Akanksha and I are happily together as a couple: Gaurav Khanna

Gaurav Khanna got a resounding welcome on his first visit to his hometown Kanpur after winning Bigg Boss season 19. During his The four-day visit to the city, the Anupamaa actor met his friends and relatives and feasted on his favourite dishes from the city. Gaurav also visited his alma mater while in Kanpur. “I really don’t know where these four days went. My friends, relative, neighbours and teachers, everyone wanted to meet me which was very overwhelming,” said the actor when we met up with him during a party he had hosted for his loved ones. “Yeh Kanpur ka pyaar hai jo mujhe yahan baar-baar lata hai. Kanpur meri janam bhoomi hai aur Mumbai meri karm bhoomi. Dono hi jagah mujhe bahut pyaar mitla hai,” said Gaurav, who also won MasterChef India. “Kanpur has played an important role in making me what I am today,” he said.

He added, “Whether it’s me entering the acting industry or winning reality shows like Bigg Boss or MasterChef India, the experiences I gained in Kanpur helped me in putting my best. I come from a corporate background, and I had no professional training of acting, but I took acting as a challenge and proved myself. Kanpur ke log bahut jujharu (hardworking) hote hain aur main bhi aisa hi hoon,” said Gaurav.

Khanna says he was offered Bigg Boss while he was doing Anupamaa. “During the show I always declined the offer for Bigg Boss. But after that I accepted the offer. Jab mere colleagues ko pata chala toh woh bolo yeh kya kar rahe ho? They thought it was a huge risk I was taking by participating in BB, while my acting career was going good. But I thought when the offer is coming to me repeatedly, then it is destined for me and I should give it a try, ” he said.

In the initial days of the show, Gaurav was trolled for not being his original self and instead putting on a show for the audience. “In the beginning people said I was not showcasing my real side and I was acting but it was not like that. Before entering the house, I was very clear about winning the show and the hearts of the viewers and I stayed true to my resolve. Lakhon-karodon log iss show ko dekhte hain aur unko lagta hai ki koi set pattern hai jisse yeh reality show jeeta jaa sakta hai but that is not the case. I was clear that I will repect everyone and not indulge in derogatory practices or conversations. I never made muddas that were not there. Similarly, I never body shamed any of the participant nor I did I ever use abusive language,” said Gaurav.

About his controversy with influencer Tanya Mittal, who participated with him in Bigg Boss, Gaurav, said, “Everyone has his own style of playing the game. I am no one to comment on their style. I stuck to my goal and played the game the way I wanted. There was also a news that I mimicked her at an event in Dubai but let me be clear it that it was the part of the event activity where I was supposed to mimic her and there was nothing serious about it,” he clarified.

After getting success in tele serial Anupamaa and winning Bigg Boss and MasterChef India, Gaurav wants to try his luck in OTT. “Television is my house and it has given me a lot but after doing serials and reality shows, I would like to do OTT projects. Salman sir also said that he wants to work with me and I am sure that he is man of words and whatever he says he does it,” said Gaurav.

After a recent cryptic note on social media by his wife Akanksha Chamola, people speculated that Gaurav and Akanksha are heading towards separation. Clearing the air, Gaurav said nothing could be further from the truth. “I don’t understand where does such news come from? I feel it’s the work of keyboard warriors who don’t even try to get details from the person about whom they are writing. The cryptic note by Akanksha was part of publicity for her upcoming web series and people took it as if we were heading towards seperation. We are happily together as a couple. Akanksha is getting back to acting and I support her totally in whatever she wants to do. We respect each other feelings and will always do. There is no truth to any specualtions!”