Nikki Tamboli is all set to return with a bang with the Colors TV and JioHotstar new reality show ‘The 50’ as a contestant. Talking about her plans, strategy, her boyfriend Arbaz Patel’s entry also joining her, and more, the actress spilled beans on all the explosive details in an exclusive interview with IWMBuzz.
In an exclusive interview with IWMBuzz journalist Sweta Gupta, when asked about her excitement for the new reality show, Nikki said, “I’m very excited because this is a first reality show where we are paying back to our fans.”
Nikki’s first reaction when she was approached for ‘The 50’: “It was a no in the beginning, but later… I was offered this show from Endemol around November, when they thought they would bring a format like this at that time. I had a meeting. And when Endemol reached me first, I said no, I don’t want to do it, because there will be 50 people, and I don’t know what will happen, and whatnot, but they insisted that I attend the meeting once, so I decided okay, I will not reject it like this, but I will go and see.”
On Arbaz Patel also joining the show with her, Nikki said, “I was easily convinced because Arbaz is also there with me. Earlier, I wasn’t doing the show because I was not convinced of the concept. But the first thing that convinced me was when I heard the story that whatever I would earn her fans will get, and today whatever I’m because of my fans, so obviously I was convinced very easily. I have always dodged my life with reality shows.”
She further explained, “I’m not among those people, for example, the couples who come and mess it up and go. As you know how many couples have come in Bigg Boss Hindi, I don’t want to take their names but they have messed up all and even today when they go out or veg spotted, there are so many bad comments alongwith the good comments on social media with comments like “Don’t Fake”, “Bigg Boss Me Apko Dekha Hai” etc. So for me it was challenging also to go with Arbaz because I don’t know how people will react. Though in Marathi Bigg Boss, we received a lot of love, that was like a proper Yashraj film but this time there will be fifty people, in 15 to 20 we played well but now the game is double, and even contestants are double so definitely it will be challenging but I feel if in life there won’t be challenges, so it’s not a rollercoaster ride.”
Nikki on plus points and minus points entering the show with Arbaz Patel: “The plus point is that, obviously, Arbaz is with me, and his convincing power is good. But I never had this strategy to talk to someone for game even though I don’t like that person but with Arbaz his personality is very different, he is like he can bend down, convince people if needed as he is capable of doing that as it’s his talent. Arbaz has that convincing power, but I’m like I’m very shy, while giving advice to others is easy like I did have advice to Arbaz in Rise And Fall to bend down but when it comes to me I couldn’t do it, because I don’t have that convincing power, I cannot convince someone for game.”
Nikki reflected on the negativity Arbaz received in Rise And Fall for whatever he was doing and how things get manipulated and said, “I’m very aware now of whom I have to talk and who not. Even if I get evicted from the show, that will be fine, but I won’t bow down in front of anyone, as I cannot do that, but only I can do whatever is written in destiny. But also, if any friend is upset with me and I feel I genuinely want to convince them, I will do that. But I will not get in between any fights for no reason or create an angle for footage in The 50, as I cannot do that.”
Nikki on her health after eye operation, her preparations physically and mentally: “I have gotten my eyes done because the first thing I have to do is to see people’s real color inside, which is very important, so eyes are priority, so when I learned I have a cyst, I got my operation done.”
She further highlighted, “Physical activity will be the most challenging because I recently recovered from dengue. I was diagnosed with dengue in November, and when you get diagnosed with dengue, sometimes it even takes six months because the virus attacks the bones. So, for me, it has been only five months, and even now, I feel I get tired a lot, and my bones are weak, and even I have ashtama from childhood.”
But Nikki emphasized that she will give her best in every task, as this time she will play for her fans who give all their time and energy, so she will try her best and may also faint, but she will give her all.
Nikki on her style statement in The 50: “We have been told that heels, lehenga, big jhumkas, etc., are allowed, but still some girls have carried heels, but my focus always has been like in a show, from looking beautiful to your performance will speak louder because everyone will be beautiful, but how you perform in the arena matters. And this time I have not even done my nails and nothing, because my whole focus is to win the show.”
Nikki concluded, revealing that she has carried all the gym wear this time as she will be concentrating on the tasks, and this time she has not taken clothes in collaboration but spent herself.
