Watch out what you would like for. Bhanu Gopal needed nothing greater than to compete on his favourite TV present, Survivor. However as soon as he made it onto the island for Survivor 46, his dream was a full-on nightmare. Just about all the pieces that might go mistaken for Bhanu did, which resulted in him not solely repeatedly collapsing and breaking down in tears, but in addition yelling at his God for placing him on the present within the first place.
It was one of the vital intense and emotional runs in Survivor historical past, and that run got here to an finish this week when Bhanu was unanimously voted out of the sport — a end result that was such a forgone conclusion that host Jeff Probst didn’t even drive the tribe to undergo the charade of an official vote.
Why did all of it go so mistaken so quick for Bhanu? What was it like having to observe all of it play again on TV? And the way does he really feel about his Yanu tribemates now? We caught up with the fourth participant out of Survivor 46 to undergo the entire good, the dangerous, and the ugly, and it seems when all was mentioned and carried out, the person after 1,000,000 hearts acquired precisely what he needed out of the expertise.
Bhanu Gopal on ‘Survivor 46’.
Robert Voets/CBS
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You weren’t a case of somebody who didn’t perceive this sport and find out how to play it. It’s your favourite present, you’ve seen each season. So what occurred on the market?
BHANU GOPAL: Dalton, I am an excellent fan. Additionally, can I take a second right here to say that I am so grateful for CBS and to Jeff Probst and your entire group of Survivor for giving me this chance, and for working tirelessly, and for giving us such an ideal season. And likewise to my fellow contestants, I really like you all. From one superfan to all the opposite superfans on the market, thanks a lot to your love and help.
As a superfan of the present. I’ve seen all of it — from season 1, episode 1 to the most recent season of 45. I’ve seen all seasons, all episodes. I’ve seen how individuals have performed. However once I envisioned Bhanu on the island, I believed: There isn’t any a method of taking part in the sport. I believed: Let me play my method, which is simply attempt to see if honesty works or not, as a result of once I checked out somebody on the present. I simply could not relate to it. It is an ideal gameplay, however is that how I need to play? I need to attempt one thing totally different. So that is what I did. I attempted one thing totally different. Have I failed? I do not know as a result of I learn a quote final week and it mentioned, “You are not a failure when you have tried.” So I’ve tried
From what we noticed on TV, you probably did quite a lot of asking individuals for assist. Have been there different strikes you made or tried to make that we didn’t see?
At first of the season, it isn’t that individuals have been serving to me or something. Sure, I am on the surface, however what the followers haven’t seen is how a lot I am speaking to Q, how a lot I am speaking to the opposite of us, saying “Who’s the risk?” and “We have to get them out.” I am strategizing consistently. And one other factor which followers haven’t seen is my relationship with Jess. Jess is like my sister. She’s my greatest buddy. We love one another. What they’ve seen is a glimpse of me, a second of me simply yelling her identify. However what they have not proven is the bond between me and Jess. We have been all yelling on the problem, and I used to be somewhat pissed off and simply yelled the identify. I apologized to Jess. I hope the followers of Jess on the market forgive me for that.
David Jelinsky, Kenzie Veurink, Bhanu Gopal, Tiffany Ervin, Q Burdette, and Jess Chong on ‘Survivor 46’.
Robert Voets/CBS
Bhanu, we have seen quite a bit worse in challenges over 46 seasons than yelling somebody’s identify. I would not fear an excessive amount of about that. How did you are feeling about Q teaching you on find out how to reply Jeff’s questions at Tribal Council?
Q has good intentions, I assume. However what my tribe lacked proper from the get-go is empathy, and that is why you noticed the losses. We by no means sat as a tribe and simply had that dialog. We have been by no means capable of talk, and that is why we failed — and we failed miserably. Coordination, communication, such an integral a part of being on Survivor and being on a tribe, and we by no means had empathy in the direction of one another.
Which do you suppose was a much bigger mistake, telling of us on the journey all the pieces about your tribemates, or then telling your tribemates that you simply spilled the beans about them?
Dalton, the rationale why I used to be so emotional on the journey is as a result of I had no one to speak to. And tremendous followers ought to know and my fellow contestants additionally know that Survivor could be very powerful sport. You want one one that you’ll be able to maintain onto, like your journey or die. And I by no means had that. I’m at all times on the outs.
So once I was on the journey — and proper after one of many largest losses as a result of that day I might’ve gone dwelling — so once I noticed Ben and Liz, I simply bawled. I used to be like, “Hey, I am going out. That is what’s occurring.” However when the miracle occurred and I get to remain, I needed to speak to Tiffany. I needed my tribe to know from me, as a result of what if there may be one other journey the following day and certainly one of them goes on the journey and finds out from the opposite tribes that Bhanu has mentioned these items?
In order that’s why I needed to return clear and say that “Hey, you’ll be able to belief me as a result of I’m telling you what I did, however I’m with you if you wish to work with me.” That is the message I needed to convey. Nevertheless it was obtained otherwise. I needed to point out that I am a reliable and sincere man. “This occurred as a result of I am on the surface. If you happen to work with me, we’ll go until the tip, I promise.” Since you’ve seen me, Dalton. I am superb at challenges. I am by no means like, “Oh no, I can not do that.” No, I by no means as soon as sulked about not sleeping for 9 days. I by no means sulked about not consuming nothing. I needed to play the sport. And my technique was, get me to the merge after which I’ll get myself to the ultimate. That is the factor. However how do you get it? I needed to play the sincere sport. I needed to point out that they will belief me, however it backfired.
