MUMBAI: Imam A Siddique is one of the most renowned and popular names in the entertainment industry. He rose to fame with his stint in Bigg Boss 6 and emerged as the first runner-up of the show.
Whenever the news of ex-contestants crops up, the first person that the audiences want to see is Imam, as he had entertained them and they really loved his game in the BB house.
Team TellyChakkar got in touch with Imam and asked him a few questions on the current season and whether we will get to see him back in the Bigg Boss house. Read on.
( ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 14: Reality Show or Reality Soap? )
Q1) Are you watching Bigg Boss 14? What is your take on this season and the fact that ex-contestants had to be called?
I'm a diehard Bigg Boss loyalist and shall always remain indebted with insurmountable gratitude to the Endemol Shine India and Viacom / ColorsTV teams for granting me the biggest and best professional opportunity of my career.
I watch the show 24 × 7 since it is now available Uncut, Unedited, Unseen, and Undekha on a live stream on 'Voot'. Last year, the show had 1 billion hits on digital media. This year, however, the show lacks the spark of earlier seasons, which is why a lot of viewers are disappointed.
Calling ex-contestants is always a good idea because each ex-contestant who is invited back has their own 'brand identity' and adds a refreshingly new dynamic to the game. They add a much-needed colourful flavour and texture to the Bigg Boss bouquet of interesting personalities.
Q2) There are some speculations doing the rounds that you might be entering the house as a challenger. If yes, then what would be your game plan?
Work is worship. 'Seva' is both my 'karma' and my 'dharma'. I'm an artist, I live to 'express' and not to impress. Having said that, I'm always in a 'get, set, go' attitude and mood when it comes to Bigg Boss because I love to entertain and that is my way of doing 'seva'.
Given the current Covid19 pandemic situation, there's a lot of anxiety, boredom, confusion, and depression amongst the public. I solemnly profess to alleviate [even if temporarily] all of the above and 'emotionally engage' the audience unlike ever before, armed with a new 'repertoire of skills' including acting, mimicry, comedy, and 'ventriloquism' to provide paisa pasool entertainment 24 × 7.
Picture this. I'm in the house, smiling cheek to cheek and speaking without moving my lips, giving the viewers a live commentary of the goings on. It has never been done on BB, and believe you me, it will be historical and send the audience into bouts of hysterical laughter. As the good doctor prescribed, 'Laughter is the best medicine'.
As a graduate from the 'University of Hard Knocks', I'm a 'nuclear reactor' based on my professional experience on 'the stage of life'. I totally understand and appreciate that the 'acid test' and 'best barometer' is the audience's immediate response.
Hence, I create interesting situations, which are quote-unquote 'entertaining' not only for the housemates and audience but much more importantly for the 'on-set crew'. The unseen cameramen, sound and light crew, and other technicians, who monitor us from behind the 'one-way mirror’ in my opinion are the 'real stars' of the show.
I do everything I can to inspire and motivate them to want to come back to work and have the the pleasure of watching my antics 'live'. Shooting a show like Bigg Boss can be a rather dull and boring assignment for the crew because normally, all they end up watching is the constant bickering and bitching being done by the contestants behind each other's backs.
I act, create all the possible comedy and drama, dance, and sing to engage my audience, in this case, the 'crew'. If they find me interesting (read entertaining) to watch, then surely, they will talk about me and the happenings in the house with the other crew members namely the show creatives, directors, editors, and producers. It's human nature to talk about things that are interesting.
As an Indian artist, I subscribe to the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam Universal Human Family, cause I believe 'metaphysically speaking' we are all Mirror Neurons of each other. I always strive to highlight our rich Indian classical artistic culture with a contemporary & modern interpretation especially Natya Shastra The traditional Indian Science of Dramatic Arts & Navrasa The nine emotions of dramatic expression.
Keeping that in mind, I serve them the best entertainment that they cannot even imagine possible within the confines of the Bigg Boss house. As customary, all the crew get together for tea breaks and lunch.
This is where I think they discuss me with their colleagues, and my job as an entertainer and India centric content provider is done successfully. I've had the creative directors and editors of Bigg Boss 6 share some amazing feedback, and I quote verbatim: This man was the show.
