Exclusive: "I didn't like that I cannot say things freely to Elvish Yadav" - Taniya Chaterjee

Actress Taniya Chatterjee, who is currently a part of the JioHotstar Sparkz show, Game Adda Battle sat down for an exclusive conversation talking about the host of the show, Elvish Yadav, her image pertaining her bold content, hosting an event which was graced by Yo Yo Honey Singh and more.

Q. Elvish comes with his own pre-conceived popularity and then he brings his candid self in such reality shows. What was it about him that you were specifically impressed by and not-so-impressed by?

I am very impressed with Elvish's fans, his popularity, and his YouTube followers. He has a very strong fan base, so that really impressed me. The sheer strength and reach of his followers across platforms is something that not every influencer or celebrity can achieve so quickly. His supporters are everywhere and they are extremely loyal, which is quite commendable.

What did not impress me is that if you say something to Elvish, even in a light-hearted or roast format, his fans get angry. It did not happen to me directly, but once it did happen with another portal. I remember that situation quite clearly. I said something sarcastically, just a fun gesture like scratching my hand, and Elvish gave it back in the moment in his usual, quick-witted style. But his fans got very angry over it. It became a mini outrage, even though it was clearly all in jest.

So you cannot say anything freely to him. You cannot open up and speak your heart in front of him. That part did not impress me. It is almost like walking on eggshells when it comes to making even the smallest jokes around him, because you never know how the audience might take it. That freedom of expression becomes limited, and that’s something I do not enjoy.

Q. What is it about Elvish that you were most surprised by, and also something you expected that played out as well?

I was honestly surprised to see Elvish’s good behavior. He was very sweet to me. I worked with him on three episodes, and in all of them, he was consistently nice and respectful. He was polite, accommodating, and actually very chill to be around.

I had heard that he was wild or disrespectful, but he was not like that at all. What people hear or what haters spread does not always match the truth. That part really surprised me. We all have preconceived notions, especially with viral personalities, but Elvish was genuinely warm. In fact, in one of the instances, Elvish went on to also say during one of the tasks, 'Taniya, my favorite' which meant a lot to me.

What I did expect was that I would give him a punchline, he would catch it instantly, and it would go viral. And that is exactly what happened. I gave the same punchline in every place.

When he asked the question, I turned and said, "No, I am scared." I knew that moment would work. Elvish caught it perfectly, the reel got cut, and it went viral.

So I gave that content intentionally. It was good for the show and good for me too. I am happy with how that turned out. That moment became a talking point. These are the kinds of collaborations where everyone benefits.

Q. At this stage, it is clear that you are working towards establishing and maintaining your image of being hot, sexy and so on. But with things like your personal app where you launched content that aims towards being softcore, did you always envision this is how you want to work with titillation and audience interest?

Taniya: People know me from my bold series. Deep down, they want to see me in that kind of role where I am doing deep romance with my co-star on screen. The fan connection that happened with these bold shows is not just surface-level; it’s emotional. The audience has connected to my style, my delivery, my performances.

But now, I am not doing bold shows anymore. I have stopped it. I have become very choosy. I have upgraded myself through hard work, through conscious efforts, through many steps I have taken. I have had to make tough decisions about the kind of work I do. I am no longer in the space where I want to repeat what I have already done.

I have grown a lot, and I believe I deserve better now. That is why I became very selective about my work. Now, I only want to take up projects that either challenge me as an artist or elevate me in some way. I do not want to be boxed into a particular image or narrative. I know I have more to offer.

But people still want to see me, and because of that love, I created my app. There is a lot of interesting content on it. It is premium, curated, and made with intention. The audience still wants to watch me, and they will find that experience on the app. It is more direct, more intimate.

It is only for the audience, created with love and respect for their support. I see it as a platform that is theirs as much as it is mine. It is also a way for me to have more control over my content and image, without being at the mercy of other people’s filters.

Q. Adda Extreme Battle allowed you to cross many levels of physical grit and also gave the viewers a rare peek into your normal self, your real self, over and above your image projected on social media. Is that why you signed on?

Taniya: Adda Extreme Battle gave me the chance to show a different side of myself. A side that most people, even my followers, do not know.

I am a pro. I am strong. I am very strong in MMA, kickboxing, and sports in general. Actually, I am strong in everything, but sports is where I am most trained. I have really worked hard to train myself. I do not come from a background where these skills were handed to me. I earned them.

So I got the opportunity to showcase that side through the show. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am very happy I participated in it. It was raw, it was intense, and it tested me in many ways. But more than that, it gave me a platform to break out of the box that people often put me in. I am not just about glamour. I have substance, I have grit. And the show allowed me to prove that.

Q. You recently hosted an event which Yo Yo Honey Singh was a part of. How was it and is a collaboration in the works?

Taniya: Oh my God, I had a massive fan moment with Yo Yo Honey Singh. For me, this was not just another collaboration. This was something special.

When I got the offer to host the launch of his Yo Yo Watches, I was super excited. I was born in 1996, and ever since I started listening to music, it has always been Honey Singh. His music has been the soundtrack to so many phases of my life. I am a crazy fan.

Standing in front of him and hosting his show gave me goosebumps. It was such a big opportunity for me. He has a huge aura, and just being around him was a learning experience. He owns the room with his presence.

During that event, he shared so many experiences. As a growing artist, I have learned a lot from him. He spoke about his journey, his struggles, his comeback. And I just stood there, taking it all in.

I would love to work with him again and again. He is my absolute favorite. I truly have a fan crush on him, and I really like him and love him. I do not know if I will get this kind of moment again, but I will always cherish it.