Rakhi should've shown dignity - Article

After high voltage and exhaustive performances for 13 weeks, small screen's not-so-well-known actors, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Aamir Ali, have been voted the best dancing couple of "Nach Baliye 3", defeating the popular drama queen Rakhi Sawant and her partner Abhishek Awasthi.

Thanks to the show, the Sanjeeda-Aamir duo has now become household names.

"Nach Baliye" selects celebrities from the small screen and throws them together in the challenging competition with their real life partners. This year 11 couples participated.

The search for the best dancing couple ended after Saturday midnight with Sanjeeda-Aamir dancing away with the first prize of Rs.2 million and a car while their choreographers Arun and Chetan won Rs.1 million.

Bollywood heartthrob Salman Khan, who entertained the viewers with his one-liners and did many jigs to his hit numbers, announced the winners and gave away the prizes.

Before naming the winners, Salman made a request: "Please don't cry after the announcement because we have not come to mourn here."

However, Rakhi couldn't keep Salman's request. When the results were announced, the drama queen - touted as the sure shot winner - was visibly shocked and immediately left the stage with her partner. She didn't even stay to take the runners up trophy.

The camera captured her crying and sobbing. Later, talking to a television channel, she alleged that votes had been tampered with and she was included in the show merely as a publicity tool.

Dressed in blue and silver, Sanjeeda and Aamir made a perfect couple. Unlike Rakhi, they maintained their poise and controlled their anxiety before the announcement and excitement after winning the trophy.

Talking to press, post event, Aamir reacted to Rakhi's walkout by saying, " I think Rakhi should have kept her dignity and accepted the results in the right spirit."

Meanwhile Rakhi is still sour about her Nach experience. "I've stopped believing in God," says Rakhi who has decided that she will not step into a temple until justice is done.

"I'm not doing it for publicity. I have worked so hard for this show. Both Abhishek and I have made huge sacrifices," she adds.

"Our voting lines had closed four hours before the results were announced. Star Plus has paid lakhs to people in call centres to vote for Aamir and Sanjeeda. I know of a company who did flood voting for the other couple.

I think Star Plus should rename the show to Star Baliye, so only their actors can take part and win. I will never take part in another reality show. It has been the worst experience of my life."

However the judges, including choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant, director David Dhawan and actress Isha Koppikar, were not complaining at all.

They were satisfied with the two finalists' dance technique, choreography and presentation and the final result.

Other "funny" awards distributed in the grand final round were Haan Ji Haan which went to Kashmira Shah-Krishna; Bol Baliye was given to the most talkative contestant Pooja Bedi; the Mind Blowing couple award went to the hosts Hussain-Tina; Most Damdar Jodi went to Rakhi-Abhishek; Karan-Amita got the Most Mazedar couple award; Shweta-Alex won the most Damdar Jodi trophy; the most Manpasand Jodi award was given to Kavita-Karan.

Sachin and Supriya, the winner of the first "Nach Baliye", performed for the grand finale and Laughter Champion Ehsaan Qureshi tickled the funny bones of the viewers with his jokes.