Kunickaa Sadanand has worn many hats over the years, from actor and lawyer to being a strong voice for causes close to her heart. Last weekend, she stepped into the ‘Bigg Boss 19’ house, a move that she admitted has come rather late in her career but at a time when she finally feels ready for it.
However, in the first week, the actor has managed to make an impact for both good and bad with her leadership skills, motherly personality, and strong words.
In an exclusive chat with India Today, the actor opened up about participating in ‘Bigg Boss’, sharing, “I was not ready for it earlier. I also don’t know about other reality shows because I definitely cannot do a ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’. But yeah, it’s a new phase in my life and I am very excited about it. I also want to be back in the entertainment industry while I keep fighting for causes in my advocacy.”
She assured that on the show, what viewers will see of her will be nothing but her authentic self. And while is often volatile, and contestants frequently push limits. Kunickaa, however, is firm about where she would draw the line. The actor said she would be firm with the housemates and would not hesitate to reprimand them if needed. She emphasised that she would not allow anyone to insult another and would do her best to prevent such behaviour. For her, discipline in the house is essential, especially since everyone is living together and sharing responsibilities.
The ‘Bigg Boss 19’ contestant added that she is equally unbothered about trolls or housemates who may try to age-shame her, something that has been seen in previous seasons. “I confidently tell everyone my age; I don’t live in a delusion. Age-shame has no meaning, and everyone wants to grow old. People should grow old and become like me,” she said with a laugh.
Although she has not been an ardent follower of ‘Bigg Boss’, Kunickaa Sadanand admitted to having caught glimpses of the show over the years. She mentioned Rubina Dilaik, whom she admired for her style and for how she stood up for herself. She also liked Nikki Tamboli and Shehnaaz Gill, calling the latter “really cute.” She recalled watching a season where Anup Jalota, a dear friend, was part of the show, and another featuring Rahul Roy.
Interestingly, she chose not to reach out to any former contestants for advice, as she believes everyone has a different journey. She added that ‘Bigg Boss’ doesn’t require a formula since every contestant brings a unique personality. According to her, one simply has to be authentic and real, and the real game lies in how long one can sustain themselves. “You have to see to what extent you won’t be manipulated,” she added.
Her long-standing association with Salman Khan, having worked with him in films like ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, ‘Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’, ‘Chandramukhi’ and ‘Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar’, naturally raises the question of whether this camaraderie could work in her favour on the show. Kunickaa dismissed the thought immediately.
She said, “Salman Khan being biased in his job? Salman, whom I call Khan Saab, and I have done four films together, but the last time I saw him was way back in 2006. We haven’t really been in touch, although I did participate in a few TV debates around him, but he never questioned me.”
“I think he is a very fair person, and instead, I am actually worried about how it would all transpire. And honestly, the game is about audience votes, so my fans would have to do the hard job. But I must add, Salman is great at his work, and I love watching ‘Weekend Ka Vaar’ for him. Nobody can be in his shoes, ever,” Kunickaa added.
On a final note, she discussed how she is taking this platform as a chance to reach out to an audience that may not have followed her earlier work. She explained that whenever one enters the media, they step into the limelight, and one project automatically leads to another. She acknowledged having a loyal fan following across all age groups, which has widened thanks to social media, but said ‘Bigg Boss’ helps connect with far more people, “almost 150 to 100 times.”