When you are born into a prominent film dynasty, relentless scrutiny can be a part of life. No one knows it better than Bollywood actor Tanishaa Mukerji, the first runner-up of reality show Bigg Boss 7.
There were at least 80 cameras watching her every move for over three months during her confinement with other celebrity volunteers in the Salman Khan-hosted reality show last year and she lived to tell the tale.
“Somewhere down the line, because I have grown up in a film family, I have always enjoyed scrutiny. Ever since I can remember, wherever you go, be it a restaurant or a store, you knew you were being watched,” said Mukerji, whose mother is the legendary actress Tanuja. Her sister is influential Bollywood star Kajol, her cousin is director Ayaan Mukherjee (behind hits such as Wake Up Sid and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani) and her brother-in-law is action hero Ajay Devgn.
“I have lost count [of the number of times] when in a restaurant, people would look at me and say my name in hushed tones … but through Bigg Boss 7, I wanted people to see who I really was. I wanted them to see my virtues such as patience,” said Mukerji.
Joining that controversial reality show, which feeds on scandals and vicarious entertainment derived from frustrated inmates, was her way of ticking off things that she had never attempted before. Just last year, she had attempted English theatre but Bigg Boss 7 was a more shocking move.
“It’s the most-watched show in India. But it’s a negative show. To come out to see such love and positivity is humbling. I love the way people are responding to me after Bigg Boss,” said Mukerji.
Retail therapy in Dubai
At the time of this interview, she was in Dubai last month as a guest of Khan’s Celebrity Cricket League and was treating herself to some retail therapy after the game.
“Yesterday, I was at Homes r Us and so many women came up to me and said they loved me in the show. That’s my victory.”
While many may laud her move, Mukerji came under fire for getting close to her tempestuous inmate Armaan Kohli, who was arrested for allegedly roughing up fellow inmate, British actress Sofia Hayat. Initially, their union was written off as a fling to spike viewership, but the two have been going strong since their stint in Bigg Boss 7 ended in December 2013. The pair is currently in Dubai celebrating her boyfriend’s birthday. But like any girl out there, she doesn’t want to jinx it.
“The media loves to write stories [about us] and they write a lot of fiction. Right now, I can’t say anything about that. It’s my process that I am going through with him. When I do decide and figure things out, I will announce it to the whole world,” said Mukerji.
She may shy away from dissecting her personal life, but she calls Kohli her “closest friend”. “He was my strongest support in the house and he continues to be outside the Bigg Boss house too. I was his strongest support as well. We make each other stronger,” said Mukerji.
Family support
But does it worry her that her family isn’t too enthused about the union? During the Bigg Boss 7 shoot, news emerged that her mother Tanuja and her sister Kajol had refused to associate themselves with her.
“Honestly, whatever the media had said about my family not supporting me is incorrect. I know my family. Even in the show, it is a mind game they play. Bigg Boss made me think that the family is not on my side, but that is his game. He is trying to play with you and get a reaction out of you. I know my family and they will be support me 100 per cent,” said Mukerji.
Her reasoning for their absence in the show as star guests is simple. “I am not a normal girl and I don’t come from a normal family … People might have expected my mum to come on the show. But she is not going to come and see me on the show if Colors [TV network] don’t pay her. They are professionals … I have a responsibility to respect what they have earned. They are celebrities and superstars,” said Mukerji, adding that she had no ill feelings when her family distanced themselves from the show.
Recently, on the chat show Koffee With Karan, Kajol and Ayan showed their solidarity by lauding her courage for taking part in Bigg Boss 7.
“Before I went into the house, I had not seen much of Bigg Boss and the production guys were like: ‘Please don’t watch anything, just be you’. I went into the show taking it as a challenge because it’s about mind games … I was constantly in mind warfare with Bigg Boss. I knew if I had to win, I would need to beat him at those mind games,” said Mukerji.
Criticism
But with such a strong lineage behind her, wasn’t she selling herself short by participating in a show such as Bigg Boss? Critics have accused the show of being filled with has-been stars and wannabes desperate for fame and glory.
“I didn’t think of that when I went in. It was more of a challenge in my head. I wanted to show the world what I am all about … Bigg Boss brings out the real person in you. Your true character comes out when you are uncomfortable. Your truth is revealed on that show.”
But she adds that the show was highly scripted to rake up viewer ratings. “In order to make it more entertaining, they edited it the way they liked it and they had us playing certain characters … And if we did something out of character, they would not show it,” said Mukerji.
While she’s happy about emerging unscathed from Bigg Boss 7, Mukerji, whose career is defined by a fistful of lacklustre films barring mafia tales Sarkar and Sarkar Raaj, adds that she has no intention of watching herself on TV. She made her Bollywood debut in 2003 but wasn’t able to achieve the success that her elder sister enjoyed.
“I haven’t seen the edited footage. I was in the house for three-and-a-half months and I don’t want to spend another two months of my life watching what happened there. I don’t want to re-live it all over again. I want to move forward.”
