'Bigg Boss 19': Gaurav Khanna says ‘I have really worked hard,’ dismissing claims of winning the show easily owing to his fame alone

After winning ‘Bigg Boss 19,’ Gaurav Khanna has found himself at the centre of online chatter. Some people were even claiming his victory came easy because of fame. The actor has now addressed these assumptions head-on. He has made it clear that his journey has been built on demonstrated effort, not shortcuts.In a recent chat with Faridoon Shahryar, Gaurav dismissed the notion that popularity handed him the win. He said, “People say I won because I am famous, but I have really worked hard. Twenty years of hard work is no mean feat. I have not been a Colors face for the last 15 years. My last show on Colors TV was Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam with Yami Gautam, which aired in 2010.” He further added, “So, if in 2025 people still think I am a Colors face after doing just one show with them 15 years ago, I must be really great then. There are no free lunches; I won’t just win a show because of my pedigree or body of work, I also have to perform well in it.”Speaking about his mindset inside Bigg Boss 19, Gaurav shared that competition was never his primary focus. He entered the house prepared for criticism and targeting, but chose to stay grounded.“I never went there to compete with others. I wanted to become a better person,” he said, adding that the show rewards clarity and emotional intelligence if played smartly.The last episode of ‘Bigg Boss 19’ aired on December 7, 2025. Gaurav Khanna won the show, taking home the trophy and a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh. Farrhana Bhatt finished as the first runner-up, and Pranit More ended up as the third runner-up. Tanya Mittal and Amaal Mallik were also the finalists.Meanwhile, on the work front, Gaurav shared, while speaking to the Screen in an interview, that he is looking forward to working again with Rajan Shahi. Said the ‘Aupamaa’ maker has promised to offer him something different. Also, he was offered a film by Salman Khan, which is keeping the actor excited.