Exclusive: Aman Gandhi on Bigg Boss, Nakul Controversy, Feminism and Pay Parity

Honestly, I am more interested in what is going to change in my real life than in how the Bigg Boss experience has affected me. The initial hangover of being inside the house will eventually fade away. I am happy that I haven't created a negative image for myself, so I don't have much to worry about on that front. What matters more is how this experience changes things for me in the coming days. Only time will tell.

You made it clear during the show that you are straight. How do you look back on the incident involving this discussion?

It started as a joke. I understood where the conversation was heading, so I told him that I was straight and that I understood what he was trying to do. However, the conversation continued, and things gradually became uncomfortable for me.

Sometimes, when you are in an argument, you don't want to back down. You want to stand your ground without getting into a fight or walking away. That was my situation. Internally, I was feeling awkward because this kind of conversation might happen naturally among friends, but he wasn't my friend, and the whole thing was happening on national television.

Nakul apologised. What's your take on this?

I appreciate that when Nakul realised what had happened, he came to me and apologised properly. I told him that if something like this ever happened again, he should speak to me personally. I felt bad at that moment, but the matter was eventually sorted out.

Do you think Nakul deliberately brought up the subject to create controversy or make his strategy more visible on the show?

No, I don't think it was planned. I felt that he was behaving according to his own personality. He could be dominating and funny in his own way, sometimes living in his own parallel world. Perhaps, if I hadn't been there, he might have behaved similarly with someone else.

We were talking about how open-minded people in Mumbai are, and the conversation took that direction. I genuinely don't believe he planned it as a strategy. What matters is that he came forward, apologised, and we sorted things out. So, for me, the matter was over.

Do you think you were too innocent or inexperienced to understand the strategies involved in a reality show like Bigg Boss?

Initially, I thought I would simply go into the house, laugh, play games, have fun, and talk to everyone. That was my understanding of the show. I interacted with people and tried to enjoy myself, but after the first week, I was told during the weekend episode that I wasn't visible enough.

I realised that having short conversations and making jokes wasn't sufficient. I needed to have longer conversations and make my presence felt. So, I started understanding the game better and worked on that aspect.

I wouldn't necessarily call myself too innocent to play the game. The bigger issue was that I couldn't open up completely. I wasn't able to be the Aman I am in real life.

What stopped you from showing your real personality inside the Bigg Boss house? Why were you holding yourself back?

There were too many things going on in my mind. I was constantly thinking about what was right and wrong and whether something I said might become an issue later. Sometimes, statements made during the weekend episodes would make you reconsider how you behaved.

Another challenge was that people would sometimes look for hidden motives instead of listening to what you were actually saying. You would start questioning yourself: Whom should I talk to? How should I behave? Will people misunderstand my intentions?

How would you act in real life if this happened to you?

In real life, I can simply walk away from someone if I don't like their behaviour. But inside the house, you have to live with the same people. If there are 15 contestants, you might feel as though all 15 have formed an opinion about you. You then start thinking about how to change the narrative they have created.

Even when the weekend episode comes around, you worry that people might believe the opinions others have formed about you. All these thoughts affected me.

Towards the end, when I felt hurt or upset with my brother Qazi, I realised that although the girls I was with were good friends, I wasn't finding the kind of atmosphere in which I could naturally open up.

I am usually at my best when I am happy, enjoying myself, making jokes, and surrounded by people who share that energy. I wasn't experiencing that consistently inside the house. As a result, I put a lot of pressure on myself to figure out how to open up completely. Eventually, that pressure took a significant toll on me.

Some viewers felt that you found it difficult to connect with the girls in the house, especially when their conversations revolved around makeup. Do you think your background played a role?

No, I don't think that is a fair conclusion. I studied in a co-educational school, and I have many female friends. I am from Delhi, and I have always been comfortable interacting with women.

I would sit with my female friends, look at their rings, try them on, and talk to them about different things. I have no problem with conversations about makeup. In fact, I think girls look very cute when they are doing their makeup, and I enjoy hearing them talk about things they love.

However, at a certain point, everyone has different interests. For example, I love talking about cricket. Some girls might enjoy listening to me discuss cricket, even if they don't know much about it. But after two or three hours, they might feel that I have been talking about cricket for too long. That's completely understandable.

Similarly, I might not always be able to contribute to every conversation about makeup. That doesn't mean I am uncomfortable around women or that we cannot be friends.

Not knowing something has nothing to do with whether you attended a co-ed school or have female friends. If someone asks me how to climb Mount Everest and I don't know, I will simply admit that I don't know. It is about having different interests, not about gender.

Did you ever feel confused about whom to approach or talk to inside the house because you were worried that people might misunderstand your intentions?

Yes, that was one of the things playing on my mind. I would sometimes wonder whom I should approach and how my actions might be interpreted.

For instance, when Uditi was busy with her captaincy responsibilities and Ishwa was somewhere else, I would wonder what I should do. If I went and spoke to someone, I worried that they might think I was trying to influence them or had some hidden motive.

I didn't want people to misunderstand my intentions. This constant overthinking made it difficult for me to behave naturally. I wasn't blaming the girls or anyone else; I was simply struggling to find my comfort zone in that environment.

Does that mean you understand men better than women?

Not at all. I don't think understanding someone depends on whether they are a man or a woman. Everyone has a different personality, different interests, and a different way of communicating. I can connect with women just as comfortably as I can with men.

You have spoken very warmly about your mother. Did her strength influence your perspective on women?

