Rajneesh Duggal, winner of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 5, tells D Kaushik that the show was more about mind control than physical strength
Seems Rajneesh Duggal can never go wrong with anything to do with fear. He made his Bollywood debut with a horror film 1920 and went on to do others with titles like Dangerous Ishq and Be Careful and his reality show stint, too, proved to be lucky. He is the winner of Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 5. Excited he was, but totally drained, when he spoke to us. “I have been a tough guy but last few months have been as much about mental strength as the physical one. When I decided to do the show I knew that you have to play smart. It is not just about show of courage and strength but about approaching the act smartly and with a strategy,” said the actor, who believes that his persistence and positive outlook helped him win the show. “I have always been a person who doesn’t give up easily. There were strong contenders on the show and each had a fair chance to win, but I wasn’t governed by the sense of competition. I took up each task as a challenge to my own self and kept telling that there’s no way I can not do this,” he said.
When he was approached for the show, Rajneesh’s only apprehension was that he might be asked to eat worms or any other such thing as a task. “I am not scared of heights or doing underwater stunts but being a vegetarian I could not have performed tasks where I had to eat something crawly creepers. So that was my only concern before agreeing to do the show. But then I was told that nothing of the sort will be a part of this season. I was the last person to be signed up for the show and I didn’t get time to prepare myself physically for the stunts but fortunately I have always been exercising and I think that was a big help throughout,” he said.
For Rajneesh, it was his first chance at a reality show and “it was all good, though initially it was tough to get used to eight camera around you always.” If he will be doing any more such shows in the future or now, depends on the nature of show he will be offered. “This was something that I enjoy. I was following all the previous seasons of Fear Factor and I knew that it is a platform that will allow me an opportunity to challenge my physical and mental strength. I have emerged stronger and bolder after doing this show,” he said.
Music, he added, was the only stress buster he had while he was on the show. “You need patience to tackle the pressure that comes with such shows. Then music was a big help. I listen to all kinds of music since childhood. So while I was on the show I relied on my music collection to lift my soul, whenever required,” said Rajneesh.