Dhamaal actor Ashish Chowdhry was crowned the winner of the stunt-based Indian reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi – Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns, a Colors TV programme that tested the physical and mental strength of 14 celebrities over a 10-week journey across Cape Town, South Africa.
Besides the trophy, Chowdhry took home 250,000 rupees (Dh14,700) and a Mahindra Scorpio car.
The 36-year-old decided to participate in the endurance show when his twin daughters – Salara and Sammah – were only 15 days old.
“I’ve always loved having children. I think the girls have been lucky for me as I left them when they were 15 days old and I think it was their luck which worked as a magic for me,” said Chowdhry, who also has a son, Agasthya. Chowdhry and his wife also look after his late sister’s children Kanishk and Ananya.
“I’m happy that I settled down young and then I became a young father. I enjoy the fact that it makes me a more responsible and hardworking human being because when you are single you can always takes on things easy. It can only do you good when you have a family like mine,” he said.
"You really have to prepare yourself mentally to stand in a show like this because they make you go through many medical tests before you sign it. It's special for someone like me as I've faced big problems in my life, but still I found out the way to enjoy it, so my dream is fulfilled with Khatron Ke Khiladi."
He says that while “it’s great that I won it”, winning wasn’t his top priority.
“I was only trying to enjoy all the stunts and making the most from my time over there. It was the best experience of my life.”
Hosted by filmmaker Rohit Shetty, the show saw celebrity participants including actors Hussain Kuwajerwala, Harshad Arora, Sana Khan, Rasami Desai, Asha Negi, Ridhi Dogra and Nandish Sandhu, the multifaceted Meiyang Chang, Kabaddi star Rakesh Kumar, reality show star Siddharth Bharadwaj, dancer Salman Yusuff Khan and dancer Nathalia Kaur.
For the grand finale, the four finalists were asked to blow up a car in a stunt named after the Chennai Express director.
Chowdhry and Chang were announced as the winner of the first stunt and went on to compete in the final stunt, titled The Final Blast, which Choudhry won.
• The sixth season of India's Got Talent replaces Khatron Ke Khiladi - Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns and will be broadcast on April 18 on Colors TV. India's Got Talent is judged by filmmaker Karan Johar and actors Kirron Kher and Malaika Arora Khan.
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