Arjun Kapoor talks to Sangeeta Yadav about his experience hosting Khatron Ke Khiladi and his upcoming movie Ki and Ka
Was it really a tough decision to say yes to Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 7IJ
There was no negative thought or dilemma, only excitement when I got this offer. When Colors came to me, they had a very clear picture of what they wanted and why they chose me. looking at their confidence was very heartening and an added incentive.
Did you feel any pressure of living up to the show’s standardIJ
There was no pressure. I never put myself in comparison with Akshay Kumar or Rohit Shetty. Both have been here for decades and have done some great work. Regardless of all that, the line-up and content are so strong that it has done continuously well regardless of who the judge was.
How difficult is this season from the previous onesIJ
The difficulty quotient is very high and it gave a lot of peeda to the contestants. I’ve added some twists. Every stunt is designed in a way that could fail any strategy. Just when you feel you understood the stunt, I introduced a new twist. Because of my filmy keeda, we exploited that and brought some elements of that as well.
What was the biggest challenge for youIJ
More than doing stunts by myself, the biggest challenge was to host the show. I am used to playing a character on screen, it was challenging to be myself in front of the camera 24X7. I had to keep up my energy level, be spirited, encourage the contestants others and understand what’s going on in every stunt. You have to be spontaneous, treat each person as per their personality and merit. Also to spend a 20-episode journey with 12 people whom you don’t know. And still make it your own by the end of it is a challenge.
Tell us about the contestants and your bonding with themIJ
They went through a lot of physical and mental stress than I did. I was giving them a daily dose of peeda and creating an environment with my filmy keeda. You empathise with these people because you know that they have come with so much of determination, putting themselves through challenges and fighting their fears. I connected with them as a friend. As a host, I reminded them that they have got this opportunity to face all their fear and come out stronger.
What is the biggest fear in your lifeIJ
I’ve always had a fear of giving up. Thankfully I’ve never done that. I hope that I don’t become that person who walks away and gives up on a fight. I’ve had my share of challenges and I’ve risen to the occasion whenever needed.
You’ve lost so much of weight when you made your debut in Bollywood. How are you maintaining yourselfIJ
I owe to my profession and I’ve to keep making an effort even if I don’t want to. It’s not about building six pack abs but about being physically active and having that confidence to take on a lot of challenges physically, mentally and emotionally. To be able to focus and channel your energy, you’ve to give yourself at least half an hour for your physical and mental well-being. I would like to believe that when I’ll have children, I should be fit enough to go and play with them. I wouldn’t want to be a father who sits and watches them play.
What you took back from the showIJ
It was a very fulfilling experience as I discovered a lot of myself as well. I believed that I had it in me. I feel very proud and happy that I chose to take on this challenge.
How is your film Ki and Ka different from your previous films IJ
I play a stay-at-home husband who decides not to run the rat race with a 9 am to 5 pm job. He wants to make good memories. The wife, on the other hand, is ambitious. The movie deals with today’s generation’s view on work, marriage and society’s take on ‘tu ladki thhodi na hai jo ghar pe baithega’ or ‘tu ladka thhodi na hai jo bahar jake kaam karegi’. It’s a typical R Balki film.