mauli Dave.

The actress not only walked away with the 'Khiladi' title but she was also chosen as the 'Thums Up Thunder Star'. Her partner Daval Thakur won a Mahindra Scorpio and an opportunity to star in a new Thums Up commercial with Akshay Kumar.

Aarti, who has been seen in films like Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai, Awara Paagal Deewana, and Shootout at Lokhandwala before, spoke to Rajul Hegde about her KKK experience.

The Khatron Ki Khiladi result was out much before the show went on air.

Yes.  Somebody leaked out the information, someone without sportsmanlike qualities, who wanted to sabotage the TRPs and the show. I wanted the news to be out on the day of the telecast. I wanted everyone to see how I emerged as winner. So I kept denying and told everyone it's a rumour. After the results, everybody messaged me saying I am a big liar.

You acted with Akshay Kumar in Awara Paagal Deewana. Was he instrumental in getting you on the show?

Not at all. I was offered the first two seasons of Khatron Ki Khiladi but I wasn't ready then. I followed all the three seasons and agreed this time because I was mentally prepared for it. Plus, I wanted to see how much I could push myself and come face to face with dare devil stunts. Thanks to this show I have overcome a lot of fear and there is a lot of positivity around me.

How was Akshay Kumar as a host?

Akshay was always encouraging, and the best host. He takes special interest in understanding the contestant's strengths and weaknesses. He makes sure even the most grueling tasks are entertaining. He is witty and lightens the situation with his great sense of humour.

There are rumours that the show is rigged.

It raises a finger on the credibility of a fantastic show, channel and host Akshay Kumar. The show cannot be manipulated because everything is shown on TV. Some people with zero sportsmanship are spreading false rumours.

Do you consider yourself lucky because you came back as the wild card and won the title even though there were stronger contestants on the show?

Yes .God has been very kind to me. All of us worked very hard to perform each stunt and to be on the show. I had never seen a girl like Bani, with physical power and muscle. Deena was so confident and didn't have any fears. Mia was ready to perform any stunt. I thought of them as my toughest competitors. So winning the title against them was big.

I was the underdog so nobody thought me to be the toughest competitor; it worked to my advantage.

Your partner Daval Thakur said on the show that you were more interested in shopping and colour co-ordination of your costume than doing the stunts.

Daval is a 23-year old immature guy, who was influenced by Sambhavna Seth's mind games. There was hardly any time left for us after our stunts. We would straight go to the gym, have dinner and crash. I had some time when I was eliminated from the show before the wild card. Other than that, we had only one holiday, where were went sightseeing.

What was the cat fight between Sambhavna and you about? She had said that you are dating her partner and he wouldn't do any stunt to make you win.

Sambhavna is a non-entity for me. How can I give an explanation to baseless accusations? If that was the case, then I should be seeing all the 13 male contestants to distract them. Why would I sabotage her when she wasn't the toughest competitor at all?  Even if she was one, I wouldn't have done what she said because that is not my style.

Did you make friends on the show?

I hadn't gone on the show to make friends. But during the show, I met some sweet people.

In a competition, everybody has worked hard and wants to win but some didn't know how to take it. I could feel the heat after I won the title.

Soon after the show, I came back to India and then left for IIFA (in Toronto). After that, I was nursing my aches and pains. Then I left for a holiday with my family to Kulu Manali. My phone was continuously ringing so my parents took it away and didn't let me to speak to anyone.

You are not doing many films. Do you think visibility on the show will help you to get more work?

I have done this show for personal satisfaction; it's not a career move. People would think I was a delicate darling, so the show was a good opportunity to get rid of that image. Acting is my passion and I want to focus on films.  I have been offered number of films before and after the show. But yes, now I am flooded with TV offers for reality shows as a participant, judge and host. I am looking at these offers but I need to give myself some time before I get back to action.

Have you been offered Bigg Boss?

I was offered almost all the seasons of Bigg Boss. I like the freedom at my house. I like to keep the windows and door open. Getting locked in a house for months is not my kind of show.

Aarti also chatted with Rediff readers, and gave some interesting answers. We pick a few:

acd asked, Hi can you tell me when will you return to movies?

Aarti Chabria answers, I have never gone away from movies. My last release was Dus Tola opposite Namoj Bajpai which released in October 2010 and my next film i have not yet started shooting on so when the right time comes you'll will hear the announcment as I dont talk about films until I start shooting.

akkirocks asked, what is the most weirdest thing that you did?

Aarti Chabria answers, When i was burried alive in a coffin with heaps and heaps of sand over it and to give me company in the coffin I had 101 rats on my body. It was claustrophobic in there and the rats nibbled on me. It was yuck.

hrithikR asked, Hey aarthi!!!!! who is ur favourite actor in bollywood???? who do you want to work with the most?????

Aarti Chabria answers, Other than Akshay I really like Hrithik Roshan and have always been an Aamir Khan and Salman Khan fan.

Sid asked, What is your dream role that you want to enact?

Aarti Chabria answers, After having won KKK-4 I would love to do an action oriented role but in our Hindi film industry there are few people that make action oriented films for women. I really liked the role of Geet in Jab We Met. I felt like it was me. I would love to do a role like that.

shobhit asked, The leopard stunt must have been hair raising !! how did u go about it? :)

Aarti Chabria answers, In this stunt Kaun Cheetah Kaun Hara it was crazy having a Cheetah chase us. My partner was really scared because he thought I didnt run fast enough. Luckily when the results came we all realised that our jodi was second fastest and we even got a saftey band so didnt have to do the next stunt of the day.