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So the grand finale is finally over. Rahul, the man who was content with staying on the margins and living in the shadows for most part of the show when it began, finally emerged as the man who beat the rest to take home the big booty, reports Sowmya Rajaram.
But we wish we didn't have to wait as long as we did to see it.
Drag, drag, drag — that's what the grand finale really ought to have been called.
More an endless wait and less a humdinger, the last episode of India's most adventurous reality TV show was anything but interesting.
The show was punctuated by some endless and not-so-arresting recaps from the show, dance performances by Roopali (!) and Rakhi and spoofs by Baba Sehgal, which fell rather flat.
Some repetitive emceeing by hand-wringing host Arshad Warsi reminded one of a bad imitation of Amitabh Bachchan's constant hand wringing during his KBC days.
The end threatened to never come. But finally Ravi was booted out.
He went on a rather long thank you address, which included a heart-felt and long-drawn admission of "I hold no grudges against all the people I shared the house with" and "I love my wife and kids and am a changed man".
Carol walked out only to be told she wasn't the winner.
And in a rather tame end, Rahul walked out to some fireworks and confetti and a suitcase packed to the brim with the moolah he had won after his three-month stay.
Good for you, Rahul. We're waiting to see if all the publicity resurrects your non-existent filmi career. Ditto for the others.
sowmya.rajaram@mid-day.com

Ravi bana Gabbar Singh!
By: Vickey Lalwani
January 29, 2007

Ravi Kissen Ravi Kissen did not win Bigg Boss's Rs 50 lakh moolah, but he's still got a reason to smile. The Bhojpuri actor has been chosen to play the title role in Ekta Kapoor's Bhojpuri co-production with Mahesh Pandey, called Gabbar Singh. Pandey is also directing the film. Unsure Kissen had been signed for the title role before he entered Bigg Boss's house, but Balaji did not want to reveal his name before the show was over. Says Kapoor, "Ravi will play the title role of Gabbar Singh. It was entirely Mahesh's decision. Casting Ravi, who is a huge star in the Bhojpuri circuit, as an anti-hero is a casting coup because the film will highlight the ultimate villain." Elaborating on that, Mahesh says that Ravi was not sure whether he should do the role or not. "He wanted to know if I wanted him for Jai or Veeru's role. When I told him that he should play Gabbar Singh, there was a long silence on the phone. I coaxed him to meet up with me and then take the final call. We met at B R Studios, where he was dubbing for a film. We were supposed to catch up for 10 minutes but the meeting went on for 90 minutes; Ravi got so engrossed in the characterisation. At the end of it, he got up and hugged me. And I knew that he was doing it, there was no need for him to actually say yes." Not Sholay! Mithun Chakraborty was Balaji's first choice for Gabbar's role. "Mithunda loved the role but did not want to do it for personal reasons," says Pandey. Thereafter, Mahesh even thought of casting Shatrughan Sinha and Nana Patekar. "But then Ravi's name quickly came on board. He fits the character I have conceived. I am not making a remake of Sholay. My film is entirely from Gabbar's point of view. In the end, the audience will not only identify but sympathise with him too." Giving the first details about the role, Mahesh says that Ravi will be shown as a farmer and then as a fauji, before he eventually becomes Gabbar Singh. Ravi will lock horns with Jeetendra (in Thakur's role), who incidentally played his father in his debut film Udhar Ki Zindagi. Jetendra, who is currently in Singapore, tells HiTLIST, "Ravi is an excellent actor and has gone very far in Bhojpuri cinema." Balaji has chosen Sikandar Kharbanda (Indraneil of Kasautii Zindagii Kay) and Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirava to play Jai and Veeru respectively. Gujarati film heroine Mona Thiba will don the garb of Basanti, while Bhojpuri singer Kalpana will play Radha. Shooting begins from February 5 and will be shot in a single schedule of 31 days in UP. Gabbar Sigh will be the costliest Bhojpuri film till date, with a budget estimated at Rs 2.5 crore. http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/january/150922.htm

Shilpa shining
Monday, January 29, 2007 23:59 IST

Neeru v/s Neeru

During the filming of the finale episode of Bigg Boss, Amit Sadh's secret biwi Neeru looked through pretty much every other contestant.

