Kushal Tandon and Zaid Darbar’s friendship became one of the more unexpected talking points of The Alliance. What made the equation particularly interesting was that Zaid is married to Kushal’s former girlfriend, Gauahar Khan.
Rather than allowing their past connection to create tension, Kushal and Zaid developed a close friendship during the reality show.
However, one light-hearted comment made by Kushal later attracted attention online.
During the show, Kushal told Zaid, “Tujhe meri hi cheezein pasand aati hain”. Some viewers interpreted the remark as a reference to Gauahar and assumed that Kushal was taking a dig at his former relationship.
Kushal has now rejected that interpretation.
Speaking exclusively to Zoom, the actor explained the context behind the exchange and said the comment had been “blown out of proportion.”
Kushal Says He Never Saw Zaid as ‘Gauahar’s Husband’
Kushal said that when he met Zaid on The Alliance, he did not approach him through the lens of his relationship with Gauahar.
Instead, he viewed Zaid simply as another contestant.
“But when I saw Zaid, I didn’t even see him as Gauahar’s husband. I saw him as a normal, natural contestant.”
According to Kushal, their friendship developed organically, much like friendships formed between people living together in a boarding school.
“Our bond was like the bond people have in a boarding school.”
The actor said their conversations were casual and that they quickly became comfortable around each other.
What Did Kushal Mean by ‘Meri Hi Cheezein’?
Kushal explained that the remark came from their everyday interactions inside the show.
He recalled that he would share things with Zaid, including cigarettes and other items, while also making coffee and protein shakes for him.
The two developed the kind of informal friendship in which teasing and banter were common.
Kushal said:
“So it was a normal boys’ talk. I said, ‘Looks like you like everything that belongs to me.’ And that was blown out of proportion.”
According to the actor, neither he nor Zaid took offence at the comment.
He also suggested that the person being discussed did not view the remark negatively.
“But neither he felt bad, nor I felt bad, nor did the person we were talking about feel bad.”
Kushal Tandon Says There Is No Bad Blood With Gauahar Khan
The actor also addressed his current equation with Gauahar.
Kushal made it clear that there is no hostility between them and said they remain on good terms.
“And I’m on good terms with Gauahar, and there is no bad blood.”
His clarification comes after viewers repeatedly connected his friendship with Zaid to his previous relationship with Gauahar.
Kushal’s comments suggest that the three individuals have moved beyond the circumstances of their past relationship and that he has no problem maintaining a friendship with Zaid.
Kushal and Zaid’s Friendship Continues Beyond the Show
For Kushal, the friendship with Zaid was not limited to the reality show.
He described Zaid as a genuine friend and said their relationship would continue even after The Alliance ended.
“Zaid is and was my friend, not just for the show. He is still my friend and we’re gonna last this friendship till, I can tell, I die.”
Kushal also joked about the public interest in their equation, suggesting that viewers were expecting conflict because of his history with Gauahar.
“So people wanted some kind of masala, but they didn’t get it, so what can we do?”
The friendship appears to have continued outside the show as well.
The two were recently seen together watching the programme, with a social media video showing them spending time together and appearing comfortable in each other’s company.
Why the Kushal-Zaid Friendship Got So Much Attention
The friendship attracted interest largely because of the history surrounding the three personalities.
Kushal and Gauahar were previously in a relationship, while Gauahar later married Zaid Darbar.
That background naturally led some viewers to expect awkwardness when Kushal and Zaid entered the same reality-show environment.
Instead, their equation developed in the opposite direction.
The two contestants appeared to establish their own friendship without allowing their personal histories to dictate how they interacted.
Kushal’s latest clarification reinforces that point.
Rather than being a coded reference to Gauahar, he says the controversial line was simply part of the casual banter between two friends.
Mini Mathur Wins ‘The Alliance’
Meanwhile, The Alliance has concluded, with Mini Mathur emerging as the winner.
The show generated considerable conversation around its contestants, relationships and unexpected friendships during its run.
Among those dynamics, Kushal Tandon and Zaid Darbar’s bond stood out because of the circumstances surrounding their personal lives.
Even after the show’s conclusion, the two appear to have remained friends.
For Kushal, however, the takeaway is straightforward: what viewers interpreted as a pointed remark was, in his telling, nothing more than an ordinary joke between friends.
