Sidharth Bhardwaj Makes a Comeback to Reality Television with The 50
After a prolonged absence from the reality television scene, actor and television personality Sidharth Bhardwaj has announced his return with the upcoming show The 50. Known for his appearances in popular series like Splitsvilla 2 and Bigg Boss 5, Sidharth revealed that the unique and chaotic format of the new show drew him back to the genre.
Why The 50 Attracted Sidharth Back to Reality TV
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Sidharth Bhardwaj explained his decision to join The 50. He stated, "After a long absence from reality TV, I chose The 50 format because I think it's very different. It's never been done in India. It sounds very chaotic and sounds very fun. I thrive in chaos, so that's one of the biggest reasons I chose this."
He further elaborated that the show incorporates elements reminiscent of his past experiences. "So it sounds similar to Bigg Boss. I've done Splitsvilla, where alliances were very important, so it sounds similar to that. So that's one of the reasons."
Reflections on His Reality TV Journey and Lessons Learned
Sidharth Bhardwaj reflected on his extensive reality television career, considering himself among the rare contestants who have participated in Bigg Boss, Splitsvilla, and Roadies during their most raw and unfiltered eras. He believes these experiences have imparted valuable life lessons.
"I am one of those rare contestants who faced Bigg Boss, Splitsvilla, and Roadies in their most raw era, and I feel that it helped me understand that no matter what the situation is in a reality show, one must keep calm and try to understand what the situation demands rather than following the herd mentality and going and fighting," he shared.
He added, "So that's what it's helped me with, because I've also made my mistakes and I've learned from my mistakes."
Reasons for the Long Hiatus from Reality Shows
Sidharth Bhardwaj also opened up about why he stayed away from reality television for years after Bigg Boss 5, with only a brief stint on Fear Factor in between. He cited the lack of projects that matched or exceeded the scale of his previous shows as a primary factor.
"Yeah, after Bigg Boss 5, I didn't do a lot of reality shows, but I also did Fear Factor. So one of the main reasons was that there was nothing comparatively as big or bigger than all the shows I've done. And I didn't want to do something way smaller. And you know, we are contestants over there, so that was one of the reasons," he explained.
Focus on Acting and Avoiding Typecasting
Simultaneously, Sidharth made a conscious decision to shift his focus towards acting, exploring opportunities in web series and films. He expressed a desire to avoid being typecast by participating in too many reality shows.
"And as an actor, I wanted to, you know, kind of do web series and movies and whatnot. So that was also another reason, because once you start doing too many reality shows, you get typecast. So it was also a conscious decision in a way," said Sidharth.
Thoughts on Meme Culture and Viral Moments
The conversation also touched upon the viral clip featuring former Bigg Boss 5 contestant Pooja Misra and Sonali Nagrani, where the line "Pooja, what is this behaviour" became a popular meme. Sidharth shared his perspective on today's meme culture.
"Today's meme culture can pick up anything and turn it into a meme. That doesn't really bother me. I don't really think too much about the shows I've already done, because as a professional, you do something and you move forward," he remarked.
With his return to reality television in The 50, Sidharth Bhardwaj is poised to bring his experience and unique approach to the chaotic format, marking an exciting new chapter in his career.