Q3) As a contestant of Bigg Boss, what was your biggest challenge you faced in the house to survive and become a finalist?
By nature, I'm a free spirit. Hence, I live alone, and the biggest challenge for me is to voluntarily surrender my freedom and accept the challenge of living in a confined space with unknown people for an indefinite amount of time.
That is and will always be the biggest challenge. People are okay. I can handle just about anyone because I speak to a CEO and a jamadaar in the same respectful tone and manner, unless they do something to provoke me unnecessarily, in which case I become 'Bigg Boss ka baap'.
Q4) Your fans miss watching you on screen. When would they see you back on screen?
Bigg Boss 6 was live streaming on Facebook globally. I've had calls from Alaska in North America to Auckland in New Zealand and from Beijing in the East to Bogota and Buenos Aires is the West.
I'd like to express my humble gratitude to each and every one of them who watched me live on FB, the show on Colors TV, and the reruns on Rishtey. As a matter of fact, some of my BB6 videos have in the last two weeks alone garnered more than 1 million views on Josh App.
The dreaded word 'EMI' has a positive affirmation for me cause it is 'Entertain / Educate, Motivate, and Inspire'. I remind them 'Picture abhi baaki hein mere bhaiyon aurbbehnon'.
Q5) Who is your favourite contestant from the Bigg Boss house in the current season?
Every industry has a unique demand and challenges. By virtue of the fact that 'reality TV' is a new genre, I don't think most Bollywood folks have wrapped their heads around this idea yet.
This is why they keep trying to fictionalize reality and hence fail miserably. I am not entirely impressed with the cast this season because they are all small-time TV actors who are doing what they know best, which is to act.
I don't see them being real at all. We watch BB for entertainment, and sadly, that is what I find lacking this season...authenticity and entertainment.
Q6) This season, food and ration are available in the house, but in your season, there were tasks where gas and water supply were off and one had to stay in such a difficult situation. Your comment?
Any reality show is an endurance test and can bring out either the best or the worst in a human being. In BB 6, they deprived us of basic essentials like food, water, electricity, etc. But we managed successfully. I dread to imagine what this lot of contestants would do in a similar situation.
Q7) What would your advice be to the contestants on how to control their anger and take extreme steps like physical violence in the house?
I'm the last person to give any unsolicited advice. However, my only suggestion to myself and any reality TV aspirant is "Keep it real" and "Don't take yourself too seriously." Enjoy the once in a lifetime experience. Maximise and monetize the opportunity to platinumize your professional branding. Violence of any kind is unacceptable. Period! Good riddance to the violent vermins.
Q8) What is your take on Salman Khan as a host? Everyone says that no can host the show like him.
By virtue of Mr Salman Khan's persona both on and off-screen, I believe he is the best host and no one can ever replace him. The show runs on his name alone.
09) If you enter the Bigg Boss house, which contestant from the current season who would you like to school or guide in the game?
I'd love to teach all these incompetent idiots the first lesson in life, which is to be your authentic self and stop 'acting' mahaan on camera. It's a competition, not a charity. I've designed a few really innovative and entertaining tasks like Bootcamp Bollywood, Bigg Boss Has Got Talent, Justice Imam, and Rewind Fast Forward.
Q10) Whenever news comes out of the makers calling back any ex-contestant on the show, the first name that the fans scream is Imam, so what do you think is that one quality of yours that the audiences loved in BB6?
Every society and industry needs educated professionals, and it is their primary responsibility to bring that information, experience, expertise, and knowledge back to the grassroot communities so that the lives they are leading make sense. I believe people enjoy those that are real and entertaining. I think that's why I'm loved worldwide.
Q11) Everyone is questioning the format of the show this season, as evicted contestants are coming back, which was never the case before. What is your take on this?
I believe the creatives have exhausted all their formulas, which is they keep bringing back non-performers. Instead, they should call me so that I can go back and be third time lucky, score a hattrick, and win BB14.
Well, we hope to see Imam in the house as he would definitely change the game and up the entertainment quotient.
What do you think?
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( ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 14: Reality Show or Reality Soap? )
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