Anil Kapoor says he wants to be himself, authentic as he hosts Bigg Boss OTT 3: ‘We are all flawed’

Unfazed by constant comparisons with Salman, the Ram Lakhan actor says his strategy to woo the audience and contestants, is to stay “authentic” and true to who he is. “I have to be myself,” he asserted. “Whenever you do something which is iconic, for instance I did 24, which stars Kiefer Sutherland, there will be comparisons. Whenever there is an adaptation of any show or film, parallels will be drawn. When I did The Night Manager, I did it in my own way. Hugh Laurie (who features in the original series) and I are so different from each other. Our personalities are different. The way I speak and talk are different. My actions, reactions, emotions and the way I look at life are so stark for others. I have my own individuality,” says Anil, adding, “There’s  pressure in everything you do. Even if it (Bigg Boss) was being hosted by a completely unknown person, the pressure would still be there.”  

Anil and Salman have been friends for many years and have worked together in films like No Entry, Biwi Number 1, Race 3, Yuvraaj, Deewana Mastana, Salaam-E-Ishq. The actor says when Salman is happy that the show has been offered to him. “Saying he is happy is an understatement. We have been brothers and friends for years. Of course I am senior to him, but I never treated him like a junior and our relationship has been very friendly. We have bonded well, so naturally when he learnt that I will be hosting Bigg Boss he was thrilled,” adds Anil. Recalling his visit to the show as guest in the year 2013, the actor, who is gearing up for Subedar, reminisced the moment when Salman carried him on his shoulders. “That is an iconic moment… an iconic picture. I sat on Salman’s shoulder. It was so much fun.”

Nearly two decades ago, when Bigg Boss first premiered in India, it was hosted by Arshad Warsi, and over the years, the hosts kept changing. From Shilpa Shetty to Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Farah Khan and Karan Johar, several celebrities turned host for the show, but Salman remained a constant. Ask him to pick a favourite, and Anil replies, “Definitely Salman! Hands down! There’s no discussion. He is irreplaceable.” 

Bigg Boss Salman Khan once carried Anil Kapoor on his shoulders. The Welcome actor, in 2013, made an appearance as a guest (Photo: Colours TV)

While the audiences love the reality show, it isn’t devoid of controversies and scandals. Weekend Ka Vaar, where Salman who resolves contestants’ fights, is a proof that being a host of a show of this format comes with additional responsibilities. Anil says despite the show carrying the tag of being controversial, he has no apprehensions and he would handle any unforeseen situations without any bias. “It is about being firm yet fair. I have to bear it in my mind that all humans are flawed and like everyone, they (constants) will make mistakes, too, especially, in a high pressure environment like a Bigg Boss house,” he explains. He says while he will hold the participants accountable for their actions, he would also empathise with them because the house of Bigg Boss, according to him, is  “closed-up version of life.”. “As you know, empathy and discipline go hand-in-hand. As humans, we are all flawed and have gone through such situations in our lives at some point where we end up making mistakes or get into fights. There’s laughter and tears and everything in between. It is like an entertaining catharsis. It is a closed-up version of a crazy phase of life. That is why everybody loves Bigg Boss,” he tells us. 

The actor further adds that the representation of women on the sets of Bigg Boss has taken him by surprise. “There are so many women. From the camera team to technicians and almost in every department, there are more women than men and this is such a positive change from the time when I started. They’re extremely disciplined and professional,” he adds.