We’re down to the last week of season 3 of Bigg Boss Tamil , the reality show hosted by Vijay TV and with only four finalists remaining, tensions are running high over who will walk away with the coveted title.
Left standing are Mugen Rao, Losliya Mariyanesan, Sherin Shringar and Santhosh Kumar (Sandy Master), a quarter out of the 17 people that initially competed for the prize money of 50 lakhs. Completing 100 days of the show with activities, tasks and multiple eliminations, day 101 featured a press meet and interview with the contestants for the first time in the show’s history.
Talking about their journey through the three months, the finalists opened up about dealing with the criticism, the controversies that rocked the
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Sherin: There were definitely two to three days which I’ll never be able to forget. I have to start with the eviction of Vanitha as she is a great friend of mine and it was hard to see her leave. We had stuck together from the start and although I tried my best not to cry, I ended up weeping all across the house. Another day that stuck out was when Tharshan left as I did not anticipate him leaving and didn’t know how to deal with my emotions. The eviction came as a shock to all of us, primarily because we were convinced he would win the title.
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Losliya : It is true that initially Sherin and I did not get along, and looked at each other as competitors. There were many moments where there were opportunities to connect, but the circumstances did not allow us to form a bond. However, in the past two weeks, as the numbers have reduced, everyone started getting much closer. Sherin and I have started to understand each other better and now we are good friends.
Was it hard adjusting to the show’s routine?
Sherin : The show was a cakewalk for me, especially after I got some clarity. At first, it was hard dealing with the criticism, especially when people believed that I did not stand a chance of winning. But later, I learnt to ignore those words and only focus on the good in people. There have been times when I complained to Kamal Sir but I learnt to overcome these moments, keep my emotions in check, and be more patient. I have definitely grown as a person.
Losliya, recently your father expressed disappointment about you being on the show. How do you think they will react when you meet them?
Losliya : The meeting with my parents was highly emotional and I was very excited and even planned to make a presentation for the encounter. I understand their previous reactions are reflective of my community and the place I live in, but they are yet to hear my complete perspective and I am confident they will support me. After the show, it is important that I explain to my parents everything that happened and I am sure they will understand as they are the ones who know me best. On the question of marriage, my parents fell in love and got married... and I am certain they will allow me to choose who I want to wed. However, I will respect any decision they choose to take.
Do you think the relationships that have been declared on the show will continue after it ends?
Sandy : Through the show, we all formed very strong bonds, especially the one between Kavin, Mugen and I. This gang gradually kept getting bigger and I grew close to Losliya as well as Sherin. Since we have shared and opened up our lives to each other, these relationships will definitely continue for years to come. I am sure Mugen will settle in Tamilnadu and no matter where Los goes — Canada or Australia — we will all be in touch through social media, making plans to meet once a month.
Suppose you won the show and walked away with the prize money of 50 lakhs, how are you planning to spend it?
Mugen : (laughs) I honestly haven’t thought about how I would spend the money as I never expected to even make it to the finals! But I would definitely want to gift my friends on the show, starting with the other finalists, Tharshan, ‘Naina’ Mohan Vaidya, Kavin, amongst others. I am also actively interested in working with NGOs to empower people, so I would definitely donate a part of the money for a good cause.
If you had to play the ‘Bigg Boss’ for a season, how would you interact with the contestants?
Sandy : ‘Gurunaadhaa’, as I call him, has been extremely playful this season. Although I kept referring to him as my Guru, it was a pleasant surprise when he referred to me as his ‘sishyan’. We actually have been calling him multiple names... even Biggy Baby! I have never thought about getting into that character, but if I did, I would turn the show upside down. I’d assign ridiculous tasks, troll everyone and leave them wanting to flee from the show!