An eye witness revealed, "Neeru is a very private person. She was very put off by the show and everyone associated with it, so she chose to keep her distance.

When Rakhi (her real name is Neeru too!) came up to her to say hello, Neeru just gave her a cold stare forcing her back into the corner she had crawled out of!"

http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/january/150978.htm

Aryan: I've moved on

If the contestants of Bigg Boss were right about one thing, it's the Aryan-Anupama romance. Pretty much everyone felt that Aryan was really feeling the love, while Punna was just… well… feeling him up!

And sure enough, Verma booted Vaid out of her life as soon as she was booted out of the show.

What's more, she even lashed out at poor Aryan during the finale blaming him for "being a different person outside the show."

The truth, dahlings, is that Punna is now a bonafide celebrity and is being courted by several strapping young things. It's the 'so many men, so little time' syndrome.

But Aryan isn't singing 'Jab dil hi toot gaya, hum jee ke kya karange' either. He's moved on. Atta boy!

http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/january/150978.htm

'Rakhi did not understand me' Patcy N

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Rahul Roy

Even though he debuted with a blockbuster hit Ashiqui, Bollywood wrote him off ages ago.

Today, he has risen from the ashes, and become the toast of the silver screen. Rahul Roy is on cloud nine after winning Sony Entertainment Television's popular reality show, Bigg Boss.

"The fact that I have won Bigg Boss is yet to sink in," Rahul tells us. "Until yesterday, I did not understand how huge this was. I was cut off from the world when I was inside the Big Boss house. But now, when I go through TV channels and newspapers, and see the amount of phone calls and messages coming in, it's unbelievable! But it's incredibly humbling and fantastic."

"I did not go (to Bigg Boss) to win, neither did I think that I would win at any point. It was when only two of us -- Carol (Gracias) and me -- were left that it dawned upon me that I have a 50 per cent chance of winning. That was when I prayed to God," Rahul continues.

The actor has bagged a prize money of Rs 50 lakhs. When asked how he would spend it, he said, "I would like to do something for children. My mom worked with the UNICEF for 36 years. I will also do charity work with an ashram in Akkalkott near Sholapur (in Maharashtra)."

For Roy, being on the show was exciting and terrifying as well, as it got people to face themselves and make them realise what they were made of.

"Bigg Boss made me accept my flaws," Rahul explains. "I will always have great memories of being on this show. Living 24/7 with different people for three months was worth it."

Unlike the other participants like Rakhi Sawant who had a bitter fight with Amit Sadh, Rahul claims he did not have many ups and downs in the show. "I believed in God," he says. "But I observed the pain that people went through in the show when they were missing their families, or when they could not convey what they felt to other housemates. I could feel their pain. That was heart-wrenching."

Rahul got along with Carol and Ravi Kissen the most. After all, the three of them remained in the house till the end.

"Ravi and Carol were winners too," Rahul says. "They were incredible and deserved to be there till the end. Anupama (Varma) and Ragini were great. I like Roopali (Ganguly) too. I got incredibly fond of Amit Sadh. Baba Sehgal was funny. Deepakji (Parshar) was very civilised, a gentleman who wanted to genuinely look after us. I have a lot of respect for Deepak Tijori, whom I have known for years now. Kash (Kashmira Shah) is independent. Rakhi (Sawant) was entertainment throughout. She is capable of giving love. But she should trust people more."

Of course, not everyone on the show felt so warmly about the other. In a Mumbai tabloid, Roopali claimed that Rakhi was 'third-grade.'

"I respect whatever Roopali said," Rahul replies. "But I have my views on Rakhi even though she changes her opinion and words often. I would still like to believe that there is a possibility of her being a good human being. Roopali might have felt bad about something Rakhi said and for which Rakhi probably would not have apologised. But that is something between them."

The actor rubbished allegations that his choice to be silent throughout the show was part of a strategy. "It's not the strategy; that is the way I live," he explains. "I do not jump to conclusions. I do not react to situations because if two people react in a volatile manner, there will never be a solution to any situation."

"It's not that I could not get along with anyone. It's just that Rakhi did not understand me. Eventually, she admitted it and even apologised. She still finds it difficult to understand me. So I can't say I hated anyone. But I will never forgive my roommates for making me wear a sari! I have never done that even in my films," the actor exclaims.

