What you didn't see in Nach Baliye

It wasn't deliberate

Rajeshwari rubbishes all such talk with, "I have been hounded by calls and messages from people all across the country. Every one thinks we messed up and gave up the fight easily."

Recalling the round, she said, "Varun went totally blank. justlike a computer whose hard disk crashed. He was moving his hands and legs, but mentally he was somewhere else.. Both of us have been stage actors, and know how to cover up Varun could've easily made his 'slip-up' appear like part of the act."

Second chances

A source reveals what transpired between judges and the couples. "All the three judges wanted them to perform again. They agreed to do so with the permission of the other two couples. While Manish and Poonam gave them the green signal, Sachin and Supriya expressed reservations."

When quizzed about this, Rajeshwari simply smiled and refused to comment.

When asked why he declined Varun another chance, Sachin said, "I was the first person who asked Varun to perform again. I made signs to him after the performance asking him to go for another round." But didnt he say no when the channel asked him for his opinion? "Who am I to decide? We are mere contestants. Let the channel decide."

No mercy, says channel

Giving the channel's perspective, Executive Vice President, Deepak Segal said, "In a competition if you are running a race and you fall down then you can't run it again.The rules state that no couple can or will be given a second chance if they make a mistake or goof up.

The consensus was taken because of the emotional bonding between the judges, and the contestants. But our rules are very clear leaving no scope for any kind of speculation. Today if we give them another chance, tomorrow some one else might ask for the same. Next year when we come back with the second season we don't want the viewers to think we had any flaws in our system."

tushar.joshi@mid-day.com