Miss Mistake - Tina’s interview..

She was known as television actor-anchor Hussain's pretty wife till Tina Kuwajerwala wowed the nation with her moves in the second edition of Nach Baliye. Her fan following trebled when the couple went on to win the dance contest. When Tina joined hands with Hussain to host Nach Baliye 3, people expected sparks to fly again on screen. But this time, despite Tina's best efforts, more brickbats than bouquets came her way. As the third season of Nach Baliye comes to an end, Tina hits out at the show's producers in a freewheeling chat with t2…

If in Nach Baliye 2 you couldn't do anything wrong, why have things gone so wrong in Nach Baliye 3?

That's right (smiles). I have been severely criticised not only for my anchoring skills but also for my dress and make-up on the show. The audience as well as critics have come down very hard on me. Initially, it was even worse where people would send me text messages asking me what was wrong with me. They said I was looking totally thanda. Since this is my first stint with anchoring a show of this kind, I was completely lost. I was given mannerisms that I wasn't comfortable with, my clothes were straight off store racks and did not fit me well and I had to wear a lot of make-up, false eyelashes, gloss, et al that I wasn't really comfortable with. Since I really don't have any experience, I was just trying too hard and that showed — I was even screeching into the microphone on most occasions (laughs). It was only after watching myself so many times on-screen did I work on my weaknesses. I can now call myself an average presenter.

Didn't you take up these issues with the show's producers?

I had initially refused to host the show because I wasn't very comfortable in front of the camera. But the producers of Nach Baliye as well as the channel people assured me that all possible help would be extended since I didn't have any experience in anchoring. I bit the bait and it was only when I started hosting the show did I realise that those were all false promises. I do the green room hosting stint and there is no teleprompter there. It becomes very difficult for a rank newcomer like me to learn so many lines. Hussain does the on-stage bit and he has a ready script as well as the teleprompter, although he has eight years of television experience. And now even though I have improved a lot, these people are not at all appreciative of the hard work I have put in. It is pretty demoralising and upsetting.

Hasn't Hussain tried to mend matters?

Hussain told me that I would have to learn things the hard way. 'If I teach you to anchor, then people will just say you are copying me' is what he says. Having him as a co-host has put added pressure on me. I just wish people wouldn't compare me to him as an anchor. If they still wish to do so, then they should compare my anchoring skills to his when he had just started out, not when he already has an Indian Idol behind him. People also compare me to Mini (Mathur) which is really very unfair.

So do you regret the decision to host Nach Baliye 3?

In a way I do, although things are better now. I have always believed in completing whatever I have taken up and doing it to the best of my ability. And that holds true for Nach Baliye as well. But it's not an experience I would want to see repeated.

Is acting anywhere on the cards?

After winning Nach Baliye 2, I was flooded with acting offers roles that people could kill for. But I am a really shy person and facing the camera makes me very nervous. I know my weaknesses. Anchoring is fine, but acting is a complete no-no. Especially the saas bahu kinds. I can't ever picture myself acting in serials like that.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/1071203/asp/entertainment/stor y_8623187.asp