I’m old enough to own up for my decisions: Ranvir Shorey

Actor Ranvir Shorey, known for his no-holds-barred attitude, is one the senior contestants on ‘Bigg Boss OTT’ Season 3. The actor, who has been part of many successful films, chose to do the reality show since his son is going to be on vacation for a month. Before entering the ‘Bigg Boss’ house, he spoke to Adgully at length about his decision to do the show, and much more.

What made you say yes to the show? 

I get a call from ‘Bigg Boss’ every year, but I am either not able to do it or not in the frame of mind to do it. This year, what was special was that my son is going for his summer holidays with his mother for a month to the US. So, I had no other major work, and I thought it fit well right now in my life. Second reason was I very badly needed a detox from screens, because nowadays everything is just a screen. I was just tired to death scrolling on social media. I thought it would be healthy for me to just not have that in my life for one and a half months. So basically, this is the mindset that I’m going in with. I am hoping to get something out of ‘Bigg Boss’; and not just ‘Bigg Boss’ getting something out of me!

This time, instead of Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor will be hosting the show. Does it make you nervous as at the end of week you will have to face him?

If Salman sir was there, I would have been happy, because I have worked with him before. I think that could have worked in my favour as a contestant. But Anil sir is a legend, a very charming person. He has great energy, is very vibrant. He brings a certain youthfulness. I am quite excited to interact with him. I am hoping he will also cut me some slack. The biggest challenge in the house at times is limited food ration.

How are you going to deal with difficult situations in the house?

As I said, limited food will be a challenge, that is something I am already aware of. But I am hoping that they will not starve us to death, but give us the basic 2000 calories that we need to live. I am hoping that that is up to the ‘Bigg Boss’ team. I am sure they are not calling us to kill us!

Some of the tasks are quite demanding in the show. How do you plan to handle them?

I am not going to shave my eyebrows off, but eating chilli, I can maybe think about that if it is going to feed everyone. I am willing to make sacrifices, but to a point, after which my system will just shut down.

Are you prepared to be out of touch with the outside world? 

Yes, that is one of the reasons why I’m signing up for ‘Bigg Boss’, because my son is not there for a month and a half. So, that is one pressure off me. I am looking forward to the detox of not having a phone or screen. Both these things are not there, so I am not worried about it. I think it puts me in a place of advantage as far as the contestants go, because I am not going in there to miss my phone. I am not going in there and feel ‘Oh, somebody I love is waiting for me’. My brothers, anyway, live in the US. I have informed them that my son is away in the US with his mother for a month. So, I am pretty carefree anyway for the next month and a half. I might as well go and enjoy the house.

What will be your strategy inside the house?

My strategy is to keep myself busy doing the household work, doing some exercises. I can use this time to physically heal myself. That is, if we get enough food, I have some old injuries and all, which I can do some yoga and work on. So basically, from what I have seen in life, if you are occupied physically, a lot of your problems go away. So, that is the strategy.

There are various reasons that push a person to lose their calm in the show. Have you thought about how you are going to manage that?

I am actually a very impatient and uncool person myself. So, that will be a challenge for me, to keep my temper in check. But the good thing is that I am not going under any pressure. I am hoping that will help me stay calm. I have my own mindset and I’m hoping that I will be able to help others with that also – that we are here for one and a half months. ‘Chill. Madi, watch, see’.

How did your family and friends react when they came to know that you will be part of ‘Bigg Boss’?

I think my family and friends all had this thought that I am going to do what I got to do. I am old enough now to own up for my own decisions and my choices post this show.

At times the situation in the house affects your mental health. How are you planning to manage it? 

Obviously, it is a stressful environment because you are cut off from the outside world. And more importantly, because you are in the same enclosed space with the same set of people for so long. So, it is mentally straining. I am aware of that; it will be a discovery for me also to see how I react to that.