Nikki Tamboli rejected The 50 when she was first approached for Farah Khan‘s reality show. The actor, who will now appear on the show alongside her boyfriend Arbaz Patel, admitted she was unsure about the format and the level of competition involved.
Ahead of the show’s premiere, Nikki opened up about why she said NO at first, what convinced her later and why The 50 feels different from other reality shows she has done.
Why Nikki Tamboli Rejected The 50 At First
Nikki revealed that she had no clarity about the show’s concept when the offer came in. At the same time, she was dealing with health issues and did not feel ready to commit.
She said, “When I didn’t know the concept, I said no to this show. I was approached for the show in November when Arbaz came out of Rise And Fall. I was suffering from dengue. Since I had no idea what it was, I said I don’t want to do this show.”
Even when the makers requested a meeting, Nikki was reluctant and asked Arbaz to go instead.
DON'T MISS
She added, “They said – Come once, have a meeting at Endemol’s office. I told them Arbaz would come, and he’d do the meeting because I was not interested.”
Her hesitation also came from the scale of the show. With 50 contestants, Nikki feared that competition could quickly turn into rivalry.
She explained, “The 50 means 50 contestants. I didn’t want to come because, for me, competition se zyada dushmani ho jati hai show me. Mein kisi ko competitor maanti hi nahi hoon. Rivalry itni ho jaati hai kya hi competition maanoo kisi ko.”
What Finally Changed Nikki Tamboli’s Decision
Despite rejecting the offer initially, Nikki said the fan-focused format of the show changed her mind. Unlike regular reality shows, The 50 allows fans to benefit directly from the winnings.
She shared, “It’s a payback to the fans. Jo bhi paisa aap kamaane wale ho, aapke fans ko milega.”
She also revealed a major highlight – a fan can win Rs 50 lakh. “There’s a chance of a fan winning Rs 50 lakh. The only reason I did Marathi Bigg Boss (Season 5) was my fans, but I couldn’t give them anything. Here I am getting that chance.”
Coming from a non-film background, Nikki said the show felt like the right opportunity to give back. “I am from a non-filmy background… accepting it, appreciating it, criticising the haters – all of that is thanks to my fans. This is the only reason I have done this show.”
Nikki Tamboli And Arbaz Patel’s Game Plan On The 50
Although Nikki Tamboli and Arbaz Patel are entering the show as a couple, she made it clear that their strategies will be very different. She said, “He can do anything for the game, but I can’t do anything for the game… For me, a reality show has to be real.”
She also promised viewers a mix of romance, rivalry, and strong emotions. “I’m a strong individual player. But when Arbaz and I come together, it’s going to be something the audience has never seen before.”
When asked if she would ever see Arbaz as competition, Nikki was firm. “Never. I will quit the show if Arbaz is ever in front of me.”
Meanwhile, The 50 will stream on JioHotstar from February 1 at 9 pm and will air on Colors TV at 10:30 pm.
