The ousted player talks about watching his emotional outbursts play out on TV.
Be careful what you wish for.
Bhanu Gopal wanted nothing more than to compete on his favorite TV show,Survivor.
Bhanu Gopal on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
But once he made it onto the island forSurvivor 46, his dream turned into a full-on nightmare.
Why did it all go so wrong so fast for Bhanu?
What was it like having to watch it all play back on TV?
David Jelinsky, Kenzie Veurink, Bhanu Gopal, Tiffany Ervin, Q Burdette, and Jess Chong on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
And how does he feel about his Yanu tribemates now?
Its your favorite show, youve seen every season.
So what happened out there?
Bhanu Gopal on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
BHANU GOPAL:Dalton, I’m a super fan.
And also to my fellow contestants, I love you all.
As a superfan of the show.
Kenzie Petty, Tiffany Ervin, Bhanu Gopal, and Q Burdette on ‘Survivor 46’.Robert Voets/CBS
I’ve seen it all from season 1, episode 1 to the latest season of 45.
I’ve seen all seasons, all episodes.
I’ve seen how people have played.
I just couldn’t relate to it.
It’s a great gameplay, but is that how I want to play?
I want to try something different.
So that’s what I did.
I tried something different.
So I have tried.
From what we saw on TV, you did a lot of asking people for help.
Were there other moves you made or tried to make that we did not see?
At the start of the season, it’s not that people were helping me or anything.
and We need to get them out.
I’m strategizing constantly.
And another thing which fans have not seen is my relationship withJess.
Jess is like my sister.
She’s my best friend.
We love each other.
What they’ve seen is a glimpse of me, a second of me just yelling her name.
But what they haven’t shown is the bond between me and Jess.
We were all yelling at the challenge, and I was a little frustrated and just yelled the name.
I apologized to Jess.
I hope the fans of Jess out there forgive me for that.
Bhanu, we’ve seen a lot worse in challenges over 46 seasons than yelling someone’s name.
I wouldn’t worry too much about that.
How did you feel about Q coaching you on how to answer Jeffs questions at Tribal Council?
Q has good intentions, I guess.
We never sat as a tribe and just had that conversation.
We were never able to communicate, and that’s why we failed and we failed miserably.
And super fans should know and my fellow contestants also know thatSurvivoris a very tough game.
And I never had that.
I am always on the outs.
I was like, Hey, I’m going out.
This is what’s happening.
But when the miracle happened and I get to stay, I wanted to talk to Tiffany.
That’s the message I wanted to convey.
But it was received in a different way.
I wanted to show that I’m a trustworthy and honest guy.
“This happened because I’m on the outside.
If you work with me, we will go till the end, I promise.”
Because you’ve seen me, Dalton.
I’m very good at challenges.
I’m never like, Oh no, I can’t do this.
No, I never once sulked about not sleeping for nine days.
I never sulked about not eating nothing.
I wanted to play the game.
That’s the thing.
But how do you get it?
I wanted to play the honest game.
I wanted to show that they can trust me, but it backfired.
And that to me wasSurvivorat its most raw.
Can you walk me through what was going on in that moment for you?
[Starts to choke up] You got me emotional right there.
Yeah, I knew this would be tough.
Just give me something.
So I had no agency, I had no vote, no nothing.
So when everything fails, as someone said, you turn to God.
And that’s what you see.
When everything falls, when logic is out, that’s when you turn to God.
And I was like.
Show me that you’re listening to me.
And then you see a glimmer of that rainbow.
No honey, go home.
Maybe that’s what it is.
I’m a super fan.
I’ve seen every episode on every season ofSurvivor.
Jeff Probst is my guru.
That man had taught me so much through the screen.
I don’t need coaching more than Jeff Probst did.
It’s just that the game went the way it went.
It’s the luck of the draw.
So I was playing one day at a time and maybe I should have thought 10 days ahead.
How was that for you?
What was it like having to watch some of those scenes play back on TV?
The past nine months, I haven’t forgotten a single thing that happened on the show.
I’ve been thinking: How I could have played the game, and shoulda, coulda, wouldas.
But then after watching it, it’s like ripping off the Band-aid.
And seeing my journey on the show, I am now coming to terms with it.
Yes, the superfans would be like, Dude, we want you to play the game!
And I just understand why superfans are frustrated with me, but I also see their love and support.
So thank you guys so much.
It means a lot to me.
How do you feel about your Yanu tribemates now?
The whole of the 18 people of season 46, we are one family.
I’m wishing them all the luck.
Go fight it out.
Well you said it.
It is unique, and I cannot fault my guru.
I respect the man so much.
And as you said, it’s unique.
So let it be unique.
What was it like for you right after you did have your torch snuffed.
You go off and you eat a bunch of food, I hope.
But how was your mental state after you got off the island?
When my torch got snuffed, did you miss the next part?
I got a hug from my guru!
My guru Jeff Probst hugged me!
He hugged me, and that that’s all I needed, his blessings.
And I know fans would be like, Oh my god, this guy!
I was born into poverty.
I know the value of money more than anybody else.
Its only 10 years ago I moved to the U.S.
I’ve made it this far in life because of hard work, being humble, and being honest.
Not conniving, deceiving, saying bad things about people.
No, that wouldn’t get you far in life.
I want to be thatSurvivorplayer where people say, You know what, Bhanu is different.
He’s an honest man.
They’re not honest people."
And I appreciate you for being honest with your emotions out there.
Thank you so much.
And I’ll leave you with this.
He doesn’t want a million dollars.
He wants a million hearts.
Dalton, a 7-year-old.
That’s what I’m leaving the kids and families with.
