EXCLUSIVE: ‘Puneet Issar is national embarrassment!’ – says Bigg Boss 6 contestant Imam Siddiqui

If anything that terrified us during ‘Bigg Boss Season 6’, it was Imam Siddiqui’s eccentric behaviour. He might have wanted to entertain us but his antics scared people out of their wits. But nevertheless, many (well, more than many) loved him for the daily dose of ‘entertainment’ he provided us with. Imam Siddiqui, after his show ‘Time Out’, is debuting in Bollywood along with Rohit Khurana in ‘Hotel Beautifool’. In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla.com, Imam spilled many beans about Bigg Boss, how he was pursued for this reality show, his role in film and more. Read on to find out:

What is your opinion about this season’s contestants?

Getting into the Bigg Boss show takes a lot of courage, confidence and conviction. I’m sure all married, divorced or separated individuals will be able to relate with what contestants endure in that house. It is bizarre. It is a jungle out there, where the ones who’ve earned their stripes rule and every individual inadvertently exposes their true selves, animal instinct, especially the men folk fighting for territorial rights as the Alpha Male, and now females as well. The most entertaining contestants are always the most controversial. I love Gautam, Diandra and Karishma. I like Minissha, Soni and Sonali. I hate the wannabe Ali and UpIn Pataao (Upen Patel). Puneet Issar is a national embarrassment, so is Sushi (Sushant).

How were you roped in for Bigg Boss Season 6?

My relationship with Endemol began with the first season of Bigg Boss over eight years ago. Over the years Endemol pursued me to come on board as a celebrity contestant for the show. They called me for season 5 and I had to decline as that time I hosting Style Addict for UTV STARS.

In March 2012, when I was called for season 6, I was assured that the show would not be as vile and violent as the earlier seasons. He went on to clarify that season 6 was rescheduled for the prestigious 9 pm family-time slot meant for wholesome family entertainment. I wanted my mother’s consent and finally she gave me the go ahead.

I was then ready to take on the challenge of season 6 from the time they launched. I still cannot fathom why they had me on ‘stand-by’ mode and decided to bring me as a wild card instead of presenting me from day 1.

The real reason I went to Bigg Boss was to enhance my public profile. Bigg Boss always presents the contestants with a back story. I wanted my story to be told. Sadly that was not to be. They sent me in as a wild card without providing the audience sufficient information about who I was and what had been my contribution in society and the industry. The rest as they say is history.

You were at one point shown the doors from Bigg Boss for your misbehavior. Tell us about your experience and chemistry with Salman Khan.

There’s a saying that I subscribe to ‘A wise man will create more opportunity than he finds’. Right from my entry into BB6 I had promised Salman Khan that I was going to play the game and was going to provide entertainment and I did with my sarcasm and wit.
Here I’d like to state for the record that I was never kicked out as alleged but left on my own free will. Of course the channel and their PR machinery went into overdrive trying to justify my untimely exit hence all the banal reportage about the same. If I was evicted, why the hell did they bring me back in the first place?

Anyways try as hard as they may, I have the life skills and the professional expertise of managing my own career rather successfully and would like to avail of this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to Salman Khan. A lot has changed since BB6. My fan base along my career has gone through the stratosphere.

How has Bigg Boss changed your life?

I guarantee you that no Kapoor, Kumar, Khanna or Khan regardless of their Bollywood pedigree has won as many accolades as I have. At the risk of sounding a tad immodest I have had hardcore Sallu fans telling me that they ONLY watched the show because of me. Poetic Justice?

How did ‘Hotel Beautifool’ happen?

I was National Director Talent and Casting at Lowe Lintas. It was here that I successfully recruited, some of the biggest names in Bollywood today. I had cast Preity Zinta for Liril and Shah Rukh Khan for Clinic. Sameer Iqbal Patel was also cast by me. Interestingly Sameer has since become a big name in theatre and done several shows of a popular play titled 'Baat Baat Mein Bigdey Haalat' which the film 'Hotel Beautifool' is adapted from.

Tell us about your role in the film.

I play an eccentric inspector who is inspired by nature, loves all animals and birds. He can be calm as Lake Placid and hyper like a turbulent sea. He is one of the most interesting characters in the film and I'm sure this character will be the surprise package in the film.

How do you feel about your Bollywood debut?

I must have done some good Karma that I went for Bigg Boss and that gave me popularity. I am thrilled that I have signed three films already. My next film is titled ‘Nark-The Hell’, produced by Pooja Bhatt and debutante director Shagufta Rafique, which I am equally excited about cause I get to play a diabolical villain. In another film titled 'Boy in Bollywood', I am doing a cameo and is produced and directed by Mudassar and Farah Aziz.

‘Hotel Beautifool’ also marks the bollywood debut of TV actor Rohit Khurrana and it stars comedian Johnny Lever. How was it working with them?

We are all blessed for the team we have, especially my fantastic co stars that I share screen space with are the most wonderful people. A very special mention of my co stars Rajith Menon and Rohit Khurana. Johnny Lever is the funniest man alive.

Apparently you had turned down a role in ‘Happy New Year’. Why?

The reason I turned down Farah Khan for HNY is simple...Not a challenging role and certainly not enough remuneration. I was approached by Farah Khan, but she was paying a paltry pittance.

How did ‘Time Out’ happen?

Viacom18 and Colors was very keen to have me on any and every show including 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa' and 'Khatron ke Khiladi', along with a promise from Endemol, to cast me for the international 'Celebrity Big Brother' in the UK and US. I would have been delighted to either anchor or judge the shows but they wanted me as a contestant hence I had no choice but to say no. Considering the people on the judges’ panel were some whom I had groomed and taught dancing, how was I ever going to go back in front of them as a meager contestant?

The team suggested that I meet the head honchos at MTV. They offered me Roadies. I turned them down. I walked off in huff leaving the meeting half way. They called me back and offered me my own signature show Time Out With Imam.

After Hotel Beautifool, what’s next? TV or Bollywood?

I’m an ideas man and am currently consulting on four very prestigious global projects. The first is a film that I have written titled The ‘Bhagwan Of Bollywood’ which is currently in the screen play stage. The ‘4C’ (Culture, Cuisine, Cinema and Couture) project which is a peace initiative between four countries of the Indian sub continent namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka highlighting each country’s inherently indigenous ethnic culture through their food, films and fashion.