Nikki Tamboli, a well-known face in the world of reality television, has never shied away from speaking her mind. Recently, she opened up about her much-discussed equation with actor Gaurav Khanna, which often made news during their time together on Celebrity MasterChef. The cooking-based reality show wasn’t just about recipes and presentations; it also brought plenty of drama and unspoken tensions between contestants. And one such dynamic that caught everyone’s attention was Nikki and Gaurav’s frequent clashes.
In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, Nikki offered clarity on what actually went on between them. She began by teasingly asking, “Should I call him a man or a guy?” with a laugh, but quickly clarified that she had no personal grudge against him, adding that Gaurav was a “nice guy.”
However, when it came to their relationship, Nikki made her stance very clear. She shared that she isn’t friends with him, explaining, “Honestly, I’m not his friend because I don’t allow many people in my space. At once, I’ll allow my enemies to enter my space, but I will not allow such a person who just portrays to have a different personality.”
Despite their differences, Nikki admitted she respected Gaurav and learned some valuable life lessons from him during their time on the show. Their bond, though, was far from smooth. Nikki revealed that most of their friction stemmed from her side, as she has little tolerance for things that don’t sit right with her.
What many didn’t see were the moments behind the camera. Nikki hinted that the reality show environment is different off-screen, and contestants experience a lot that never reaches the audience. Speaking about how Gaurav was perceived inside the house, Nikki revealed, “Only contestants know what goes on behind the camera, only contestants know. No contestant has ever spoken about it on camera. But I know. Gaurav was called a ‘crybaby’ of the show.”
“We are not friends. Whenever he needs me in his life, I’m always there for him because that’s the love I have for everybody,” she shared.
Interestingly, Gaurav had reportedly mentioned in an interview that they were friends. Responding to this, Nikki explained she doesn’t form friendships just because she shared screen space with someone. “You can take a stand for everyone and can be helpful towards anyone. But you can’t allow everyone in your life and call them your friend,” she asserted.
She further elaborated that if someone sees her as a friend, they should reflect on their own actions first. Nikki pointed out, “You can’t hurt a friend. You can fool around with them, but you cannot hurt them.”
When asked about the reason behind referring to Gaurav as ‘a guy’ instead of ‘a man,’ Nikki recounted one particular episode from Celebrity MasterChef where they had an intense argument. She claimed Gaurav tried to dominate the situation, which didn’t sit well with her. Nikki said there were several incidents like that which the cameras didn’t capture, making it difficult for audiences to fully understand the tension between them.
In the end, Nikki acknowledged that she can’t pretend or be fake, whether it’s on-screen or off. Her honest take on the situation shed light on how reality shows often have unseen layers and how personal dynamics behind the scenes can be vastly different from what viewers witness.
