NEW DELHI - He has, in his own words, “risen from the ashes like a phoenix” and each controversy has just helped make him stronger. But Rahul Mahajan, who is now set to choose his life partner on national television, says he loves babies and that is the major reason he wants to settle down in life.

Rahul, the son of late Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Mahajan, is all set to feature as a bridegroom on NDTV Imagine’s reality show “Rahul Dulhania Le Jayenge”, where he will choose his “perfect life partner” out of 16 girls.

He was earlier seen in shows like “Chhote Miyan” and “Bigg Boss”.

“I did a children’s programme some time back where the kids’ parents were only two to three years older than me. So lately I have been feeling the need to get married and also to have a new person, a new baby in my family and I really want to settle down in life,” Rahul told IANS in an interview here. He was earlier married to childhood friend Shweta, but they later parted ways.

He is looking forward to pampering babies.

“My father always wanted me to have a successful marriage and he wanted a grandchild. I couldn’t fulfil his wish when he was alive, but I hope to do it now. I am really fond of babies. When my kids grow up, I want to teach them that whatever I give to them, they should give back to their kids,” he said.

But considering Rahul’s chequered past, which includes allegations of beating his ex-wife, a drug abuse case in 2006, an alleged affair with actress Payal Rohatgi and flirting with “Bigg Boss” co-participant Monica Bedi, why should a girl choose to marry him?

“I think people must have found something nice about me in the time I have been in the spotlight. I’ve gone through a lot in life and have always come back to fight again. Every year I am trying to do something better to make my livelihood.”

Rahul is not thinking of politics just yet.

“The next Lok Sabha election is in 2014. I don’t want to get into politics yet. I would first like to stabilise myself financially and personally. Once I do that, there is no reason why I shouldn’t serve the nation, but when I do so, it will be on my terms. So I will first settle myself, then devote myself to the country,” Rahul said.

For now, Rahul is confining his involvement in politics to campaigning for his sister Poonam, who is contesting from Mumbai’s Ghatkopar West constituency in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

“I will be campaigning for Poonam and if any candidate in Maharashtra wants me to campaign for them, I will do it. But my loyalty will always remain with the BJP,” the 34-year-old said.

Rahul, who had to shoulder a lot of responsibilities after his father was shot dead in 2006, says he wants to concentrate on strengthening his financial position with resources from the entertainment industry.

Speaking of the troubles he has faced, Rahul said: “After a lot of hardships, if a person is able to get back on his or her feet once again, that’s the biggest quality one can have. I have risen from the ashes like a phoenix.”

“Rahul Dulhania Le Jayenge” is set to go on air in December.

(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)