Illegal moves on Nach Baliye

Heavy betting on which pair will win the dance competition

Reena Thapar Kapoor

Who's the winner?' That question can cost a fortune or help rake in one, in the world of sports. A television show is getting ready to give tough competition to cricket now. Apparently, people within the television industry and outside it as well have started betting on their favourite Nach Baliye jodi. The dance competition on this Star One show actually kick-started yesterday but the aam juntas's curiosity about the final winners seems to have reached an interesting stage. "Nach Baliye is a unique concept. We get to see something new and that's a refreshing change from the reality shows that have been on air for some time now," says Ajinkya Sood, a resident of Malad. A small time art director, Sood lives close to Delnaz and Rajiv Paul. "We stay around the same area as them. They come across as nice people but I have to watch them perform to actually bet on them," he says. According to him, the idea of actually betting on the winners of the dance competition was given to him by his wife. "Women these days are obsessed with TV and its stars. When she told me about it I thought it would be fun. Also it doesn't involve big money," he adds. Although the man refuses to disclose the amount he is betting, he's placed his money on Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar as the favourite (that's the term the bookies use) pair. The buzz is that Star One too considers them as strong contenders.

Real estate agent Bishwadeep Dash admits that his friends and he are also betting on the real life couples participating in Nach Baliye. "I'm counting a lot on Rajeshwari Sachdev and Varun Badola. They have a certain magic that can probably make them the winners. My friends too agree with that," he says. A Goregaon resident, Dash says that he enjoys the game of betting: "The risk factor is always exciting. It keeps you alert all the time. One wrong bhaw and you could lose a huge amount." The man is also banking on Apoorva Agnihotri and Shilpa Saklani: "They look good together. We haven't ever seen them together, not even in pictures. There is newness to them and that's their USP. From the promos I can tell that they are good dancers and have a great chemistry. I hope they capitalise on it."

Who'll make it and who'll lose what amount of money remains a question that will be answered only with time. Just like the participants, the bookies too are biting their nails in nervousness. "This is absolutely crazy," says Star One. You bet!

well, dont know about the money part, but my favourites too are supriya and sachin.

They rocked the stage with their simplicity, their wonderful bonding and the good humour when on stage. They have a teenage daughter and even she could not control her tears seeing them rock the stage.

Varun and Rajeshwari were also awesome. Neat moves, simple steps and what chemistry!!!!!

Apu and Shilpa, I hope they work on their chemistry bit... becos while we all know it exists, on stage, it just did not translate. They were much too preoccupied with the dance to relate to each other on stage.

The diff between them and the other couples like Parmeet Archana, Supriya Sachin and Varun and Rajeshwari was the confidence in themselves, their attitude and the fact that they were most comfortable doing it.

Delnaaz Paul was awesome. I mean, i wold not have thought she would have danced with such abandon. She enjoyed herself and the enthusiasm with infectious. Rajeev complimented her very well.