Anup Jalota reveals he was shocked when Salman Khan welcomed Jasleen Matharu as his ‘romantic’ partner on Bigg Boss 12: 'I never spoke to her after the show'

Singer and musician Anup Jalota recently revisited the media frenzy that surrounded his appearance on 'Bigg Boss 12' alongside actress and singer Jasleen Matharu. The duo sparked widespread speculation after they entered the show as an apparent romantic couple, and their notable age difference also stirred discussions online. The singer has now revealed how Jasleen’s father convinced him to participate in the show. He was shocked when she introduced him as her love interest during the programme.

Anup Jalota was initially hesitant to appear on the show with Jasleen Matharu
In an interview with The Lallantop, Jalota opened up about how it all began and how he managed the unexpected storm that followed. He firmly reiterated that their association was never romantic but rather a musical mentorship. He shared that she used to sing well and attended his music classes around five or six times. During that time, she told him that she had been selected for Bigg Boss, and Anup wished her all the best.


Anup was shocked when Salman welcomed her as Jasleen’s partner


Jalota disclosed that he initially declined Jasleen’s proposal to join the reality show with her, but her father played a key role in changing his mind. “However, there was a condition that you could only enter the show as a ‘weird pair’ that season. I suggested she take Sukhwinder ji, but she told me he had declined. Even I said no—I didn’t have time, as there were so many concerts. Her father came and convinced me. I said yes, but only on one condition—that we would go as guru and shishya (mentor and student)—and she agreed,” he explained.

Things took a shocking turn when the show’s narrative adopted a romantic angle, one that even Jalota had not anticipated. He recalled the surprising moment on stage with host Salman Khan. When he entered, Salman welcomed Jasleen as his partner. He told Salman that she was his student, but Jasleen told the Tiger 3 actor that she had been in a relationship with him for three years. Jalota was stunned and wondered whether they did not even know such a basic fact.


The singer suspected it might have been orchestrated for dramatic effect. “I was shocked, but I thought this might be part of the game. Kisi ne toh use yeh padhaaya hoga bolne ke liye. When we were going inside, I asked her about it. Main samajh gaya tha isse kuch game banta hai, ya toh Bigg Boss waalon ne bola hoga, usse ek afwaah uthti hai. I never confronted her. Main samajh gaya tha ki peeche koi khel hua hai, shayad uska use koi faayda hi hoga, and she benefitted,” he added.

He learned about the media uproar surrounding his association with Jasleen after his exit from the show. Upon discovering the controversy through a friend, he decided to clear the air by holding a press conference with Jasleen’s father, confident that dispelling baseless rumours would be easy since there was no truth to them.

Anup did not speak to Jasleen after the show

“We told them that both of us had decided we would perform the kanyadaan at Jasleen’s wedding. Ab sawaal konsa rahega poochhne waala? The matter ended there. The doubts disappeared because no one ever saw us together at any parties, watching films, performing on stage, or going on holiday. Everything slowly faded away. Even today, after Bigg Boss, I have never spoken to her. I only speak to her father occasionally,” he concluded.