09 December,2025 06:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Tanya Mittal
Tanya Mittal, the second runner-up of Bigg Boss 19, reflects on her experience and discusses the criticism she received. "People may disagree with me, but they cannot ignore me". Tanya, like the other contestants, claims that the show was difficult for her from the start, and there were times when she felt mentally exhausted.
While talking to HT City, Tanya Mittal reacted to being called fake throughout the season for her claims of having an extremely wealthy lifestyle. "I've always been straightforward about who I am. I come from a family where I've grown up with certain habits and comforts, and I don't see why that should be questioned," she explains. "If I choose to spend on myself or maintain a particular lifestyle, it's because I can. I work for it. That doesn't make me pretentious. If a 30-year-old is able to take care of her needs, desires, what's the issue with that?" says Tanya.
Tanya went on to share that her choices often invited unnecessary trolls and reactions from people around her. She revealed, "There's this assumption that if a woman does something slightly unconventional, it becomes a topic of debate. For example, people questioned why I spoke about having bodyguards. I don't think such things should be restricted to men or celebrities. If someone can afford security, it's their choice, simply a personal preference."
Despite the criticism, Tanya stays steadfast in her beliefs about her origins. "People often forget that what they see on a reality show does not represent the entire person. I was up in a highly sophisticated, grounded family, and I am proud of it. Whatever they observed inside the house was situational. It doesn't define my upbringing or values," she says.
She summarises her experience by saying, "I realise I can be too much for some people, but I've always lived on my own terms. "I don't believe in conforming to expectations just to appear acceptable."
While talking to Janta, Tanya even reacted to Gaurav Khanna lifting the trophy, she said, "I was too busy focusing on myself that I didn't see him winning. Jeet gaya kya GK? I think I have also won as I am sitting and talking to you guys."
