Rise and Fall 2: Raj Grover breaks silence on being called Siwet Tomar and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary’s ‘chamcha’, addresses Gautam Gulati’s bullying claims

Raj Grover, who was recently evicted from Rise and Fall 2, has opened up about his journey on the reality show, addressing the criticism he faced over his friendships with Siwet Tomar and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary. He also spoke about the audience’s allegations of Gautam Gulati bullying him during his stint on the show.Taking to his Instagram handle, Raj shared a video reflecting on his experience and clarifying his side of the story. Addressing the criticism he received during the first week, Raj recalled how viewers called him Siwet’s ‘chamcha’ because of their friendship. However, he maintained that Siwet never influenced his decisions.“I was with him like a very good friend, but there was not a single place where he influenced my decision,” Raj said.“When we do not even know what is going to happen next, then how can someone give me names all of a sudden?” he questioned, adding that his friendship with Siwet did not mean he was blindly following him.Raj also addressed being called Priyanka Chahar Choudhary’s ‘chamcha’. Explaining his perspective, he said that contestants who spend almost 24 hours together are bound to develop friendships.“When you’re with those six people for 24 hours, someone will become your friend, you’ll talk to someone, right?” he said.Raj added that the age difference between him and the other contestants might have contributed to how viewers perceived his relationships. He also suggested that Priyanka’s more vocal personality made it appear as though he was always listening to her. “I’m being very honest, 90% of the time I was the one giving advice to Priyanka as well,” he claimed.He further explained that he had watched the previous season carefully and had his own strategies for the game. “I had a lot of strategies in my mind, which I used to give,” Raj said, maintaining that his friendship with Priyanka was mutual and did not mean he lacked an independent approach to the game.Raj also addressed viewers’ reactions to his equation with Gautam Gulati. Explaining why he did not always react strongly to Gautam’s behaviour, he said he viewed their relationship much like his bond with his elder siblings.“In real life, I have an elder sister and an elder brother; they trouble me a lot,” he said, explaining that he generally avoids reacting aggressively or disrespecting them.“That’s reality TV. You can’t compare it to real life. You can’t give him real-life treatment,” he said, suggesting that situations on a reality show are often expected to be portrayed more dramatically.Reflecting on his eviction, Raj also spoke about the support he received from viewers. He recalled receiving numerous comments and direct messages on his and his family’s social media accounts from people who claimed to have voted for him every day.“We voted for you every day, brother. We’re voting every day, we’re supporting you every day,” he recalled viewers telling him.He admitted that the messages made him question the voting outcome. “Somewhere, I can’t quite believe that I was behind anyone in the voting,” Raj said. However, he added that he did not want to dwell on the issue, saying, “But leave it, let’s not victimize that.”Get the latest TV News, TV Shows and more. Download the TOI app.