'My victory is a slap on their faces'

Sambhavna Seth, whose protégé Shamaayal won Dancing Queen, hits a high note with Rachana Dubey...

Sambhavna Seth, whose protégé Shamaayal won Dancing Queen, hits a high note with Rachana Dubey...

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You must be elated?
(Grins) I fell on stage. I couldn’t believe it for a moment. I never thought people would support me so much. When I was a Bigg Boss 2 inmate, I met mixed reactions. Some believed that I was too loud, too dramatic.. some even hated me. Quite a few liked me too. So I could never imagine that I’d win with such a steep vote margin.

Did you find it easy to groom Shamaayal?
Please! I led a dog’s life for three months when I was grooming her. It’s not easy to groom anyone because everyone has their own style. It’s like forcibly changing someone’s concepts of dance. I was never groomed. If someone had tried to groom me, I’d have told the person to go fly a kite. Shamaayal was so patient. I was determined to make a winner of her. The basic problem with most contestant duos was that they didn’t gel well.. we did. Everyone had presumed I was tough to deal with. Shamaayal thinks I’m a coconut.

What was going on at the back of your mind in the last moments of the contest?
I was nervous.. I had convinced myself that I wasn’t winning. I know that most of the mentor girls wanted me to lose because they didn’t like that I was in-your-face.

I didn’t praise a performance if it was kachra. So they were waiting for an opportunity to mock at me.. which they didn’t get. They were all set to laugh at my loss. My victory is a slap on their faces. These mentor girls and their sick thoughts never mattered to me.. I was there because of my brother and father. I didn’t let them down.

What if you had lost?
People would still know who was the better dancer. I was confident of my aggressive dancing style. I was sure that I’d make it to the finals.

Weeks before the finale, you protested when Aashnay and Shveta Salve were eliminated..
I wouldn’t call it a protest. It was an outburst of sorts. Several undeserving contenders had come a long way in the show.. all through voting for themselves. I simply expressed my concern that if the practice continued, I would be the next one out.

A contestant had said under the conditions of anonymity that Anita (Hassnandani) didn’t deserve to win or even be in the finals?
I think Anita wasn’t a bad dancer. She was this chui-mui kind of dancer. Uski partner bhaari padti thi uspe. Between Shamaayal and me, I was the bhaari one. I don’t think she deserved to go. I would have been happy to see her with me in the finals.

Several people often found you loud and aggressive on the show?
That’s because they thought I will be subdued and make politically correct comments.. which is unlike me. What you saw on the show is exactly how I am in real life too.

What about the judges Hema Malini and Jeetendra?
Jeetuji called me Jhansi ki raani. I always impressed Hemaji with my performances. Thankfully I never upset them. Hemaji did pull my leg once or twice but that’s okay.

Have you been in touch with the Bigg Boss 2 co-contestants?
Yes.. I often talk to a couple of them. I’m pledging my support to Monica Bedi.. I will do all that it takes to help her survive on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. I like her performances. I also like Hard Kaur. I met her at a party recently and told her how alike we are.

Is it true that Ashutosh Kaushik was offered Big Brother?
When I read that, I called him up. He denied it.

Have you had a chance to speak to Jade Goody?
No, I’ve been busy with Dancing Queen. I’m looking for her number. I want to meet her.

She has said that Bigg Boss 2 show was rigged. Do you agree?
No, I don’t think it was rigged.. not after my unexpected Dancing Queen win.

Did you land more movie offers after your stint at Bigg Boss 2?
Within 15 days of Bigg Boss, I was on Dancing Queen. I haven’t had a chance to speak to anyone. Also, I’m sure no one could get through to me because I’ve been unavailable.