Shilpa Shinde is no doubt one of the most popular Bigg Boss winners (Season 11) ever. Hence, the channel is using her to promote its next upcoming season.

Sample this tweet –

When we spoke to Shilpa, she said, “It feels good to be loved. I was always honest inside the house, and would urge the new season inmates to be the same. Also, if your realize that you have made a mistake, be bold enough to admit it.”

Regarding the above tweet comparing her to last year’s winner, Dipika Kakar Ibrahim, she says, “Well, good question, but even if she does win, it is OK, for she copied me during her stay, and as they say, imitation is the best form of flattery.”

Why do you think her season failed to click big time?

“There were several reasons. Firstly, the success of our avatar had really raised the bar; and things do tend to go awry when too many expectations are stacked against you. Also, I think the contestants (Karanvir Bohra and Srishty Rode) themselves were too scared of their public image to really let go, which the format requires.”

She further defended the exclusion of commoners from the new season on the grounds that the experience of the past 3 seasons had indicated bonding issues with known celebs. “There were also reports suggesting that most commoners were actually struggling actors. So that was going against the very grain of the concept.”

Shilpa (debuted in 2001) is very thankful to Colors for giving her this big ticket reality show. “As an artist, I am always ready to experiment with various formats. It is no mean task to have lasted so long, while several generations of actors have come and gone. I continue to survive by dint of my hard work and honesty.”

She refused to comment on her exit from &TV show, Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain. “I don’t want to dredge up the past. I prefer to look ahead. I am a very positive person and this never say die attitude also helped me in my Bigg Boss stint.” Apparently there was a lot of bad blood between her and producer, Binaifer Kohli.

Shilpa says her biggest competition was Vikas Gupta. “He was ready to do what it takes to win. He was rightfully nicknamed Mastermind.”

In closing, Shilpa wants to thank her fans who stood by her through Bigg Boss thick and thin. “They were the ones who directly reached out to my brother and requested him to open my social media account.”

“They were always in touch with my bro and tipped him off about what is happening and what stunts my co-contestants were planning.”