Mujhse Shaadi Karoge’s Aanchal Khurana: The show was a joke as everyone knew what’s going on in Paras and Shehnaz’ life

Anchal Khurana entered reality show Mujhse Shaadi Karoge on March 9 as a wild-card entrant and ended up winning the show. She managed to woo Paras Chhabra but instead of rejoicing her win, Aanchal was busy doing the rounds of hospitals. After being hospitalised for severe gastritis in Mumbai, the actress flew to her hometown Delhi. There she had to make rounds of several hospitals following an attack by stray dogs. In a chat with BT, she talks about her tryst with hospitals, her equation with Paras and her stint on 'MSK'. (By: Neha Maheshwri)

I didn’t get the time to celebrate because I was doing the rounds of hospitals. I was hospitalised in Mumbai on the very night the shoot wrapped up (March 17) abruptly in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The next evening, I left for Delhi and on March 19, I went to a hospital for further medication.

During the hospital round my pet dog was with me, when suddenly, three stray dogs attacked him. When I tried to save him, they attacked me as well. Thankfully, some people came to my rescue. I immediately went to get an anti-rabies shot, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was not available in most hospitals. I had to run from pillar to post to get the shots, but I am better now.

I feel that it was a wrong decision to come up with a show like this immediately after 'Bigg Boss', because we saw two strong connections — between Shehnaaz and Sidharth, and Mahira and Paras. The makers just picked one contestant each from the two pairs and made a show on them.

I think that didn’t work, because the audience would have liked to see the four of them together and their chemistry. I know Paras ki life mein kya chal raha hai and Shehnaaz is totally into Sidharth. So, it was more of a joke for everyone. Sabko pata tha wahaan kisi ki shaadi nahi honi hai.

I also assumed him to be in a relationship with Mahira, but he told me, ‘Mahira is a very good friend’. While he wasn’t too sure of getting married, he was open to an engagement on the show. ‘Kisi se achha connection bann jaata hai toh why not?’ These were his exact words. We needed more time to know each other better. You don’t get married on a lark. After going inside, I told Paras that if not him, I would want to meet someone else, date that person and eventually get married. I don’t want to get into anything frivolous. I went with a clear mind that if I get along with Paras, we will date for six months and get engaged.

It was all about making a genuine connection even if it didn’t materialise into anything bigger. I was real, more mature, practical and honest than others. I didn’t suck up to Paras to win the show. Even he acknowledged that I was the only girl who came with the purpose of settling down. The others just faked it with an intention to win the show. However, I don’t see a future with him. I didn’t get enough time with him and also, we friend-zoned each other. We are better off as friends.

I am shocked, because we spoke on the phone half an hour before he unfollowed me the first time. Maybe, Mahira doesn’t approve of his friendship with me (shrugs). That’s okay. People tend to be possessive of each other when in a relationship. Though he didn’t say it openly, it was quite evident that there was something more than just friendship between him and Mahira. It’s just that they haven’t accepted it yet.