The 13-year-old Pune boy emerged as the biggest dramebaaz in the entire country. Aditya Singhal says he couldn't sleep after winning the Golden Keeda trophy on "India's Best Dramebaaz" (IBD).
Aditya, a student of Bishop's Co-ed School in Pune, is a class VIII student and was the eldest among the finalists. After the results were announced, he said he couldn't sleep that night out of excitement.
Known as 'The Silent One' on the show, he said: "Everything seems so good. After the result was announced, I couldn't sleep. I am really excited. I am finally India's Best Dramebaaz."
"I just couldn't believe that I won the show. My parents started jumping with joy. And even the mentors. Nihaar Gite (the first runner up) came and hugged me then," Aditya told IANS.
Aditya pipped five other finalists - Anjali Astha (10), Chinmay Deshkar (12), Mehnaaz Mann (8), Nihaar Gite (6), and Praneet Sharma (5) - to the crown.
The show was judged by Sonali Bendre, Anurag Basu and Vivek Oberoi and it aimed at grooming children by testing their creativity, spontaneity and acting capability.
When asked about the feeling before the results were announced, he said: "We were in the top and we decided among ourselves that it doesn't matter who wins the show, we will all be friends always."
"But when it was just the three of us - me, Praneet Sharma and Nihaar Gite - they were talking to me and I was unable to concentrate, I really wanted to win the show at that moment. And then Ragini (host Ragini Khanna) didi announced - 'And India's Best Draamebaaz is Aditya Singhal', so that moment was just amazing."
He is a big fan of actor Paresh Rawal and superstar Shah Rukh Khan. "Expressions given by Paresh Rawal are just amazing. He is not only a good actor, but with his face expressions one can actually feel that whatever is happening, it's all real".
As far as King Khan is concerned, Aditya loves his romantic style and dialogue delivery.
Talking about his bonding with the other contestants, he said: "Me and Abhishek Raj (from Patna) are really good friends. We have been together since mega auditions. We have always been together."
"I was very upset that Abhishek had to leave because of some health issues. I will really miss him. We have planned that we will meet each other often. I will go and meet him in Bihar," he added.
Which is your unforgettable moment from the show?
"When Prithviraj sir said, 'I will be very disappointed if you don't win the show'."
Your favourite act?
"It was a jury challenge where I did not have to do much, I just had to say dialogues there. But it came out very naturally and I think it's one of the best acts I have done so far," said Aditya, whose favourite judge was Anurag Basu.
As of now, Aditya plans to go home and take rest. But since he missed his school, he "will have to cope-up with the studies".
