28 July,2026 04:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Mini Mathur and Nikhil Chinapa (Picture via Special Arrangement)
As Alliance inches closer to its grand finale, the competition has become more intense than ever. The latest episode saw Nikhil Chinapa and Delbar Arya bid goodbye to the reality show. In an exclusive conversation with mid-day after his eviction, Nikhil reflected on life inside the house, his deep bond with Mini Mathur, an unforgettable incident from their MTV days, and why he fears she could become the next target.
Describing the experience of living inside the Alliance house, Nikhil admitted that it often became difficult to separate the game from reality. "Even I had to remind myself ever so often that it was just a game," he said.
He revealed that contestants had no access to phones, television or the outside world. "It was a very controlled environment and it became your reality. We'd wake up and we wouldn't know what time it was," he shared, before recalling a hilarious incident involving Sohail Khan. "There was one morning, I woke up, brushed my teeth, made myself some lime and hot water while Sohail made his protein shake. He said he was going to the gym and I told him I'd join him. Then the speakers announced, 'Can you both rest? It's only 3 o'clock.' We had both woken up at 3 am thinking it was morning. We burst out laughing and ended up working out from 3 am till 5 am."
Speaking about his friendship with Mini Mathur, Nikhil said the two entered the show with an unspoken promise to support one another. "We just knew that we had each other's back. Whatever that meant, because we didn't know in what situations we would need to have each other's back."
He recalled protecting Mini during the game, saying, "I had Mini's back in the last week where I had to make sure that I get her off that list because I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. She got off the list. I couldn't. I got kicked out."
Nikhil described Mini as his "guardian angel" inside the house, adding that their friendship wasn't a strategy. "People had doubts about me and Mini was always the calming force saying, 'Nikhil is not like that.' She was like my guardian angel throughout the show."
He also revealed that despite working together during their MTV days, they rarely spent time together because they shot on different schedules. However, one memory stayed with him for over two decades. "I can go back 24 years and feel what I felt when Mini told us she was going to be a mom. There was this outpouring of warmth and happiness."
Nikhil then shared a shocking incident from that event. "As we were walking after the show, some guy from the audience tried to grab Mini. I saw it happen and in half a second I leapt over the barricade like Spider-Man and punched the guy in the face. That feeling of protectiveness has never gone away. We've lived different lives for 24 years, but after reconnecting on Alliance, I feel the exact same protective instinct towards her."
With the finale around the corner, Nikhil admitted he is worried for Mini's journey. "I worry for Mini. If she makes it through this week, I think she's a strong contender to win, but I worry she's going to be the target because I'm not there to watch her back."
While he believes Mini is more than capable of handling herself, he added, "Not having me on the show frees up her brain. She doesn't have to worry about me anymore, but I still think she's going to be a target."
Sharing his predictions, Nikhil named Mini, Ruhi, Aly and Arsalan among the strongest contenders for the Alliance trophy, while adding that Agu also has an outside chance provided he isn't betrayed by those he considers his allies.
