EXCLUSIVE: Rannvijay Singha on Roadies - Harbhajan Singh is a bully

Host and judge Rannvijay Singha is back as the judge of the reality show, MTV Roadies Rising. The handsome actor will be seen as a gang leader with other fellow judges Neha Dhupia, Prince Narula and Nikhil Chinnappa.

In an EXCLUSIVE tête-à-tête with us, Rannvijay talked about the audition process, Karan Kundrra slapgate controversy, his journey from being a Roadie contestant, host and now a judge.

Excerpts...

You are back as a judge for this season of Roadies, so how are you feeling about it?

I feel amazing because we get to choose our gangs. Not fully, because there's a googly which is Harbhajan Singh this time and the whole thing is pretty exciting and interesting. It's amazing because the last few years as a team when you are going together and that feeling, camaraderie and being a mentor for them is a lot of responsibilities. But when something good happens, when you actually take someone further in your life it's a good feeling. As a brother, I am the eldest in my family, I always had that kind of trait.

How was the audition process?

It was very good, we have really good contestants. Lots of fun ones and also lots of people who wants to prove their mettle. In the middle of all that, we have Harbhajan Singh who is a bully. Sometimes we are about to take a decision and he would change it for us. I can't tell you exactly what he did as you can see it yourself on the show.

From being a contestant/winner to a judge, how would you describe your journey?

First I was a contestant, then I hosted the show for few years. Now, I am the judge and a gang leader. I have actually done a lot of behind the scenes thing with MTV creative task with the production, spot boy everything. I still enjoy like a 20-year-old when I was a contestant. I remember I had such a blast and no responsibilities. I was going to the army, this was a journey of a lifetime. I had a great time travelling and making friends. Then next year I was at a job working very hard. Things couldn't go wrong, so I had to manage everything in a certain manner. As a judge, every time you do something next, you feel proud of yourself. Till the time I was a host, I had to tell them how it was to be done and about the consequences of not doing it. Now, I am responsible of how to nurture them, how to bring back confidence in them and tell them everything is OK and I care for them. At the end of the day, you feel for the four-five people of your gang, you want them to go ahead. 

You have ventured into acting also, so what do you enjoy more, acting or being part of reality shows?

If I do a reality show, it is for real, I play myself and not any character. If I get angry or I am in a fun mood in real life, this is what you see on the show. When you play a character in the film if you do that role properly people appreciate it. When I did the role of a police officer or an army guy I sold it as people believed it. Both are at different highs. And if you have a balance, like I have done 10 films and one show and lot of reality shows, it works well. 

What do you have to say about the controversy surrounding Karan Kundrra?

This is not a scripted show. When there's any heated argument, it's a personal decision. But after witnessing the act, the audience gets divided. If I was there at that moment when a guy tells me that I slapped a girl, would I be slapping that guy? Yes, I would have or wouldn't have. The reaction is what the reality is. The situation in which Karan Kundrra was, he reacted in a certain way, because of that the people have either said, I would have done the same or no, you did it wrong. I have not done it in 14 years, but I don't know what was going on in his mind. I don't know whether he is right or wrong. What I would do is, if I meet somebody in my personal life outside who triggers an emotion in me and say, "I hit a girl, kya kar loge and all?!" He slapped a girl, what did he think that time? That the girl is weaker than him? Karan slapped him, why didn't he slap back? Because he is a celebrity? 

Would you miss him as he won't be part of the show anymore?

I will miss him, but he has got his own journey and I wish him all the best. In his place, Nikhil (Chinappa) has come, who is a very dear friend of mine and old colleague with whom I have been working for past 14 years.