Kaleidoscopic! That’s what Rubina Dilaik’s trajectory has been. The beauty queen from Shimla strutted into showbiz bolstered by both talent and tenacity. A woman of agency, she whipped up lather with avant-garde roles in soaps – her turn of a transgender in Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki smashing stubborn stereotypes. Even her rendezvous with reality shows – Big Boss 14, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 12 and more recently Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 – proved she plays to win. Coming close to young winner Gunjan Sinha in Jhalak, Rubina’s grace and generosity of spirit grabbed the limelight.
Respect being the keystone of her marriage to actor Abhinav Shukla, she’s a woman who enjoys both – a rocking relationship and a rolling career. No wonder Rubina’s an insignia of living life queen-size!
Masala: Born in Shimla to a writer father and being an English graduate yourself, were you always interested in acting?
Rubina Dilaik: Yes, I was always interested in acting. That I can see with utmost clarity and assurance. Right from school, I was interested in any form of art, be it dance, poetry, drama… Art has been an integral part of my childhood.
Masala: Did winning the Miss North India Pageant in 2008, Chandigarh open the doorway to showbiz?
Rubina Dilaik: Winning the 2000 pageant, in a way, did open the doors of showbiz. That was the time I gave my first audition for my first show (Chotti Bahu 2008) on TV though there was no correlation between winning the show and gaining this opportunity. But it so happened that after I won the pageant, I got to know that the auditions for the particular show were to be held in the next few days.
Masala: Did you have to choose between giving the IAS exams and acting when Chotti Bahu was offered?
Rubina Dilaik: Yes, I had to choose between IAS and the show. I was in the first year of my graduation, preparing for IAS. I had to come down to Mumbai to start Chotti , Bahu. Playing Radhika Shastri required my undivided attention for those months.
Masala: After Saas Bina Sasural, Punar Vivah – Ek Nayi Umeed, Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev and Jeannie Aur Juju (between 2012-2014), the highpoint was playing Soumya Singh, a transgender woman in Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki (2016)? What kind of feedback did you receive after playing such an unconventional role?
Rubina Dilaik: Actually, all the roles I played, be it in Saas Bina Sasural, Madavev, Shakti… were unconventional. I received appreciation for choosing to risk the so-called identity of being ‘a damsel in distress’ or just a dainty and glamorous heroine. I committed to the roles and worked towards achieving success. People applauded my courage in taking the risk and seeing it through.
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Masala: Big Boss 14 (2020) was a professional and personal turning point… not only did you emerge as a winner, it also brought about reconciliation between actor/husband Abhinav Shukla and you…
Rubina Dilaik: Bigg Boss definitely added a lot to my professional and personal spheres. Unless and until you are put in a particular situation, you don’t know what you’re capable of. Psychologically, Bigg Boss helped me encounter my courageous self, which was perhaps always there. The platform being huge it opened many more doors professionally as well.
Masala: You proved that you were much beyond a beautiful face by participating in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 12 (2022). What challenges did you overcome in the show?
Rubina Dilaik: Thank you for the compliment. It’s all mind over matter. There were so many things I feared were impossible to achieve or situations I wouldn’t be able to go past. But when I was in the thick of it, I felt so calm. When I overcame the challenges there was a sense of exhilaration. Khatron Ke Khiladi brought out a strength that I didn’t know was residing in me.
Honestly, my husband Abhinav was one of the main reasons I did it. He said, “You’re going to have the time of your life. While doing the stunts just be present and enjoy it.” (Smiles) Trust me, I didn’t enjoy it. But when I look back, I seriously believe that all of us have hidden potential, which we realize only when challenged. It’s about taking the first step towards your fears.
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Masala: Your performance in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 (2022) gave ‘goosebumps’ to viewers. Was it a high immersing yourself in dance?
Rubina Dilaik: Absolutely! It was a high immersing myself deep in the creative process of dance. Creating the whole act, it just requires so much thought. Not a single day did I wonder why I was doing it. I looked forward to the rehearsals. Brainstorming about how to create the act, the costumes, and the add-ons to enhance my performance… was so engaging. I can’t sum the experience in a single word. Given a chance, I’d choose to be part of creating something with music and dance over and over again.
Masala: Tell us something about the discipline you followed in training and keeping yourself in such fabulous form.
Rubina Dilaik: Either you can bear the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I choose the former. Discipline has been part of my growing up years. My parents believed that with discipline nothing is impossible. We grew up as disciplined kids. That has translated into so many spheres of my life. Maintaining regulation in my diet, exercise, work ethics… means the most to me.
Masala: While partner faisal Sheikh and you were among the three finalists, Gunjan Sinha secured the first position. In retrospect, can you reason why?
Rubina Dilaik: I am happy that Gunjan won the show. She’s a prodigy. A seven-year-old dancing so beautifully! She has great energy. I am happy for her win. I’m even happier that Faisal, Gunjan and I shared the stage. We were the top three well-deserving winners of the season.
Masala: Your affection towards Gunjan was palpable. How important is to be gracious when overtaken?
Rubina Dilaik: It’s important to be gracious – winning and losing for me is subjective. What’s important in any project that I chose is to create a niche in the hearts of my audience with my craft. My love and affection is the same for Gunjan, even more so after the win. There’s so much to learn from that brilliant girl. She’s beyond perfection, a well-deserved winner.
Masala: The Times of India’s Most Desirable Women on TV list ranked you 10th in 2020. How would you describe your sex-appeal?
Rubina Dilaik: My confidence is my sex-appeal. People often compliment me saying, ‘The way you conduct yourself is amazing’. I take this as the biggest compliment because it’s beyond physical appearance. Sexiness lies in your state of mind. If that’s translated and comes across, it’s brilliant.
Masala: Any crazy fan experiences?
Rubina Dilaik: I’ve had many many crazy fan experiences – from being gifted the most expensive jewels to letters written to my parents on the day of my wedding urging them to call it off. When I look back, there have been weird and crazy experiences. Sometimes, they scare me.
Masala: Does your husband Abinav feel possessive about the attention you enjoy?
Rubina Dilaik: Along with me, he enjoys the adulation and attention I receive. He says, “Rubina, I am proud of you. The love that you receive is a result of your own hard work.” He never takes away that light from me.
Masala: What’s the strength of your marriage?
Rubina Dilaik: The strength of our marriage is the respect that we have for each other, which is more than the love that we have for each other. I can securely say respect is the foundation of our marriage.
Masala: Is motherhood on the cards?
Rubina Dilaik: Yes, motherhood is part of the evolution, which we have to go through. It will happen when it’s destined. I can’t say it’s on the cards. But I am always open to it.
Masala: What would be your advice for girls when it comes to career and relationships? What should be non-negotiable?
Rubina Dilaik: The one thing that’s non-negotiable is your individuality – be it in your career or relationship. If you’re a secure individual you will enjoy both – a great career and a great relationship. To be career oriented you don’t have to give up on a relationship or vice versa.
Masala: For an achiever like you what dreams remain unfulfilled?
Rubina Dilaik: There are many unfulfilled dreams. I am a work in progress. I am step by step working towards them.
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