Exclusive - Nach Baliye 9 host Waluscha De Sousa on body shaming: I got rejected because I was not skinny enough

Host Waluscha De Sousa has been adding glamour and enjoying her first ever reality stint on television. Bringing in her style game, Waluscha is also getting her comic timings right with the help of the funniest co-host Maniesh Paul. In an exclusive candid chat with TimesofIndia.com, the 35-year-old model and actress gave an insight about her TV stint, chemistry between the Nach Baliye jodis and also her struggling time from the modelling days. Read more. By: Sukarna Mondal

Everyday is a new experience. It’s a joyride with Maniesh Paul. We have kind of struck a comfortable bond and space on the stage. He is very helpful and goes out of his way to help me with punches and pronounce words. On-stage or off-stage, he is very humorous. It’s a great bond that we have established and now we have fun while delivering lines. I look forward to going on stage. Photo: Instagram

We don’t forget lines as such. We discuss what we are going to do once on stage. Maniesh and I have reached a point where he understands that if I am not reacting or saying anything, he takes it forward on the stage. We have established that vibe. He leads the stage because he is so good at what he does. Photo: Instagram

Previously I had hosted a celebrity cricket show. I had fun hosting it. I realised my flair for it. Though this is completely a different platform, it was a great opportunity that I couldn’t miss. The language and audience is different and it was a challenge for me. I took my chances and it has paid off. Photo: Instagram

This year Nach Baliye is catering to ex-couples and current jodis. So from the exes, I really like Natasa-Aly. They are very cute. They may be in denial but there is a strong chemistry and a beautiful bond between them. I like Faisal and Muskaan. The way they are in sync it’s like they are in each other’s mind always. Faisal is a big name and Muskaan being a non-dancer, it’s really enjoyable to watch them together. I also liked Urvashi-Anuj. Urvashi is a firecracker and the way they have fought the vote-out round every week is commendable. She is a fighter. Photo: Instagram

Re-enactment has never happened. Technically, if there has been a malfunction from the production’s side and that too only during the first few seconds of the act, only then they have allowed. But they have not allowed couples to re-enact. I have watched all the performances. So that has never happened. Coming back to Urvashi and Anuj’s eviction, it all depends on votes. A lot has got to do with fan base and they kept coming in the bottom. With Vishal-Madhurima, it was a tough fight. Both their acts were very good. The judges took around 20 mins to go and re watch and then take a call. It wasn’t an easy decision and every week one couple has to go. It’s sportsmanship. You need to accept it and move on. Photo: Instagram

I come from a fashion background. I know the colours, silhouette and the styles that work for me. I am very clear in my head. I do brief my stylists and tell them the colours and styles I am looking for. They know the dresses I will do justice to. And I will never wear something in which I am not comfortable. Photo: Instagram

Gwen Stefani is my style icon. Like her style, I try to strike a balance between glamour and strong fashion statement. Sometimes, I wear a lehenga for a traditional theme and sometimes I wear a statement gown with a strong ponytail. Photo: Instagram

There was a time when everybody wanted to be a ‘size zero’ and I never was one. There were times when I was told, ‘You can’t get into this dress because it’s for a model who’s thinner’. I have been through that phase where I got rejected because I was not skinniest. It doesn’t feel good. We are all in beautiful shape and one has to accept them. We can be of any size we want to be, but one needs to be healthy. We have designers and stylists to cater to every body type. A woman is beautiful in every shape and I love the fact that they are embracing it and also flaunting themselves in a bikini. No one is to stop us. Photo: Instagram

I wish I had a magic wand and not work this hard but a lot goes into staying fit. I stay away from dairy, sugar and wheat. These are the three main things which I avoid. It’s a conscious effort. These three things are not good for any body. I only believe in staying healthy. I also stay away from all food which comes in a packet and are processed. Also, I realised that my body responds to pilates and I have been doing it for 10 years. I can’t do intense cardio. For me, cardio means walking. Photo: Instagram

I have huge admiration for all the television stars. It’s inspiring to see them working for endless hours and doing it happily. I have heard that TV actors work for long hours and get 1 or 2 days off in a month, I am now seeing them what a tough job they have. A few of them are also managing their shows apart from doing Nach. It’s very inspiring. Photo: Instagram

I am quite sure about them. There is so much hatred between them. There are a lot of issues unaddressed between them. As a couple they tend to be aggressive, violent and they hate each other with lot of passion. It also shows that they have loved each other so passionately that they couldn’t address the issues between them. They really have some strong feelings for each other. Photo: Instagram

I am just surprised to see Alam and Rohit. For Rohit, I still understand that he has been married to Anita and know the norms of a celebrity. But what’s Alam’s excuse? He has just met Shraddha and now on stage dancing with her giving some flawless performances. They are such fabulous dancers despite being a non-dancer. I go up to them after every act and ask them, ‘Tell me you are lying and you know how to dance.’ Even Prince! He said from the very beginning that he doesn’t know how to dance and only doing it for Yuvika. Each couple is playing to their strength and the trust between them. Photo: Instagram