Cinema VinesMini Mathur’s win on the reality show Alliance has sparked a lively debate about the nature of her friendship with fellow contestant Nikhil Chinapa. Viewers on social media have taken to the platform to argue over who was really pulling the strings during the competition, with some claiming that Mathur was Nikhil’s puppet and others suggesting the reverse. The actress‑host, however, has dismissed the accusations with a light‑hearted reply, saying the criticism misses the point of a relationship that has endured for decades.
Speaking to HT City after her victory, Mathur laughed at the “puppet” narrative, explaining that both she and Chinapa “are each other’s puppets” and that their partnership is a testament to a 25‑year‑old friendship. She noted that the two of them have built long‑standing careers spanning three decades and that their mutual support is often mistaken for manipulation. “I’m glad that somebody having your back is treated as puppetry or manipulation,” she said, adding that they are not easily swayed by outside forces.
Mathur also clarified that her participation in Alliance was not an attempt to reboot her career as a reality‑TV contestant. She revealed that she has a women’s health business on the horizon and that she hopes the show will demonstrate that women in their fifties can still carry the main character in a story. “I would like the world to realise that women in their 50s have main character energy,” she said. “You don’t have to put me on the side and give me something small. Craft something around me and I’ll do it. Why should I repeat my wins? Give me something new and I’ll bite it.”
Reflecting on her journey, Mathur recalled a touching moment when her family visited her during the six‑week shoot. She admitted that she had deliberately kept her thoughts of home at bay to focus on the competition, but the reunion with her daughter and other relatives proved to be a powerful source of motivation. “They reminded me of something I had always taught my children—that whatever you do, you have to be the best at it. They told me, ‘You always taught us to give our best, so now you win this and come back.’ It was emotional, but it recharged me,” she said.
