20 August,2026 08:14 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kushal Tandon (Pic/Special Arrangements)
Kushal Tandon has been in the spotlight for his candid and vocal personality on Kunal Kemmu-hosted Alliance. In an exclusive chat with Mid-day, he opened up about how Ektaa Kapoor motivated him to step into the reality space. He also reflected on his bond with Sohail Khan, clarified Shreya Kalra's DM claim and reacted to being called arrogant.
Kushal Tandon began his journey as a model and was the first runner-up at the Grasim Mr. India contest, after which he ventured into acting.
Recalling his early days, Kushal said, "I was signed by director Raj Kanwar, so I had a three-film deal. But that didn't work out. I then started with Siddharth P Malhotra, who was a friend of mine, and began with Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai. Of course, I gained a lot of popularity from my first show."
Kushal was a part of Bigg Boss 7 in 2013 and emerged as one of the most talked-about contestants. When asked if he regretted doing the reality show early in his career, he said, "Yes, I think I was very naive when I was 27, and I shouldn't have stepped into reality television at that time. I just wanted to finish the show. It was a hit show, and I was getting good money. I could have met Salman Bhai on a show and was just figuring out my life and what was next. I took it like that. I think I shouldn't have gone at that time."
Talking about his stint on Alliance, Kushal Tandon said, "Ektaa Kapoor asked me very graciously if I could pick Alliance or Lock Upp. I chose Alliance, and she was kind enough to let me take that. I was the main character in a reality show. I have been vocal as a person. The whole house was against me at one point."
Talking about his bond with Sohail Khan and Zaid Darbar, Kushal Tandon said, "Bonding with Sohail Bhai is great. We do video calls and make plans for the farm. The party at his home was crazy. I really had a good conversation with a lot of people at Sohail Bhai's house, including his close ones, his family and Arbaaz Bhai. We had a video call with Arpita, and we also had a chat with Salman Bhai. It was all good. They all loved my game, and they all loved me as a personality. It was a great night."
Shreya Kalra claimed on the Netflix show Lock Upp that Shivangi Joshi doesn't like her because her ex-boyfriend, Kushal Tandon, once slipped into her DMs. Clarifying his stance, Kushal said, "I just met her. She did a promo with me, in which she had a passing shot saying bye-bye to me. I told her, âYou know, you can do much better.' She is claiming that Shivangi and I had a breakup because of her. I hadn't even met Shivangi in my life before we shot the promo for the show. But people get carried away and say things. Anyways, it's not a big deal."
Addressing the perception of him being arrogant, Kushal Tandon said, "If anybody has a problem with me, text me. If you don't have my number, you don't know me enough. But I am glad that on the show, everybody got to see the real me, through which people understood that I am not arrogant. My demeanour is just like that."
