Dhamaal actor Ashish Chowdhry was crowned the winner of the stunt-based Indian reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi – Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns, a Colors TV programme that tested the physical and mental strength of 14 celebrities over a 10-week journey across Cape Town, South Africa.
Besides the trophy, Chowdhry took home 250,000 rupees (Dh14,700) and a Mahindra Scorpio car.
The 36-year-old decided to participate in the endurance show when his twin daughters – Salara and Sammah – were only 15 days old.
“I’ve always loved having children. I think the girls have been lucky for me as I left them when they were 15 days old and I think it was their luck which worked as a magic for me,” said Chowdhry, who also has a son, Agasthya. Chowdhry and his wife also look after his late sister’s children Kanishk and Ananya.
“I’m happy that I settled down young and then I became a young father. I enjoy the fact that it makes me a more responsible and hardworking human being because when you are single you can always takes on things easy. It can only do you good when you have a family like mine,” he said.
"You really have to prepare yourself mentally to stand in a show like this because they make you go through many medical tests before you sign it. It's special for someone like me as I've faced big problems in my life, but still I found out the way to enjoy it, so my dream is fulfilled with Khatron Ke Khiladi."
He says that while “it’s great that I won it”, winning wasn’t his top priority.
“I was only trying to enjoy all the stunts and making the most from my time over there. It was the best experience of my life.”
Hosted by filmmaker Rohit Shetty, the show saw celebrity participants including actors Hussain Kuwajerwala, Harshad Arora, Sana Khan, Rasami Desai, Asha Negi, Ridhi Dogra and Nandish Sandhu, the multifaceted Meiyang Chang, Kabaddi star Rakesh Kumar, reality show star Siddharth Bharadwaj, dancer Salman Yusuff Khan and dancer Nathalia Kaur.
For the grand finale, the four finalists were asked to blow up a car in a stunt named after the Chennai Express director.
Chowdhry and Chang were announced as the winner of the first stunt and went on to compete in the final stunt, titled The Final Blast, which Choudhry won.
• The sixth season of India's Got Talent replaces Khatron Ke Khiladi - Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns and will be broadcast on April 18 on Colors TV. India's Got Talent is judged by filmmaker Karan Johar and actors Kirron Kher and Malaika Arora Khan.
artslife@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
