Even if people underestimate her, they don't underestimate her fan base.
Doubt she joined forces with HC to be "closer to her enemies", she literally compromised with them for one task because she had no choice. And there was no one else to refute her from Sree's side. She's not trying to be friends. She never tries to be friends with anyone outside celebs. She was comfortable only with Neha and now KV.
Doubt she can "control" Sree - they're both feeding off each other. And she is not strategizing with regards to relationships at all (she's been saying that since the first day), she is just helpless that Sree is acting out and KV is now miffed with him and kinder towards HC.
Sree and her will save each other though - they have a bond.
Srishty doesn't give a hoot about Dipika and Dipika knows that. She doesn't have an ally in her. Not sure about Rohit.
Dipika just has good bonds with prominent people/big names in the house. She is an individual player because she has to be. She used to be with Neha but then Neha left.
I do think she has conducted herself the best in the house but we rarely get to hear her opinions or her thought process.