the right verdict

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The right verdict

Judges Farah Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shilpa Shetty are making their presence felt in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa

Subhash K Jha

It has been only a few days, and the judges on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, are being discussed more than the contestants.

Laughs Sanjay, "I wonder why is my presence in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa being discussed so avidly? Of course I'm having a ball. I'm being generous with my marks because I'm not a professional dancer. I react emotionally to the contestants. People are asking me why I gave such high marks to Ratiji (Agnihotri). It's because I genuinely found her outstanding. I kept remembering her song Solah Baras Ki Bali Umar Ko Salaam from her debut film Ek Duje Ke Liye. And I thought she was 16 again. Frankly speaking, I think Farah, Shilpa and I are not there to behave like know-it-alls. We're there to make sure everyone, including the judges have fun."

Shilpa Shetty who's currently in Chennai is equally bowled over by the positive response.

"This is my first foray into television. And I was nervous. But we're having so much fun. And I'm truly looking forward to more. Watching these contestants dance, I think I will develop an inferiority complex soon. And are we too generous in our judgment? I don't think so. Ratiji was fabulous. She's the senior-most contestant and to think she can dance the way she did after three slip discs! Anyway, viewers have only seen one episode. I think the contest with get tougher and the judges, stricter."

Adds Farah Khan, "Sanjay reacted emotionally to Ratiji. I think he has every right to give the marks he wants. I'm a professional choreographer on the show, I've to be more careful. I can't approve of a wrong move...just like Sonu Nigam on Indian Idol, who had to be stricter because he's a professional singer. I'm the strictest of the three judges, I guess. So I guess I'll be the most hated one on the show. But seriously, we judges are not there in to participate in a popularity contest. I think people should focus on the contestants instead."


• Watching these contestants dance, I think I will develop an inferiority complex soon — Shilpa Shetty

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Thanks kajol! I did think they were being biased towards Rati!

[quote=article]Adds Farah Khan, "Sanjay reacted emotionally to Ratiji. I think he has every right to give the marks he wants. I'm a professional choreographer on the show, I've to be more careful. I can't approve of a wrong move...just like Sonu Nigam on Indian Idol, who had to be stricter because he's a professional singer. I'm the strictest of the three judges, I guess. So I guess I'll be the most hated one on the show. But seriously, we judges are not there in to participate in a popularity contest. I think people should focus on the contestants instead." [/quote]

I doubt Farah will be the most hated judge on the show. In II2, she was one of the most disliked judges because she stressed other pts besides singing at times. Relatively speaking, Sonu was the most liked judge on II2. So Farah doesn't need to worry. She's an apt judge for JDJ.