'Bollywood was not very welcoming'

Model-turned-actress Sonali Raut, who has entered reality show ‘Bigg Boss 8’ in a bid to get “visibility”, says her Bollywood debut with ‘The Xpose’ didn’t get her the recognition she had hoped for.

Sonali played a sensuous grey character in the film and had starred opposite biggies like Himesh Reshammiya and Yo Yo Honey Singh.

“Very frankly, Bollywood was not very welcoming. I played a character with grey shades and that went against me. Bollywood still favours the sweet goody-goody girl,” Sonali said before entering the reality show.

But her career disappointment is not what has led her to ‘Bigg Boss 8’, which is hosted by Dabangg star Salman Khan. “I am here to have fun. And my biggest incentive is Salman Khan. I will get to interact with him. I performed with him on the opening night to the song Jumme Ki Raat. As far as I was concerned, that was paisa vasool for me,” she said.

She is also hopeful to “get a certain amount of visibility through this show”.

“But more than that, I am going into ‘Bigg Boss’ to have fun. I have watched the show very carefully in the past. I know it’s emotionally taxing. But I think I am prepared for it.”

The show also features Arya Babbar, Minissha Lamba, Upen Patel, item girl Natasa Stankovic and Grand Masti actress Karishma Tanna to name a few. 

TV stars Sukirti Kandpal, Soni Singh, Gautam Gulati of Diya Aur Bati fame and Praneet Bhatt, who played Shakuni in Mahabharat are some of the other contestants on the show.