Actor-musician Armaan Khera may not have dominated the game on Alliance, but he insists he walked away with something far more valuable than screen time. The actor says the reality show changed the way he looks at relationships, people and life itself.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Armaan admitted he wishes viewers had got to see more of his fun-loving side instead of the politics that eventually overshadowed his journey. He also revealed that there was a point on the show when he “almost felt depressed”.
Describing Alliance as a memorable experience, Armaan said, “It was an experience of a child going to a new playground for the first time, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was very happy and I am glad that I did this.”
While many viewers felt he barely made an impact on the reality show, Armaan believes that was because his journey didn’t revolve around strategy and politics.
He added, “I feel like not much of me was shown on the show and that’s primarily because I wasn’t involved in the political situation of Alliance. I was more involved in having fun, enjoying myself and creating lifelong memories, which I wish the audience could see someday.”
One contestant who has consistently been accused by viewers of . However, Armaan dismissed the perception.
“No, I don’t think he is running the show. I think he is just one of the pieces on the chessboard that is being highlighted because of the way he is conducting his behaviour,” he said, adding that there are many masterminds on the show.
Having watched the episodes after stepping out, the actor admitted there are things he would do differently if given another chance. “Yes, I would. I would be more vocal about my opinions, especially when it comes to standing up for what is right. Secondly, I would want to go back because I really want to play with Vansh again,” the actor said with a smile.
Despite the betrayals and shifting equations inside the headquarters, the The Ba**ds of Bollywood actor insists he isn’t carrying any bitterness. In fact, he shared that he misses his friends, especially Niti Taylor, the most after leaving the show.
“I want to meet everyone. There is nobody I have anything against. I love everybody and I also don’t believe they have any idea about how much I love them. I am happy and I have nothing against anyone. I would love to see you all for a party,” Armaan added.
More than the competition, Armaan further shared that the Alliance gave him a lesson that he plans to carry for the rest of his life.
He said, “Everyone is running towards a goal in this race, in this human race we have. Everyone is running towards something and, a lot of the time, people’s decisions change and they get influenced because of the path they have chosen towards their goal.”
“And so, in Alliance, just like in life, a lot of people became close to me and also went away. But I could understand that maybe there is something that doesn’t align with me and the game, and that is fine. Things don’t align sometimes, and it is okay,” the actor went on.
Armaan added that the experience has made him softer and more appreciative of the people around him. He said, “I have learned to become more forgiving and I have learned to value people more. I have learned to value the people in my life more now after the show than before.
“I am noticing the small things that people do, people that I love, and how much I missed that and how much I cherish that. So, I am taking a very, very big life lesson with me and the show has changed my life. I think it is fair to say,” the actor concluded.
However, his journey wasn’t without emotional lows. Armaan admitted that the politics inside the headquarters eventually began affecting his mental state.
The experience was not without its emotional challenges, as Armaan admitted that the internal politics of the headquarters eventually took a toll on his mental well-being. “The lowest moment was feeling like the political setup within the headquarters was going to get in the way of me staying and playing for six weeks,” he said, emphasising that he viewed the environment as a threat to his goals of enjoying himself, earning money, and building relationships.
Concluding his thoughts, the actor noted that realising his positive intentions clashed with the prevailing system left him deeply disheartened. “When I felt like my intentions were probably not the best fit for this setup, that is when I started feeling very low and I almost felt depressed one of the days,” he added.