No Issues In My Marriage: Ankita Lokhande

Actress Ankita Lokhande has opened up about her tumultuous journey in 'Bigg Boss'. She had stayed in the house for 107 days.

Despite her strong fan base rooting for her to win the trophy, her unexpected exit in the fourth position left many in shock. In an exclusive interview with Oneindia, Ankita candidly discussed the toll the show took on her mental health and personal life.

"It was not worth it, you know, I just felt people were forcefully raising questions on my relationships, my family, that hurt me most. You can win or lose but your family becomes a scapegoat, it's not at all healthy. It caused me mental anguish and the stress of it has got to me."

With fans rooting for her to win in the show, her eviction in the fourth spot came as a shock for many. As images of her teary and crumpled face were splashed across social media, Ankita says she was disappointed at not losing but being evicted the way she was.

"When was I evicted I was shocked, I was not upset as such after it was a game, but I didn't deserve being evicted on the 4th spot, " she adds.

The 39-year-old actress reveals the first thing she did after returning from the 'Bigg Boss' was to hug and make up with her husband Vicky Jain. The couple's constant spats and arguments became fodder for tabloids.

Her mother-in-law accused her of bringing a bad name to their family, and her husband and she even discussed a potential split.

"It's not nice when people question your marriage, but I guess we were on a platform and behaved otherwise which made them question us partners. But, at the end of the day what matters to me is our bond, which at the end of the day is so strong, that despite being through what we did, we are together. The foundation of our relationship is unshakeable. Post 'Bigg Boss' we realised we are made for each other and are meant to be, nothing and no one can come between us," she said.

However, she defends her husband, saying more than her he was the one who bore the brunt of the allegations. "Had I behaved otherwise he would not have gone through what he did. I know what we are to each other. People's perceptions change every day and I cannot base my relationship on other people's opinions."

She does confess that her stay in 'Bigg Boss' though for a lark was a life lesson.
"I went in for a lark, thought it would be fun. I realised am too sensitive about things and an emotional person which came across clearly. But in retrospect whatever happened there like everything in my life was a learning and then moved on. But, I should not have reacted and learnt to let go of things. Every word there was misconstrued and so were my reactions"

She describes fellow contestant Mannara as boastful, Munnawar as calm and Abhishek Kumar as an over-excited individual. She divulges that it was her husband's sensitivity which was a discovery. "He was understanding and patient with me, despite my misbehaviour in the show, I respect him for that. We both made mistakes, but he took the brunt for mine as well."

Though she confesses she needs to go in for counselling after being through all that she has been through.

Post 'Bigg Boss', she will be next seen in Randeep Hooda's directorial debut 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' a biopic on freedom fighter Veer Savarkar in which sees Hooda plays the titular character.

"I am very excited to see myself on the big screen, for an actor nothing brings more joy than work. I am back and now meeting people and reading scripts. I need to work for balance in my life," she says further adding she wants to break away from the image of her TV show 'Pavitra Rishta' which remains a point of recall for people.