“COLORS’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’ taught me the importance of a disciplined life,” says contestant Rashmeet Kaur

Surviving in a jungle is no cakewalk because the biggest challenge is to beat the ultimate beast, one's own fear. Raising the fear factor to a whole new level, India's favourite stunt-based reality show, Maruti Suzuki presents 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 13', has recently returned on COLORS with an exciting jungle-themed season. The undisputed action maestro and host of the show, Rohit Shetty, continues to test the courage of daredevil contestants with never-seen-before stunts in the wilderness of Cape Town, South Africa. Renowned singer and songwriter Rashmeet Kaur shares her experience of facing fears up close.
 
1. Tell us about your overall shoot experience for ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’ in Cape Town?
A. My experience in South Africa, Cape Town for ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’ has been surreal because I never expected that I will grow so exponentially in a span of two months. This show is not just about stunts, it was a masterclass that taught me the importance of a disciplined life. This lesson is very valuable to me as an artist. We used to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and commute for say an hour to the location. My entire journey on the show was like a rollercoaster ride. It is an unforgettable phase of my life and I'm so grateful that I got to do this.
 
2. What fears did you overcome during this exhilarating journey and what were the challenges that you faced throughout?
A. Nothing is easy, to be honest, any fear that takes you to the extreme is horrific. It could be height, water, helicopter, air or shock, or an animal. Whenever you are near an animal, you cannot predict its reaction especially when they are in its natural habitat. Witnessing that while we lived in a jungle for a week was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience on ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’. We were in the territory of wild animals, and we had to be mindful about not disturbing them.  I am very fond of animals, so I was looking forward to doing stunts that involved animals. After my stint on this show, I have a vibe with some animals and a few of them freak me out. The viewers will find out what I mean soon.
 
3. Tell us about your first stunt how was it and how did you feel when you were performing it and what you felt after finishing it?
A. The first stunt on ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ 13 involved holding on to the cargo tied to a chopper hovering above a water body. The adrenaline rush that I got felt unreal. That stunt set a great tone for the rest of my journey on the show. I felt the thrill that this show stands for. This stunt sparked curiosity about how this edition would take fear to a whole new level.
 
4. Can you say that people started considering you as a tough competitor?
A. Absolutely… On multiple occasions, contestants were asked to evaluate who was doing well on ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’ and my name came up in those discussions quite often. Everyone thought that I’m a strong contestant and I think that's an achievement. Everybody started respecting me as a khiladi. Rohit Sir appreciated me for braving many of my fears.
 
5. What are your thoughts on the support and the guidance that was provided by Rohit Shetty throughout the entire journey and what did you think of him after that?
A. Motivation matters to me. Rohit sir became the constant voice of encouragement that brought out the best in me during this adventurous journey on ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’. When I would hear his voice, I would channel out everything else and just focus on his instructions. Many a time, the stunt took a while. Performing them by tuning out fear, required a lot of strength and that’s when inspiration took the lead.
 
6. How do you think this entire journey has that changed you as a person?
A. I think I’m stronger than ever. I have always believed in working on myself every day and these two months have been incredible in that regard. I missed music a lot. I got to do other incredible things. I really miss Cape Town and I still want to do stunts. I will take some time to recover from the withdrawal I’m experiencing right now. One other amazing thing that happened is that my body is in great shape because of the routine I lived in South Africa during my ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’ journey.  
 
7. How do you think your prep helped during your stunts in Cape Town?
A. My training in yoga and gymnastics aided my performance on the ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ 13. My prep improved my flexibility, balance, and posture, allowing me to move with ease. Unlike traditional gym workouts that can make the body stiff, my routine was devised towards making my body flexible and agile. This training lent me confidence while pulling off stunts.
 
8. Can you share any of your memorable moments or incidents that happened during the shoot?
A. The love and support I received from South Africa will forever stay with me. Even now, I continue to receive messages expressing how much the locals miss me and love my music. I gained a significant number of fans, who appreciated my vibe and energy. They embraced me as one of their own, teaching me their local language and introducing me to their culture. It truly made me feel like I belonged there. The warmth and affection I received made me want to stay longer. The stunt crew on ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’ stood by me and encouraged me to have fun and enjoy every moment. Their confidence in me was a great source of motivation.
 
9. How did you bond with your fellow contestants in this show and are there any friendships that you are going to take forward in your life?
A. During my time in South Africa for ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’, I made many friends. Dino and I are from the music industry, so it was easy to bond with him. I also became friends with Anjali, Aishwarya, Archana, and Shiv. However, Nyrraa and Aishwarya are now my close friends and I hope to spend more time with them in the future.
 
10. What are the skills and lessons that you have learned while you were filming for the show and that you will apply in your life?
A. I've learned the importance of conserving energy whenever possible during my journey on ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’. When you're not shooting or needed in a specific place, it's crucial to save your energy. In real life, if you feel that your energy isn't required somewhere, it's better to focus on self-improvement. As you become the person you aspire to be, opportunities will naturally come to you. It's about being so focused on yourself and your growth that work finds its way to you. In the show, when Rohit Shetty sir expressed his pride in me and asked for my opinion, I would always respond that God is with us. In this show, I underlined the importance of delivering memorable performances that leave a lasting impression on people, rather than relying on excessive talking or drama. I believe in proving myself through my work rather than talking about it. This mindset has boosted my confidence, and I will continue following this approach in life.
 
11. A message that you would like to give your fans?
A. I want to encourage my fans to focus on self-improvement every day. Never settle and always strive to be better than yesterday. It's important to stand out from the crowd and continuously push yourself to the limit. Taking risks and embracing challenges is crucial because you never truly know your capabilities unless you challenge them. I believe in this mindset, and I'm confident that my fans will resonate with it. I urge my fans to explore new things, adopt new approaches to life, and create healthy lifestyle habits and continue to shower their love on our show ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 13’