Sara Gurpal is returning to reality television five years after her appearance on Bigg Boss 14. The singer and actor is now part of Rise and Fall 2, but her decision to return to the reality-show format is rooted in something personal: she wants to experience the opportunity she feels she could not fully embrace during her first stint.
In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, Sara revisited her time inside the Bigg Boss 14 house and spoke about an eye infection that she says affected her health during the show. She also opened up about the support she received from former housemates Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla, her early exit and what she hopes to do differently this time.
Sara Gurpal Says She Was Battling a Serious Eye Infection
Looking back at her Bigg Boss 14 experience, Sara said viewers did not see the full extent of what she was going through medically.
According to the singer, she developed a severe eye infection while inside the house, with pus repeatedly accumulating in her eye.
She told mid-day:
“I was so worried inside the Bigg Boss house, you don’t see it in the footage. I had an eye infection and the eye would get filled with pus, and to clean that Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla would help me all the time.”
Sara explained that managing the infection became increasingly difficult. She said she had to regularly apply medication, which would dry after being used to clean the affected area and then had to be removed.
“So, I used to put medicine to clean the pus and it used to dry up. I had to take it out. My condition was very bad.”
Her recollection suggests that her health was a significant concern for her during her short stint on the reality show.
‘My Right Eye Was 20 Percent Vision Was Gone’
Sara also spoke about the seriousness of the problem, saying that she experienced substantial loss of vision in her right eye and that her cornea was damaged.
“My right eye was 20 percent vision was gone. My cornea was damaged. So, that can be one of the reasons.”
Sara was careful to frame her thoughts about her eviction as a possibility rather than a confirmed explanation. She said she wondered whether the show’s makers may have considered her health when deciding her fate.
She added:
“I personally know that it was challenging for Bigg Boss also. Why do you want to keep somebody who is injured like that? How will you do it? So, it’s fine. And I don’t take it negatively.”
Her comments indicate that she does not hold the experience against the show and instead views the health situation as one possible factor behind what happened.
Sara Gurpal Remembers Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla
While recalling the difficult period, Sara also highlighted the support she received from Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla.
She spoke warmly about Rubina and described her as someone she considers genuine, caring and helpful.
“I have loved Rubina Dilaik from my season. She is very genuine, caring and helpful. Rubi and Abhinav are the best people from my season.”
The friendship and support Sara remembers from the Bigg Boss 14 house remain among the positive aspects of that experience for her.
Why Is Sara Gurpal Returning to Reality TV?
Five years after Bigg Boss 14, Sara has another opportunity to compete in a reality-show environment with Rise and Fall 2.
For Sara, the motivation is not simply visibility. She said she feels she missed an opportunity during Bigg Boss and now wants to give herself another chance to play a reality show on her own terms.
Explaining her decision, she said:
“Because I missed that chance in Bigg Boss. And I wanted to play the game the way I wanted to play. I wanted to talk to that Sarah back. Like, Sarah, you need to do this back for yourself. That’s the only reason I’m doing it.”
Her comments suggest that the new show represents something of a second chance for her.
‘I Want to Make Sure That I Take My Stand’
Sara also said she is approaching Rise and Fall 2 without the pressure she felt during her earlier reality-TV experience.
According to the actor, she does not feel she needs to constantly prove herself or depend on the show to maintain her career.
“I am already in the power. I don’t have that stress. That I have to do one show after another. I will disappear after Bigg Boss. I already have the power.”
She explained that her priority this time is to participate actively, express her views and stand up for herself.
“I want to make sure that I take my stand. I make sure that I ask questions. And be there. Play the game.”
Sara Gurpal on Reality TV and Career Comebacks
Sara also addressed the perception that established artists participate in reality shows because they need to revive or “redeem” their careers.
She acknowledged that reaching a national audience can be valuable but insisted that artists should not have to depend exclusively on reality television for their careers.
“If you get a national audience, then why not? It’s a good thing. But you don’t have to depend only on that. You don’t have to. I have a lot of talent. And I never depended on that.”
Her comments underline the distinction she makes between using reality television as a platform and relying on it as the foundation of a career.
Sara Gurpal Wants to Showcase Her Reality-TV Side
This time around, Sara says she wants to enjoy the experience while also demonstrating that she can thrive in a reality-show environment.
“I’m going to have fun. I’m here to have fun. I want to see that. I want to dance, music, performance. I’m good at that.”
She added that she wants to prove another aspect of her personality and abilities to viewers.
“So I want to add one more thing. That Sara is very good at reality. That’s it. I want to achieve that.”
After a difficult and short-lived Bigg Boss 14 experience, Sara Gurpal now enters Rise and Fall 2 with a different perspective. Her stated goal is not simply to remain visible, but to participate more confidently, speak up when necessary and enjoy the creative and competitive sides of reality television.