Salman Khan is a terrific host and has been doing a great job, says 'Bigg Boss 9' contestant Mandana Karimi

It was nearly a month ago that Mandana Karimi made her Bollywood debut, when she essayed a pivotal role in the Shivam Nair-directed thriller ‘Bhaag Jhonny’. Now, the Tehran born model-turned-actress has become the proverbial talk of the town courtesy her participation in ‘Bigg Boss 9’ and her crackling rapport with partner Keith.

In this interview, Karimi speaks exclusively to IBNLive.com about her decision to enter the show. Moreover, she also opens up about her upbringing and family.

What encouraged you to participate in ‘Bigg Boss 9’?

‘Bigg Boss’ is one of the biggest and most popular TV shows in the country. Moreover, it is quite unpredictable. One can never tell what is going to happen next. However, the most interesting aspect of ‘Bigg Boss’ is that one doesn’t have access to phones or any other means of communication once inside the house. As such, living there is quite a challenge. It requires one to bond with others and become part of a large family.

As a contestant, what are your expectations from the show?

As I do not know any of the other participants, I really don’t know what to expect. I am entering the house with no expectations. My only aim is to enjoy myself and make friends.

Have you watched any of the the previous seasons of the show? What is your take on host Salman Khan and his unique mannerisms?

Yes, I did watch the previous season and also a bit of the one before that. I feel Salman Khan is a terrific host. He has been doing a terrific job. Now that I am participating in the show, I hope to meet and interact with him every weekend. Moreover, I hope that he shares his experiences and knowledge with us. This will help us a lot in the long run.

Are you fluent in Hindi?

My mother is an Iranian while my father is an India. As such, I have had some exposure to Hindi and can understand the language reasonably well. But as I wasn’t brought up in India, I speak Hindi with a strong accent. That said and done, I think communicating within the house will not be major problem.

How was the experience of working in ‘Bhaag Jhonny’?

Shooting for ‘Bhaag Jhonny’ was a terrific and exciting experience. I learnt a lot of new things right from expressing myself to emoting. In a way, I feel that I am extremely lucky to have got such a good break at such an early stage.

How did your tryst with the glamour world begin?

Frankly speaking, I never really had a big plan in mind. I left home when I was 16 and have been travelling since then. After nearly four years I decided to become a model. In 2010, modelling brought me to India. And some years I decided to shift India permanently. Everything seems to have just fallen in place.

Which culture do you identify with more—Iranian or Indian?

I have lived so many different countries such as Iran, Singapore and Malayasia that in a way I am a mixture of different cultures. I have incorporated different traits for different places into my personality.

What type of a bond do you share with your family?

I am a family-oriented person. Moreover, I share a wonderful bond with my mother. However, when it comes to the career side of things, I am an independent person and take my own decisions.

Lastly what is philosophy for dealing with challenges in life?

During difficult times or bad experiences, I just pray and try to keep calm. Furthermore, I make it a point to think about things properly and avoid panicking.