Absolutely. My mother has always been the head of our household, and she is an incredibly strong woman. She is also an excellent multitasker.

For around four to five years, she travelled approximately 120 kilometres every day for work. We used to live in Palwal, around 60 kilometres from Delhi, and she would travel by train to work with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Despite that demanding routine, she managed the household and took care of everything.

When I look at my mother and everything she has accomplished, how can I ever consider a woman weak? I genuinely believe that women are stronger than men in many ways, and I have no hesitation in saying that.

I have said this even on Bigg Boss. I know what women are capable of because I have seen my mother handle responsibilities with such strength. I would never consider a woman inferior to a man.

What does feminism mean to you personally?

For me, feminism means equality in terms of respect, opportunities, and payment. It also means that when a woman is growing in her career or doing well in life, people should not constantly question how she achieved that success.

Women should be allowed to succeed and receive the respect they deserve without being judged differently from men. That, to me, is the essence of feminism.

The entertainment industry has long faced questions about gender pay parity. What is your take on the issue?

I believe everyone has reached a different stage in their career, and remuneration can depend on individual achievements and professional standing. Even during Bigg Boss, there may have been contestants who earned more than I did, and I would never automatically complain about that.

For example, someone like Mahi or Mary might be earning less than me, but if they have achieved so much in their careers, I would feel that they deserve more. I would be happy to see them receive the recognition and remuneration they deserve.

For me, payment should reflect a person's achievements and professional value, regardless of gender. If a woman is earning more than a man because of her accomplishments, that should never become a reason to question her.

The same principle should apply to both men and women. What matters is that people are valued fairly for their work and achievements.

So, you would say that you are not gender-biased at all?

Absolutely not. My mother has raised me with strong values, and I have never been taught to consider one gender superior to another.

At home, my mother always treated my sister and me equally. Whenever she gave me money for something, she would give my sister the same amount so that neither of us felt less important than the other.

I remember discussing this with my mother and telling her that she had always raised us equally. Her response was quite funny. She said that even when I was a child and she slapped my sister, she would slap me too, so that I wouldn't feel I was being treated differently!

That was her way of explaining how carefully she tried to maintain equality between us. Those values have stayed with me, and I believe everyone deserves equal respect and consideration, regardless of gender.

You believe in equal treatment for men and women. Is that something you have always followed in your life?

Absolutely. That is how I was raised, and I will never say anything disrespectful about any woman or any gender. I have immense respect for women, and I believe they are stronger than men in many ways, especially mentally and emotionally. Everyone deserves equal respect, and that is something I strongly believe in.

You have spoken about your past relationships, including having girlfriends from different religious backgrounds. You are currently single. Would you like to share more about your relationship experiences?

What is happening here? Are we starting another Bigg Boss discussion? (Laughs.) Yes, I am very much single right now.

I have had girlfriends who were Muslim—in fact, three of them. But I never looked at a relationship from the perspective of religion. I never thought, “Oh, this person belongs to a particular religion.” That was never a consideration for me.

A strange narrative started circulating on Instagram and social media, and I found it quite disappointing. It was unfortunate that something so personal was presented in such a demeaning way. I am not the kind of person who would make inappropriate comments about someone's religion, caste, or political beliefs. These are subjects I generally avoid, and I don't like dragging them into personal relationships.

If there had genuinely been an issue of that nature, wouldn't people who knew me, such as Arslan, Qazi, Arshfa, or Asif, have pointed it out? The situation was interpreted in the wrong way, and that was disappointing.

As far as my relationship status is concerned, I am single and ready to mingle. (Laughs.) You never know what the future holds. If something works out naturally with someone, that's great. I believe relationships should develop organically rather than being forced.

Now that you are coming out of Bigg Boss with greater recognition, are you hoping to explore opportunities in films? Have you received any offers from Salman Khan?

Honestly, I don't know if I should say this here, but I have never really thought about films as my primary career goal. When I came into the industry, my aim was to become a television actor. OTT platforms were not as prominent then, but now they have become an important part of the entertainment industry, so I would like to explore that space as well.

My main ambition has always been to establish myself as a leading television personality. I want to reach a stage where I am considered an A-grade television actor. I also want to host major television shows, big stage events, and prestigious award functions. I have already had opportunities to host events, and that is a direction I genuinely want to pursue.

I am very clear about what I want to achieve, and I want to reach the top in my chosen field.

But if Salman Khan offered you a film, would you consider it?

Of course! If Salman sir offered me something, who would I be to say no? (Laughs.) I would certainly consider the opportunity. I am open to offers, but I have never been greedy about work or opportunities.

At the same time, I want to concentrate on the career I have envisioned for myself. My priority is to excel in television and establish my position there. I would be happy to explore other opportunities if they came my way, but I don't want to lose sight of my main goal.

Have you signed any new projects after Bigg Boss, or are you waiting to see what comes your way?

I haven't signed anything new yet. I know that more offers may come after the show, and I am looking forward to seeing what happens. I already had an event to attend today, but I made time for this interaction because I wanted to speak with you all.

I am grateful for the love and opportunities coming my way. Let's see what the future holds.

Finally, how does it feel to step out of the Bigg Boss house and reconnect with the outside world?

It feels good to be back, and I am looking forward to what comes next. Bigg Boss has been an experience that has taught me a lot about myself, the way I respond to pressure, and how people perceive me. Now, I want to focus on my work, grow professionally, and make the most of the opportunities that come my way.