Exclusive – Bigg Boss 17’s Munawar Faruqui reacts to being called a ‘Fixed Winner’; says ‘Had I been that I would have got everything on a platter’ |

After three and a half months of tough competition, Bigg Boss 17 finally crowned Munawar Faruqui as its winner. The stand-up comedian‘s journey in the show has been a controversial one with him being labelled as womaniser in the show. However, Munawar denied any claims and accepted everything with an apology. After facing several ups and downs in his journey, Munawar is finally out of the show as a winner and his fans are rejoicing the occasion. He won Rs 50 lakhs and a brand new car. The stand-up comedian-turned-singer sat down with ETimes TV for an exclusive chat, addressing concerns about his image taking a hit, allegations of being a fixed winner, and rebuilding his image in the outside world. He also opened up about his son Mikhail and how he would want his son to learn from his mistakes and not repeat them.
On what was going into his mind during the winning moment and did he ever felt, the trophy might slip away from his hand
Pehle din se joh yakeen tha wohi aakhri din bhi tha… I went inside the Bigg Boss 17 house to win the show and not even for a second I forgot about my dream or goal. There were distractions and I felt I had to distract myself from the game and fix the problems. Puncture hai toh pehle aap ko gaadi theek karni hogi warna aap manzil tak nahi pahuchoge, I was ready to fix everything. The feeling and experience of winning the show is unreal, this victory and love that I have got is because of fans and almighty.
On his personal life and image taking a hit and the fear of repairing it
Yes. I am worried and tensed about how my personal life got because of the controversies. Tension, fikar hai, because I am facing questions which I am not aware of but I have to answer them. The tags that people are using against me are bothering me. But when you don’t defend, people mistake your silence for something else. Kahin Na Kahin waqt ke saath sab sahi se jawab doonga. First I need to fix myself and that I don’t end up hurting anyone, I want to make sure that I don’t hurt anyone while fixing things in my personal life. Shayad Mujhe ussi par kaam karna chahiye. Whatever happened inside the Bigg Boss house I’ve left it there now my focus will be to handle relations and things that I’ve made outside the show.

On allegations calling him a fixed winner
Yaar fixed winner ko itna sab go through karna pade toh it can’t be a fixed winner (If one has to go through so much scrutiny as a supposed ‘fixed winner,’ then it can’t truly be a fixed victory). If I would have been a fixed winner I would have got everything on a platter. Pura season gawah hai that I’ve got nothing on a platter, I’ve worked hard and a lot. My answer to people who are calling me a fixed winner is just sit and watch the entire season and you will realise that it wasn’t fixed. Having said that, people can have that feeling because when you have a strong fanbase, and you do such reality shows a lot of things are at stake and you lose a few things. To win things then you give it your best. Mujhe lagta hai ye pyaar hai logon ka and people who are calling me fixed winner I can’t change their opinion. Maybe before going to Bigg Boss I would have wanted to change perceptions but now I feel I can’t change everyone.
On fear of his son watching the episodes and learning about his mistakes
Yes, when things were said about me I was very worried about my son and what he would think about me. But now I want my son to see it and I want to tell me that I did this and this is wrong and please you never do this. Main nahi chahunga Tu aisa kare, this is not the right thing to do. I have realised this and aisi point par realise hua when I was totally devastated. If I have gone through maybe this is a lesson for many others but through me.
Who all will be Munawar’s friends
I will not cut off from anyone. I will be friends with everyone and the equation will be the same as it was in the Bigg Boss house, same percentage. I’m not that kind of person to fight over things I’ve always let go of people. Even if I get to know that people spoke behind me it will not change my perception because this was a game show and if someone has understood or misunderstood me due to the game, I can’t kill them for it. This was a competition and everyone was under pressure to perform. I can’t punish someone for it nor can I become somebody’s enemy. I will let it go and hug that person.
On people having problems with his smile while apologising and being remorseful
Yes, it was told to me that I smile while talking and this was pointed out to me. But I never realised it. This is my way of expressing things and I write a lot of shayari, stories, songs, and stand up because of my passion for writing. There is a patience in me that when I talk there is manners involved and I smile. But my intention has never been wrong and if someone says because I smile while I’m saying remorseful things, it is not impactful. I can’t stop laughing and become alert. It is natural and real.