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The reality star also appeared in films such as Laal Rang, Zila Ghaziabad, and Shortcut Romeo.
Ashutosh Kaushik was arrested for drunk driving in 2009. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Ashutosh Kaushik became a household name after winning two of the most popular reality TV show franchises in India: MTV Roadies and Bigg Boss. However, the actor could not retain his fame for long and got embroiled in a series of controversies. Ashutosh decided to leave the entertainment industry following a short unsuccessful stint in movies. Years after his rise as a reality TV star, he now runs a successful chain of dhabas in his hometown Saharanpur.
In 2007, Ashutosh Kaushik captivated viewers on MTV Roadies Season 5 with his outgoing demeanour and fitness, eventually winning the competition. Next, he participated in Bigg Boss Season 2, where he competed against famous names such as Monica Bedi, Rahul Mahajan, and Payal Rohatgi.
Talking about the start of his Bigg Boss journey, Ashutosh in an interaction with Siddharth Kannan said, “I came to Mumbai for the first time after they called me for Bigg Boss, but they didn’t finalise me right away. I waited around the office, hoping for a response. After 15 days, they called me back, handed me an agreement, and told me my signing amount. The document was in English, so I asked, ‘If I read it, can I change any of the terms?’ When they said no, I just asked them where to sign. Why would I read it if I couldn’t change anything?”
Soon after winning Bigg Boss 2, made the transition to acting, appearing in films such as Laal Rang, Zila Ghaziabad, and Shortcut Romeo. However, none of the films were successful, and his performances went unnoticed.
Ashutosh’s quick ascent to fame was marred with controversies. In 2009, he was arrested for drunk driving and sentenced to one day in prison. In 2021, Ashutosh filed a petition to have certain negative information about him removed from online sites under the “right to be forgotten”.
Explaining his reasons behind the move, Ashutosh told BBC “I was 27 then. I got everything I wanted so early in life. I’d lost my father and there was no one to guide me. I was inexperienced and made a mistake and I was punished for it. But I’m 42 now, and I feel I’m still paying the price.”