But the actor would not mind a second season of Bigg Boss. After all, the show brought him great offers from prestigious banners.

"I am going to do things, which will help me retain and maintain the respectability that has been given to me. I will be part of movies that I believe in. A person making a comeback is not unheard of. I have always approached life in a very positive way," Rahul concludes.

Ab kya karein?

Now that Bigg Boss is over, the three finalists must be feeling rather empty and unoccupied. Sowmya Rajaram suggests a few things they can do, not just to beat the boredom that may have set in, but also to cash in on all the 'benefits' they have accrued, by virtue of being on the reality show.

Rahul Roy

Put the prize money to good use and get a new haircut. Spare us from seeing you sport the Nick Carter-ish mane from the age of 24 to 40.
Also, buy a new cell phone. There might be a battery of calls from directors and producers wanting you to play the silent, steely uncle or father in films.

Carol Gracias

Fire your maid, cook, dhobi and other domestic help. It will be difficult to let go the habit of doing all the housework for the past three months.
Learn a foreign language. After that positively-atrocious Hindi, it would be good to hear you speak a language other than English, fluently. Already a supermodel before you entered the Bigg Boss house, we wonder if Bollywood is your next stop. If it is, then add re-learn Hindi in the to-do list.

Ravi Kissen

Hire a stylist and an image consultant. NOW. Those unflattering cleavage revealing V-neck T-shirts and the choicest Hindi abuse might not double your Bhojpuri fans. Play dutiful husband and doting dad to assure wife and kids that your colourful past has been left far behind in Karjat.

Rakhi unplugged
By: Tushar Joshi
January 31, 2007

Bindaas bol: Rakhi Sawant Rakhi Sawant is on an all time high. "I am just on my way to meet Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He's called me and I am really excited," says the item girl, who says her life has changed post Bigg Boss. Here, Sawant talks about certain interesting events that have caught her fancy. KJo rocks I was totally bowled over when I read that Karan Johar wanted me on his show. I really admire him as a person. In spite of being the number one director, he has retained his humility. I would love to take Bobby Darling with me, as he needs to get as much help as possible for his operation. I would love to answer his rapid-fire questions and take home the coffee hamper. 'Kiss'a Dhoom ka I loved Dhoom:2 and the kiss between Ash and Hritik was just sensational. I don't know why it's being made into such a big deal. I am a huge Hrithik fan and have performed with him on numerous shows. He and Sussanne are the sweetest people anyone can ever meet. I would love to do even a small role in his film. On KBC 3 The dhamaal Shah Rukh Khan is doing on KBC is just unbelievable. I would love to play the game with him and get lots of hugs without having to lose any money! Ash-Abhi's shaadi They should get married really soon. It's quite funny how both Ash and I have a guy with the same name in our lives. I want them to have two children, one boy and a girl. They seem to be madly in love and look amazing together. Get nosey People may make fun of Himesh Reshammiya, but he is a rockstar. He can sing through his nose, eyes or ears, but people buy his music. If some one else wants to be popular then he too can sing through whichever part of his body he wishes. I don't know why he's wearing a cap though. If he has less hair then I know some one who can do good hair weaving in America. But he will still be my favourite with or without the topi. No Mana for Sanju I don't want Sanjay Dutt to get married to Maanyata. Sorry Sanju baba, but I love you too much, so I am worried about you. You are better off single. Indian Jade Goody She's made us all proud. Even though I didn't have racial discrimination in Bigg Boss, I also had another Jade Goody in our house in the form of Kashmera. I have gone through more shit than Shilpa has on her show. But I am glad she put India on the global map. Wedding dancer John and Bipasha are like two angels. I have heard them say such good things about me when I was locked up in the house. They are meant for each other and I want them to get married real soon. In fact, I would love to dance to their songs at the wedding. So please invite me, John! http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/january/151036.htm

Carol's back!

getting a life: Sheetal Malhar, Sumit Jainand   ; CarolGarcias pic/PradeepD hivar

Carol Gracias was spotted back on the ramp at Sagar Couture's wedding fashion gala at the JW Marriott.

Carol obviously didn't need a break to rest and recuperate after being on the reality show.

There were no telltale signs of fatigue, as she looked resplendent in a shimmering sari. Ravi Kissen would approve.

http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/january/151035.htm