Bigg Boss 19 Champion Gaurav Khanna Addresses 'Fixed Winner' Claims

Gaurav Khanna, the victor of Bigg Boss 19, celebrated his win on December 7, taking home a prize of ₹50 lakh and a new vehicle. Throughout the competition, Khanna maintained a steady pace, resisting the pressures of the reality show environment, despite facing accusations of being 'fake' and criticisms from fellow contestants.

In a recent interview with Times of India TV, he tackled the notion of being labelled a 'fixed winner'. He remarked, "I would simply say, Jai Shri Ram and hope that everyone continues to share kindness the same way. If someone believes I am a fixed winner, they are more than welcome to give their opinions. I know I’ve put in my full effort, and I usually don’t bother responding to anyone’s comments. I don’t mind trolls either; at least they are talking about me. If there’s no criticism, there’s no recognition, so I’m absolutely okay with it."

Khanna also addressed the allegations of insincerity from some of his co-contestants, stating, "It genuinely doesn’t affect me. I’ve done enough meaningful work to stand on solid ground. I’m aware that people will always have countless questions, but if I pause to respond to every single one, how will I move forward and accomplish bigger things? What truly matters is what the audience feels. If they were able to connect with my personality, then that means more than anything."

After three months of intense competition, Khanna was joined by his wife, Akanksha Chamola, and close friend, Mridul Tiwari, during the grand finale, where he was awarded the trophy.

The accusations of being a 'fixed winner' stem from his popularity in the entertainment industry. Khanna expressed that he does not feel the need to respond to critics, stating, "If they don’t like me, fair enough. I am not God’s gift to mankind that every person needs to like me. But I am happy that most people like me."

He further clarified that he did not engage in any underhanded tactics to secure votes, asserting, "I really believe that if you are real, then you will connect with people’s hearts. I don’t have so much money that I could even think of doing something like this. I think if one mother, a brother, a child or an elderly person liked me, then I touched their hearts and they voted for me."

Reflecting on his journey in the competition, he shared his belief in taking things one step at a time, likening the experience to a marathon rather than a sprint. Khanna stated, "Whenever I am on any show, I’d want to give my 100 per cent. I am a person who likes to believe that slow and steady wins the race."

Despite facing scepticism throughout his career, Khanna remains undeterred, recalling, "When I left Kanpur, people asked me what I was going to do there. I didn’t have any acquaintances. But I kept going. When I entered television, people said he is not an actor, how will he survive? But I kept going. When I came on reality shows, people said he is a popular face, it won’t work, but I kept going."

The runner-ups of Bigg Boss 19 were Farrhana Bhatt and Pranit More, who secured second and third places, respectively. Khanna's victory has reignited discussions surrounding the nature of reality television competitions and the perceptions of authenticity among contestants.