01 January,2026 06:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Gaurav Khanna
Television actor Gaurav Khanna was declared the winner of Bigg Boss 19, which came to an end on December 7. While supporters celebrated their favorite's victory, a few of his competitors asserted that he was able to win because of his reputation and lineage. Because he is Colors TV's face, some even thought he had won. But Gaurav has now responded to these allegations.
In a chat with Faridoon, Gaurav Khanna reacted to the allegations of being Colors face and winning Bigg Boss 19. He said, "People say I won because I am famous, but I have really worked hard. Twenty years of hard work is no mean feat. I have not been a Colors face for the last 15 years. My last show on Colors TV was Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam with Yami Gautam, which aired in 2010. So, if in 2025 people still think I am a Colors face after doing just one show with them 15 years ago, I must be really great then. There are no free lunches; I won't just win a show because of my pedigree or body of work, I also have to perform well in it."
Gaurav Khanna further shared how Bigg Boss 19 became a learning experience for him, "I never went there to compete with others. Being a part of television for so many years, I know people will target you on Bigg Boss, they will shame you, defame you, and try to pull you down. But my entire aim was to become a better person. My life has been the sum of my choices. Bigg Boss is a very intelligent game if you play it intelligently. I kept that in mind from day one; I wasn't there to please those 15-16 people."
One of the rare contestants in Bigg Boss history to win the competition without getting into pointless altercations or fierce rivalries was Gaurav. Salman Khan initially chastised him for playing on the back foot and not being particularly noticeable in the home. But after the fourth week, Gaurav started to voice his thoughts more forcefully and was astute enough to keep his relationships with other people intact. The actor eventually made it to the top two and defeated Farrhana Bhatt to win the prize. Additionally, he won the cash reward of Rs 50 lakh.
