Bigg Boss 15: Nishant Bhat hopes that Salman Khan, Karan Johar will see his potential and offer him work

Choreographer Nishant Bhat believes featuring on the reality show "Bigg Boss" is an achievement for him because he feels the Colors TV series will give his career a great push. Bhat was one of the finalists on the Karan Johar-hosted "Bigg Boss OTT". On the show, which concluded last month with Divya Agarwal as winner, Bhat emerged as one of the most popular contestants. Bhat, who has been associated as a choreographer with several dance reality shows like "Super Dancer", "Jhalak Dikhla Jaa" and "Dance Deewane", will now be seen on season 15 of "Bigg Boss", hosted by superstar Salman Khan.

In an interview with PTI, Bhat, said "Bigg Boss" is a transition for him from being only known within the choreographer community to now a wider audience.

"Reaching 'Bigg Boss' in itself feels like an achievement for me. I don't know how far I will go on the show, but I know it is going to help me in choreography. If Salman sir loves my dancing in the house, if he sees some potential, he might give me an opportunity to work with him. Maybe Karan (Johar) sir might do the same. These are things I am looking at. This show will take me a notch up. Earlier, only the dancer community used to know me, now the entire country will. It will definitely help me and boost my career," he said.

While Bhat was branded as a "gamer" on "Bigg Boss OTT", which streamed on Voot Select, the choreographer said he was "extremely nervous" for the upcoming chapter on the small screen as it is hosted by Khan, who has been associated with the show since its season four in 2010.

"I did whatever I did on 'Bigg Boss OTT' with no idea what would happen outside. Then I came out, saw things and now I am nervous. I am a fan of Salman sir and I am scared of him. I choreographed him last year for the 'Bigg Boss' finale. I get conscious when he talks to me because I get the feeling that he is a (school) principal!"

On "Bigg Boss 15", Bhat will be joined by two of his "Bigg Boss OTT" co-contestants, actors Shamita Shetty and Pratik Sehajpal. While the presence of the duo will help him have a "sense of familiarity", the choreographer said he is keen to start his journey on the show with a clean slate.

"I am a survivor. In my 15 years of career, a lot of things have happened in my life which I was not able to convey on the (previous) show. My survival instincts on 'BB 15' will be completely different. I don't know the kind of stuff that will happen, the situations I will be put in. On 'Bigg Boss OTT' people thought I was a 'gamer' but I was just being myself. I will continue that here as well," he added.

The latest season of the show, which started airing from Saturday, will see contestants staying in a jungle, fighting for basic amenities before they enter the main "Bigg Boss" house. Season 15 of the show also features actors Jay Bhanushali, Karan Kundra, Tejasswi Prakash, Donal Bisht and singer Afsana Khan as contestants.