After the last episode, I am now convinced with zero doubt that, in what degree I don't know, but Rashmi has scripted some/all of her BB experience with the showrunners PRIOR to entering. (probably even prior to signing any contract at all!) If you are a Rashmi fan, then I just want to say - try not to jump to conclusions and read through the following with an open, objective, critical mind while recalling things as they happened. I wrote it from memory so I may have messed up the order or left things out, so please do let me know.
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Rashmi's BB13 saga in order:
- She got offered the show multiple times throughout the years, but rejected it each time.
- At some point she met and became close with Arhaan, offers kept coming.
- She was in some supposed deep financial trouble, Arhaan helped her through it, offers kept coming.
- She finally accepted the show because (among other things) she thought it would help Arhaan.
- She gave Arhaan, strongly implied to be her serious boyfriend now, keys to her place and went to the show, knowing fully well that Arhaan would be joining later.
- She did not hesitate in the premier episode when Salman/others teased her about starting something up with Shukla.
- Once in the house, initially she even played along and acted cute/sorta flirty with Shukla.
- Eventually, it was clear they wouldn't get along. Shukla started fully attacking her in fights, and she followed suit.
- She got eliminated in the first padhao. Arhaan walked in as she walked out. She acted surprised to see Arhaan and maintained that they were friends.
- Arhaan went in the house. Rashmi went home/away.
- Rashmi makes her big return with Devo. Immediately jumps into a 'lover's tiff' type zone with Arhaan hinting at an eventual relationship. Remember, this man had her house keys that even her own family didn't have when he was out and she was in originally.
- Rashmi starts subtly hinting at something romantic. Notable cringefests include her biting Arhaan's cheek during the rakshas task and her flying jhappi in the kitchen.
- Around this time, Sid vs Asim slowly became an important story in the show (and, lets face it, the central rivalry/storyline of the season all the way up to the Feb finale, it seems!) Maybe Rashmi and Arhaan thought this wasn't the right time to act and decided to cool off and wait for a bit.
- Arhaan is surprisingly (to us!) eliminated.
- Arhaan goes to every damn interviewer who will listen to him and shares the least subtle hints ever that a love angle was in the works. As noted by Salman, he also mentions to the makers that he is interested in an engagement on the show. He must have told them she would agree. (After all, she left her house with him just a few weeks ago!)
- Meanwhile, Sid vs Asim has now fully taken form as the centerpiece of the season. TRPs are through the roof & extension conversations are going on. Sid is the heart of the season as planned, but along with a nobody contestant who people had almost zero expectations from, effectively taking Rashmi's spot as one of the 2 "stars" of the show originally built around Sid/Rashmi. Rashmi is now very visibly a secondary player.
- Arhaan shows up. Nazarandas task mein he flashes the ring.
- Arhaan's re-entry happens. Zero time is wasted on establishing them as an official couple. The original 'vibe' (of Rashmi being the one who would khao bhav, and Arhaan would be consoling her and being the loving boyfriend) is totally dropped. There is a game to play, these two are way behind, and they know it. So no faked chemistry moments. Rashmi tries to reestablish herself as a 'lead' by loudly getting into fights etc. To us, this looks like Rashmi got her confidence back now that Arhaan is in the house.
- Somewhere along the way, Arhaan tells Rashmi some drama is stirring up outside. Basically, the Amrita thing. Not televised, but the conversation 100% happened in the BB house based on timing.
- Salman brings up Arhaan's marriage. Rashmi, playing dumb for a good five-ten minutes, utters the word 'the marriage?' after a little bit of grilling. When Salman mentions the kid, now Rashmi is truly shocked (or so she is acting)
- Salman comes into the house and clears things up. Rashmi makes sure to mention how much Arhaan has helped her, and how much he means to her even now.
- Rashmi gets over this entire ordeal suspiciously quickly. She is focusing on the game. Shines in the captaincy task along with Asim. Also, a friendship with Asim is now taking shape.
- Arhaan brags to Bagga about having helped Rashmi back from bankrupcy (aka 'the road' - when she had multiple properties bringing her passive income even if acting work was not going well)
- Salman brings up the family's issues. Advises Arhaan to keep his mouth shut. Rashmi's brother is now in the picture and Arhaan's family is also now an unseen shadow character/s in the show. Salman tells Rashmi that Arhaan's family is staying at her place. Arhaan denies it.
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Okay, so looking at this entire situation, two things are very clear to me:
- There is some serious scripting involved, with Rashmi fully onboard. How much, till when, and were mistakes/improvisations made along the way? - don't know. But there is some heavy manipulation here, and Rashmi's mouth under pressure has tied her into a knot of lies in the last two weeks.
- We are in the middle of a story arc. Will this end with a marriage? Or a break up? Or just an eviction? That is yet to be seen. But, SOMEONE is pulling SOME strings. Rashmi and Arhaan's own involvement isn't clear yet as of now, but the makers have something in mind. There is a story, and we are currently in Act 2 of 3. It will probably be stretched up to February, but probably not the finale week as it would be incredibly foolish to lose players like Sana/Asim/Vishal/Paras before Arhaan.
I always liked Rashmi, especially more recently - but after all this has gone down she is definitely not my choice for the winner at all. And I don't think the makers see her as a winner material either, considering how she's gone and come back (while they are making sure to underline that Sid is STILL in the show/isolation despite being in the hospital). There is some heavy manipulation involved in this track. As of now, its tough to know how blurred the lines are. I still think she is an interesting character on the show, and she has had some great moments (most recently her performance in the katputli task along with Asim, Shefali J, and Vikas G). Still, I think we should all note that she is not what meets the eye at all. And frankly, that leaves a somewhat bad taste in my mouth. I like the show, I like her, and she was one of my favorites alongside Asim. But, I am just feeling like the makers, Arhaan, and her TOGETHER are making a mockery of what is already a pretty good reality show contest that doesn't necessarily 'need' all this drama to be interesting.
Book Talk
Anupamaa
