Sidharth Shukla shot to fame overnight after his clean-sweep-win on Bigg Boss 13. Though he’s infamous for his short temper and crude mouth, there’s also no getting away from the fact that the actor did play a fair game, and went through the reality show displaying self-sufficiency and a staunch attitude towards the game. One of the handful of contestants who, at one point, had every other housemate against him, and yet managed to power through. Sid was loved for the way he always held his head high and kept his integrity intact.
If you followed the show closely, you’d know that Sidharth, more often than not, refrained from showing any signs of vulnerability, and though emotions might’ve got the better of him on the inside, he is a master in the art of concealing it. Whether it was the time he first fought with his friend-turned-foe Asim, or when host Salman Khan pulled an eviction prank, revealing Shehnaz Gill was to leave the house — Sid was clearly perturbed, but managed to keep a straight, poker face. It was almost as though he thought that by showing his true feelings, he’d be disclosing his weakness to the world; something that could give others an undue advantage over him.
Recently, speaking to Humans Of Bombay, a page on Instagram dedicated to telling intriguing stories of locals in the city, Sidharth opened up about his upbringing; leading us closer to believing that beneath all the aggression and charade, is a sensitive, solid man, sceptical to acknowledge his fragility.
Sidharth was raised by his mother, single-handedly
When Sidharth got candid about how he was raised by his widowed mother who never let her vulnerabilities show, it proved the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. He said, “When dad passed away 15 years ago, it felt like the umbrella over us had been taken away. But my mom was our rock–she never showed any signs of vulnerability. Despite our poor finances, she ran the house, looked after 3 kids & fulfilled all our demands! I know now that she must’ve had to sacrifice so much to give us what we wanted.”
While other kids hid things from their parents, Sid wanted to tell his mom everything
Speaking of how his bond with his mom developed to become so supremely strong, he said, “People know me as a man with a rough exterior. But I’ll always melt for my mom. Right from the time I was born, she’s been the most important person in my life. I was the youngest of 3 kids & too small to play with my sisters, so I was always around mom. Back when I was a toddler, I’d cry if I had to go a second without her–so even while making rotis, she’d hold me in one hand & the roller in another!”
“As I grew older, she became my best friend! Every time I came back home after playing, we’d talk about everything under the sun–while other kids were hiding things from their parents, I wanted to tell her all about my life! She’s taught me so much too–I was a naughty kid who’d get away with trouble. But when mom told me to always be honest, I immediately owned up to my mistakes,” he added.
The wind beneath his wings
Sidharth shared how his mom has played a pivotal role in helping him find his passion in life.
Reminiscing about the past, he said, “I used to act like the ‘cool guy’–so to ‘teach me a lesson’, she sent me for a modeling contest thinking I’d be put in my place! Funnily enough, I actually won! So, even on a subconscious level, she’s been a guiding force in my life.”
If you recall the episode of Bigg Boss 13, in which all the contestants had some family member of theirs enter the house, you’d probably remember that this was the very first time Sid shed a few tears, after he saw his mother and hugged her tightly. His mom, too, wept after seeing her son.
Speaking about his stint inside the Bigg Boss 13 house, he said, “Recently, I was on Big Boss & for the first time, I didn’t speak to her for months. I know it doesn’t sound too cool to say it at 39–but being away from her was the toughest part of the show. So, when I received a letter from her on set, I sat & read it in her voice–it felt like she was right next to me & that letter was a piece of her. Every time she tells me she’s proud of me, I feel like the happiest man on earth, because I was able to put a smile on her face; a woman who means everything to me.”
image credit: @officialhumansofbombay
