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Rediff.com  » Movies » 'I participated in Khatron Ke Khiladi to win. Otherwise, it's no point'
This article was first published 9 years ago

'I participated in Khatron Ke Khiladi to win. Otherwise, it's no point'

May 26, 2014 15:32 IST

Image: Rajneesh Duggal with his winning trophy
Rajul Hegde/Rediff.com in Mumbai

'When you enter a competition, you have to win it.'

Rajneesh Duggal celebrates his big win on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 5.

Model-turned-actor Rajneesh Duggal has been declared the winner of the adventure reality show Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 5.

“Like every contestant, I under-estimated myself in the beginning," Duggal says. "There were strong contenders on the show and each had a fair chance to win.

“I wasn’t governed by a sense of competition. I took up each task as a challenge to myself. I kept telling myself that there’s no way I cannot do this.

“There were many ups and downs on the show. I accept that the down moments demotivated me but the idea was always to win. After a few episodes, I thought I could win the show," he said.

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'Stress levels are quite high and I didn't want stress to affect me'

Image: Rohit Shetty, Rajneesh Duggal, Ajay Devgn
Rajul Hegde/Rediff.com in Mumbai

The actor said KKK was not about the one final stunt; it was about motivating yourself mentally and physically every day.

Rajneesh said, “Stress levels are quite high and I didn't want stress to affect me. I was just keeping my calm.

“I have always been an athletic person. Since my school days in Delhi, I was very active in racing and won races.

“I participated in the Mr India contest and won. I came second in the Mr International contest.

“When you enter a competition, you have to win it. I was very clear, agar ghusna hai, toh jeetne ke liye (if you enter, it is to win), otherwise no point."

'My biggest fear was of lizards'

Image: Rajneesh Duggal
Rajul Hegde/Rediff.com in Mumbai

Did he conquer any fear he may have on the show?

“My biggest fear was of lizards. Now I can easily take it in my hand and leave it outside.”

The toughest stunt was with a fully grown crocodile.

“It was a deadly stunt. I was constantly worried that the crocodile will eat me alive and the crew would not be able to do anything,” he smiles.

“Another was the final stunt that had all the elements to scare us off; it had a cart, chopper and tractor. First we had the tractor pulling the cart while we were standing on it and then we were made to climb on the net which was attached to a chopper. It’s a superb stunt but physically draining. I managed to nail it while Niketan Dheer gave me tough competition.”

 

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'We shot the final task in the first week of March, but we weren't told the results'

Image: Rajneesh Duggal
Rajul Hegde/Rediff.com in Mumbai

He didn’t know he had won until later.

“We shot the final task in the first week of March, but we weren't told the results. We knew that either Niketan or I would be the winner, since our timings were better than Gurmeet’s.”

As soon as he got back, his four-year-old daughter Teeya asked him where the trophy was. “I told her that I had left it in the airport and have to collect it after two months. Good that I won the title,” he grins.

The winning trophy was handed over to him by superstar Ajay Devgn. Rajneesh also won a car and cash prize of Rs 25 lakh.

He will give the prize money to his wife Pallavi and the car to his father in Delhi.

“Jo Lakshmi hai who meri Lakshmi Pallavi ko jayegi. She is going to handle the finances. "

 

'Everybody called me Donald Duck because I used to talk like one'

Image: Rajneesh Duggal performs a stunt on Khatron Ke Khiladi
Rajul Hegde/Rediff.com in Mumbai

He forged strong bonds of friendship during on the show.

“There is a lot that I am taking back home with me that I have learnt. Niketan and Salman have become very good friends.

“Everybody called me Donald Duck because I used to talk like one. Actually, I did the voice-over for the Hindi Donald Duck when I was in school.”

Rajneesh says that he is looking forward to working in action films.

“I will start shooting for my film Direct Ishq Ho Gaya in Benares in mid-June. I have already completed Spark, which is an action film.

“I wanted to build an action image through this show and that has been achieved.

“I wouldn’t mind giving the voice-over for a kids’ show or do a comedy film or stand up comedy. I don’t know whether it will work for me,” he concludes.