Actor Abhishek Bajaj has worn many hats in his journey so far, moving from television commercials to daily soaps, films and reality television. He describes his career as one built on honesty and hard work. He made his Bollywood debut with Student of the Year 2 and went on to do films such as Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Babli Bouncer and more. He also has a lot of television shows to his name such as Hitler Didi, Santoshi Maa, Silsila Pyaar Ka and Jubilee Talkies.
Known as ‘Sherdil’ by fans, Bajaj says that discipline has played a big role in shaping the confidence he carries today. While many people feel he has already achieved a lot, the actor believes there is still much more for him to explore.
The love he commands from viewers was evident during his stint on Bigg Boss 19, where his eviction sparked strong reactions from fans who felt the decision was unfair. Bajaj, however, prefers to see the brighter side of the moment, focusing on the support he received from audiences.
In this conversation, he talks about his journey, life after Bigg Boss, his bond with fellow contestant Ashnoor Kaur, and the lessons he learned from the show’s host, Salman Khan. Excerpts:
You started with commercials, then moved on to TV, films and reality shows. How do you look back at this journey?
I have been honest in my craft and have always been disciplined. I have never rushed into things. That’s how I’ve been in my journey. Looking back, I would say I have been a good learner. I started with TV commercials, then I did shows, films and explored reality shows. All that has happened gradually, and my hard work, discipline and my honesty towards my craft got me here.
Fitness plays a big part in your life. How has that shaped the way you prepare for roles?
Fitness has always been a part of my life, not just my career. I have been into fitness since the age of 12. I started playing cricket and football and practising martial arts. Being fit has always given me confidence. If you notice that a person is fit, you will appreciate them. Being a sports person, I know how to play as a team, how to lead and how to make impromptu decisions. My instincts have always been very sharp. That has played a really good role in my career.
After your Bigg Boss journey, what were some of the things that you thought people got right about you and something they got wrong?
People loved my honesty and my dedication towards the game. They also appreciated how I was as a person and started calling me ‘Sherdil’. People loved my loyalty, my friendships and realised I am a man of action, not just words.
When I was evicted, I was trending at number five worldwide for three consecutive days. There were millions of tweets about me. That was really overwhelming. People came up to me crying because I got evicted. I bonded with the audience and shared all my emotions with them. I know nobody is perfect. Imperfection is the perfect thing a person can have, and I really don’t seek people’s validation. I always focus on the positive side.
What was your immediate reaction when the results came out?
I was shocked. Because even before that, these people were against us – Ashnoor and me. They wanted us to part ways when we were in the game. I played with all my emotions and didn’t keep anything undercover. I wanted to connect with the audience and show them who the real Abhishek Bajaj was. And somehow I had a feeling I was going strong and could have won the trophy. But when the eviction happened, it put a full stop to all the efforts and hard work.
It was disheartening for sure. You feel bad because you did everything well. But at the same time, you move on and do not hold grudges. I don’t put victory on my head, and I don’t put the defeat on my heart. Once I’m done, I just move on. It was a game, and I just moved on to better things. That’s how I deal with it.
I have always said since childhood that, ‘Saabke dil o pe karega raaj, Abhishek Bajaj’, and when I left, I knew I had won people’s hearts.
Who were some of your biggest support systems?
Two people- myself and Ashnoor. I knew that I could trust her blindly and she’d be there for me.
Talk to us about Ashnoor and your bond…
It has always been organic. Sometimes, some things happen all of a sudden. She was a comfort. And it’s growing day by day. We are getting to know each other with every passing day. It’s a pure friendship.
What were your major learnings from Salman Khan?
He told me that I have to fight alone. Not everyone will be my friend. But if I call someone a friend, I mean it. If there are ups and downs, it’s okay. It’s not my lookout. It’s the other person’s lookout. I move forward. I don’t put so much emphasis on things. And that’s what I learned from him. And I always said that whenever things are in other people’s hands, they won’t let me win. Whenever I fight for myself, I will win. That’s what happened in the game as well.
Did anyone from the industry reach out to you after the show?
Tiger Bhai (Tiger Shroff) and Ayushmann Khurrana told me that I was very good. Tiger also said that I was fantastic in the show. Siddhanth Chaturvedi also said that I was killing it in the show. He enjoyed my journey and told me that he didn’t miss even a single episode of the show. I was very happy that people acknowledged my efforts.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
Whatever has happened, happened for a reason. And that has made my journey beautiful. I don’t have any regrets.
Coming to films, what are some of the genres you would love to experiment with?
I look forward towards films because that has been my first love. I want to explore new genres. I would love to do period drama and action comedy. In directors, I would love to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I want him to remake Brad Pitt’s Troy, where I’d play the lead part.
What message do you want to leave for your fans who have supported you in this journey?
The love they have shown towards me was overwhelming. I could have never imagined such love. We are now emotionally bonded. They have made me a part of their family. I want them to keep loving me. And I really love them.
Also Read: Exclusive: Abhishek Bajaj talks about wrapping up Madhur Bhandarkar’s ’Babli Bouncer’
