After becoming one of Love Is Blind's most infamous contestants, Abhishek "Shake" Chatterjee is finally embracing his villain title.
That's why when the veterinarian-turned-DJ got the chance to compete against nine other notorious reality TV personalities for $200,000 on E!'s new series House of Villains, he jumped at the chance.
"It's a double-edged sword," Shake exclusively told E! News' Francesca Amiker of his polarizing reputation. "Part of the reason I ever wanted to go on the show was to clear me out of that villain category. But the house definitely had different plans for me. Once you're with these people and in these unique scenarios, it brings out a certain side of you. I'm not too mad at it though, honestly."
As he put it, "At the end of the day, I think villains have their admirable qualities too and I'm no longer anti-villain."
Despite his volatile breakup from ex-fiancée Deepti Vempati on season two of the Netflix series, the 33-year-old says fans show him more love than hate when they meet him.
"I think they like the chaos, they like the honestly," Shake explained. "The thing they always say is, 'Man, you were the realest one on there. Thank you.' That means more to me than if I was some fake version of myself."
"And even if I was liked more or more embraced by everybody, if I was some fake, sweetheart type of thing, that's no good," he continued. "I was genuinely myself and if people can respect me and like me for that, that's the ultimate win for me. Even if it's a smaller number of people."
On House of Villains, Shake will have to outsmart, out-manipulate and out-scheme fellow infamous reality stars like OMAROSA, Jax Taylor and Johnny Bananas in weekly challenges in an attempt to snag the cash prize. With so many big personalities together under one roof, expect tons of drama.
As for which of his costars was the most impressive when it came to reading their other housemates to filth? That title goes to the epically shady Tiffany "New York" Pollard.
"I had never heard anybody put together strings of insults like that before and it was like art," he admitted. "Any time she would go off on one of her rants I would lose it because it was just hilarious. Nobody can do it like her."
See Shake go head-to-head with other reality TV "villains" for a $200,000 prize when House of Villains premieres Thursday, Oct. 12, at 10 p.m. on E!. And keep reading to meet the rest of the cast.
International television personality and former model Jax Taylor has rapidly made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Jax starred in Bravo's breakout hit series Vanderpump Rules for eight seasons and became one of the most polarizing figures on the show. Most recently, Jax, with his wife Brittany Cartright, appeared on the popular Peacock series Watch With the Cast, where they shared their views on the latest drama of Vanderpump Rules season 10. Currently, Jax hosts his top-rated podcast with his wife, When Reality Hits With Jax and Brittany, for Podcast One.
Corinne Olympios burst on the scene in 2017 as the breakout star of season 21 of The Bachelor. Her hilarious quips, unconventional style and unapologetic strategy on The Bachelor made her a hot topic in pop culture. She didn't go on to win the final rose, but any true fan would agree she's the best Bachelor villain of all time.
Reality television icon OMAROSA made her first reality appearance as a contestant on the first season of The Apprentice in 2004. Since then, she has appeared on numerous spin-offs of The Apprentice as well as Fear Factor and Celebrity Big Brother. In addition to her television portfolio, OMAROSA is an accomplished businesswoman and has thrived as an executive in real estate and development. She previously served as the Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison in the White House and was an aide in the Office of Presidential Personnel as well the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). OMAROSA is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a much sought after motivational and inspirational speaker.
Known for her sharp wit and funny moments, Tiffany "New York" Pollard is an original reality television legend. She made her debut on Flavor of Love in 2006 and was quickly dubbed a fan favorite. She then starred in her own spin-offs I Love New York, New York Goes to Hollywood, New York Goes to Work and, more recently, Brunch with Tiffany. A self-proclaimed "Head B---h in Charge" (HBIC), Tiffany is a firecracker and not one to be messed with.
Champion of MTV's The Challenge seven times, Johnny Bananas is ready to notch another victory on his belt and do what he does best—bring down the house—on House of Villains. Known for his strong athletic abilities, methods of manipulation and dynamic sense of humor, Johnny isn't a reality star, but a reality supernova to be reckoned with.
As America's favorite (and possibly only) veterinarian/DJ combo, Shake Chitterjee is no stranger to living life on his own terms—even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way. Since his time on season two of Love Is Blind, Shake has brought his talents from the Windy City to sunny Miami, where he continues to save puppies by day and drop beats by night.
Hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y., Tanisha Thomas is an accomplished television host, reality television personality and executive producer. She rose to fame on the Oxygen series The Bad Girls Club where her charismatic personality and catchy one-liners led her to becoming a cultural icon in pop culture. Additionally, she appeared on her own show, Tanisha Gets Married, becoming one of the only Bad Girls to receive a spin-off from the series and hosted various reunions for the franchise. She even hosted her own nationally syndicated talk show Crazy Talk, opposite host Ben Aaron. Tanisha, who has made appearances on various other reality shows and is a true fan favorite, strives to create epic relatable content, combined with passion and substance that will inspire and resonate with fans everywhere.
Originally from Russia, Anfisa Arkhipchenko skyrocketed to fame in 2016 while starring on 90 Day Fiancé as she documented her memorable relationship on-camera. Since her appearance on the reality series, Anfisa has graduated from college and found success in the fitness industry.
Jonny Fairplay is a reality TV icon and a Survivor Hall of Famer where he created his infamous move, "the dead grandma lie." He's been featured on more than 90 individual television shows, most notably winning Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding and being the only co-host of Fear Factor. He's a proud father to his two children, Finn and Madilyn, and hosts his own podcast, The Reality After Show with Jonny Fairplay.
Born in Miami, rapper and entrepreneur Bobby Lytes made history as the first openly gay main cast member on Love & Hip Hop: Miami, breaking boundaries in the hip-hop industry. Since the show's premiere in 2018, Bobby has become renowned for his unapologetic point of view, charismatic demeanor and show-stopping style. In addition to his music career, Bobby has a passion for fashion, cooking and the arts.