Bhanu Gopal on ‘Survivor 46’.
Robert Voets/CBS
So I need to discuss a scene that actually struck me quite a bit, Bhanu, and this is likely to be troublesome to speak about for you, however it’s the scene the place it is possibly your lowest level the place you are pointing on the sky and also you’re yelling at your God for placing you on the present — the identical God we have seen you praying to all through your journey. And that to me was Survivor at its most uncooked. Are you able to stroll me by means of what was occurring in that second for you?
[Starts to choke up] You bought me emotional proper there.
Yeah, I knew this may be powerful. Take your time.
So once I go for walks, which I do day-after-day, I discuss to myself, or to my conscience — and thru that I really simply talk. So I used to be telling myself and I used to be speaking and saying: What might I do with a view to keep within the sport? Simply give me one thing. As a result of by then I misplaced my vote, I’ve misplaced belief, after which we’re shedding as a tribe. So I had no company, I had no vote, no nothing.
So when all the pieces fails, as somebody mentioned, you flip to God. And that is what you see. When all the pieces falls, when logic is out, that is once you flip to God. And I used to be like. “Present me that you simply’re listening to me.” And then you definately see a glimmer of that rainbow. So God is saying that, “No, we do not need you to vary as a result of what in the event that they practice you and also you grow to be one thing else that you’re not. No honey, go dwelling.”
Possibly that is what it’s. And I might take that as a miracle as a result of individuals are making an attempt to show me, coach me, which I do not want it. I am an excellent fan. I’ve seen each episode on each season of Survivor. Jeff Probst is my guru. That man had taught me a lot by means of the display. I do not want teaching greater than Jeff Probst did. It is simply that the sport went the best way it went. It is the luck of the draw. Had we received the problem, I might’ve gone to the following one after which I might’ve like: Okay, how do I get by means of this? So I used to be taking part in in the future at a time and possibly I ought to have thought 10 days forward.
The rationale Survivor will be so arduous is that you simply go on the market, and we noticed how emotional and troublesome it was for you, then 9 months later it’s a must to undergo all of it once more watching it play again on TV. How was that for you? What was it like having to observe a few of these scenes play again on TV?
The previous 9 months, I have not forgotten a single factor that occurred on the present. I have been considering: How I might have performed the sport, and shoulda, coulda, wouldas. However then after watching it, it is like ripping off the Band-aid. And seeing my journey on the present, I’m now coming to phrases with it. Sure, the superfans can be like, “Dude, we wish you to play the sport!” And I do know as a superfan if I am rooting for Bhanu, I would like Bhanu to simply play the strategic sport and simply go to the following degree. And I simply perceive why superfans are pissed off with me, however I additionally see their love and help. So thanks guys a lot. It means quite a bit to me.
Kenzie Petty, Tiffany Ervin, Bhanu Gopal, and Q Burdette on ‘Survivor 46’.
Robert Voets/CBS
How do you are feeling about your Yanu tribemates now?
The entire of the 18 individuals of season 46, we’re one household. I am wishing all of them the luck. Go struggle it out.
What did you concentrate on Jeff not having everybody go up and vote and simply form of having you come up and get your torch snuffed and never going by means of that formality, as a result of that was fairly distinctive.
Effectively you mentioned it. It’s distinctive, and I can not fault my guru. I respect the person a lot. And as you mentioned, it is distinctive. So let or not it’s distinctive.
What was it like for you proper after you probably did have your torch snuffed. You go off and also you eat a bunch of meals, I hope. However how was your psychological state after you bought off the island?
When my torch acquired snuffed, did you miss the following half? I acquired a hug from my guru! My guru Jeff Probst hugged me! Present me any season the place Jeff snuffs the torch and offers the contestant a hug with out them asking for it. He hugged me, and that that is all I wanted, his blessings. And I do know followers can be like, “Oh my god, this man!” However I went there for a private journey and lots of people are saying, “Oh, why did you go on the sport if you weren’t there to win 1,000,000 {dollars}?” I used to be born into poverty. I do know the worth of cash greater than anyone else. It’s solely 10 years in the past I moved to the U.S. I do know the worth of cash, but when I’m saying that individuals’s love and help is greater than 1,000,000 {dollars}, I actually imply it as a result of that is what it’s.
I am made this far in life due to arduous work, being humble, and being sincere. Not conniving, deceiving, saying dangerous issues about individuals. No, that would not get you far in life. Dalton, once you discuss to somebody, would you say give me a diplomatic reply or would you say, give me an sincere opinion? I need to be that Survivor participant the place individuals say, “You recognize what, Bhanu is totally different. He is an sincere man.” So it isn’t like once they take a look at Survivor participant, they’d be like, “Oh my God, we do not know the way they’re. They don’t seem to be sincere individuals.” No.
Effectively, I at all times say I need to see uncooked emotion and honesty, and also you undoubtedly delivered that in enormous quantities. And I admire you for being sincere along with your feelings on the market.
Thanks a lot. And I will depart you with this. A fan tweeted saying that her 7-year-old daughter final evening when watching the present, she cried saying that, “Mother, why are they voting Bhanu off? He would not need 1,000,000 {dollars}. He needs 1,000,000 hearts.” Dalton, a 7-year-old. That is what I am leaving the children and households with.
Join Leisure Weekly’s free each day publication to get breaking TV information, unique first seems, recaps, opinions, interviews along with your favourite stars, and extra.
Associated content material: