The show winners do not alwaystand 2 gain

Indian Idol, the Indian version of the famous international Idol series set the trend for which was followed by Zee Cinestars Ki khoj, Dance Dance, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa challenge 2005 followed by Ek Main aur Ek Tu, L'il champs and Rin Mera star Superstar etc. Reality talent hunt shows are the order of the day. But do reality talent hunt winners end up being as big a name in the industry as the ones who made it without such a platform?

Abhijit Sawant, the first Indian Idol is doing pretty well but the second Indian Idol Sandeep Acharya is nowhere to be seen after the contest that ended almost eight months back. Where are the winners of Ek Main aur Ek Tu — Ujjaini and Aishwarya? They just did a silly music video on the already sung songs of Madhur Bhandarkar's Corporate.

Zee Cine Stars Ki Khoj 2 is here, but no one knows what the winners Sharwar Ahuja and Aditi Sharma are doing. Their co-contestants Divyanka Tripathi, Sharad Malhotra, Yuvika Chaudhry, Abbas and Amruta Khanvilkar are happy being telly stars now. Similarly, Indian Idol contestants Rahul Vaidya, Prajakta, Kaurunya and Aditi seem to only make sporadic appearances.

"These people are getting a chance to perform on this platform which itself is a big thing for them. Again they get a chance to meet the most important people of the film industry. For us, it was a long struggle. We even had to beg for work. Ultimately in the end, it's the talent and the marketing which drives them ahead," says choreographer Terrance Lewis and judge of Dance Dance which was aired on Sony more than one and half years ago.

Anu Malik, judge of Indian Idol analyses why Abhijeet has done better than Sandeep. "Who knew Sandeep before? It's only because of Indian idol that he is being talked about right now. So now you know why Abhijeet is a star," he says candidly. Debojit Saha, the winner of Challenge 2005 is doing as good as Abhijit Sawant. But the graph of the progress will be only clear with time. Young Sanchita has no doubt won L'il Champs beating the much younger Sameer and Dwivakar, but whether she lives up to all expectations will be another story altogether.

"Debojit sang in a film for me. Sanchita has got a scholarship and with time she will make a name for herself. Himesh Reshhamiya has signed Vineet, the finalist of Challenge 2005," says Bappi Lahiri, judge of L'il Champs. His co judge Alka Yagnik sums it up better. "All of them can't get their due. Only the best can. And it's ultimately the hardwork, the course of action they take and how well they handle themselves and their career matters. We can just give them their initial boost," she says.

Even if you feel that the singers have done ok, the actors for now are still wannabes. The fist acting pair to emerge out of a reality talent hunt show, Aditi and Sharwar are still to make their debut. But they have not lost hope. They are very proud of their upcoming film with Mukta Arts. "I am doing a film with Mukta Arts. It's tentatively titled Raaste Pyaar Ke. I don't have any regrets with Zee. I mean it's alright, as the project is happening. I think they would start publicising the movie from next month. I have done a Godrej no.1 soap ad. Then I shot a short film with Pankaj Kapoor. Getting a break is a big thing. It's just been two years for me since I came to Mumbai. I have heard stories of people struggling for such a long time," says Aditi.

Sharwar too echoes her opinion. . "Only a couple of songs remain to be shot. There have been a lot of changes in the Zee management after the contest got over. It took time for the new people to start afresh. Besides Raaste Pyaar Ke, I am also doing a film with veteran Basu Bhatacharya, Ek Ladki Anjaani Si, which is a comedy flick. The shooting of the film is almost complete. I am also in starring in Phir Mile Na Mile, directed by Manish Goyal. But Raaste Pyaar Ke would be my first release. I have no complaints against Zee as it bought me to Mumbai and introduced me to the film industry," he says.

Zee TV also thinks that they will hit the right notes with this couple. "The music release is in December while the film would be released in February. In the entertainment industry sometimes it takes time for the project to get started. It may have taken longer than the scheduled time, but at least they have got the right platform to take off from. In the movie business promotion only starts before a few days of the film's release. Once the date comes nearer, you will see them everywhere. It's a strategy. If we talk about them now the impact will be killed during the time of release as you media people get bored very soon," justifies Tarun Meha, Sr Vice President, Marketing, Zee TV.

It's evident that they are still expecting something big. But it does sound like face saving words too. When Mukta Arts' star studded Kisna, Shaadi se Pehle and 36 China Town has failed to get the cash registers actually ringing, so where does this film stand? Also all the other names too sound so very obscure. Sahara too also supposed to launch a film star hunt show but chickened out at the last moment. To make big stars out of wannabes is not so easy and that's how it is. Anyways, will have to wait and watch awhile to get a clear picture on the Sharwar and Aditi story.