Real drama

What would reality television be without a bit of drama?

Especially when they have to compete for eyeballs at prime time slot with family sagas! Well, seems like production houses and co-participants seem to have taken all that into account. Despite telling us otherwise, reports of these shows being 'scripted' continue gaining momentum. The first one to have admitted that she had a scripted role for Bigg Boss was Kashmera Shah, followed by star anchors who have time and again said, that 'breakdowns' 'arguments' on the reality shows are usually staged. Sample this: if Chetan Hansraj shoving a co-contestant on Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket (9X) wasn't enough, now there's plenty of fisticuffs (yes!) every week. Actor Naman Shaw got embroiled in a fight (first a physical one, then a verbal one), Twinkle Bajpai unashamedly said she's will do 'anything'

to win on the same show, on camera. On another channel, actor Manish Goel broke down on Zara Nachke Dikha , singer Abhijeet who was judging Ek Se Badhkar Ek made a statement that he wouldn't allow Pakistani singers on his show.All seemingly part of the show, but looked 'scripted' from the word go. No wonder then, Abhijeet apologised on TV and Manish seems to have put the episode behind him and is busy rehearsing for his next act. Digging up the reality muck was a participant of the just concluded Waar Pariwar , who even claimed to news channels how her family was told to 'say on camera' they were affected by the '93 blasts in Mumbai, when they spoke about themselves. Another high voltage 'romantic' drama is brewing on Big Boss on Colors, where Rahul Mahajan, Monica Bedi and Payal Rohatgi are essaying lead roles!

Is the masala added to the show really necessary to grab attention? Can't reality shows manage that on their own steam, without creating such controversies? Naman, a participant of Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket , who's not only 'fought' with fellow contestants, but has also argued with the judges, confesses that "no shows come without their share of controversies. We have problems even when we are doing dailies, but no one knows what happens backstage, off-the-camera. It took me three years to establish myself as an actor, I wouldn't say anything to spoil my image would I? But, you have to answer back to people when they hit out at you. If people think badly of you for that, it can't be helped."

Not that this is the first time, such 'fights' have happened during national telecast of TV shows. Singer Himani Kapoor cried copiously when judge Farah Khan rebuked her in Jo Jeeta Wahi Superstar. Twinkle Bajpai who has been in the news for her fighting and screaming on a reality show says, "When you are doing reality shows with 10 different people, everyone's got their own opinion. You sometimes have to make yourself heard. We aren't working according to a script." Something that actor Manish Goel agreed with when he told AT, "everything is real on the reality shows, nothing can be scripted, certainly not the emotions."

However the perspective changes when Rajiv Arora, creative head of reality shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Waar Pariwar , says that "it is in-built in the concept sometimes," he says, "When we do auditions we look for people who know more than singing.

Sometimes music directors aren't 'sporting' about participant eliminations and tend to argue," he says. So, channels aren't trying to cash in on the drama, for TVRs (television rating points) anymore? Prem Kamath, vice president of a leading channel says, "we don't script reality shows, all these events happen naturally. It's just that when people with different personalities and opinions work or perform together, there's bound to be controversy sometimes."

So, the next time you see your favourite TV star 'sobbing' on camera, you can either empathise with him or flip the channel. As long as the TVRs are hitting a high, no one seems to have a problem!