| Mumbai-based Swapnali Kadam, along with Pompi Mondal from Kolkata, is the joint winner of the Star Plus dance contest, Kaboom.
These girls share the Rs 50 lakh cash prize. Despite the hype, Star's other dance show, Nach Baliye (Star One), generated due to the couples' capers, Kaboom remains relatively quiet — despite the presence of star dancers Prabhu Deva and Jaaved Jaffrey as judges and a star celeb judge every week. Sridevi to judge
This Saturday is the grand finale of Kaboom, in which Sridevi makes an appearance as the celeb judge. Prabhu Deva and Jaaved will perform together on the show, at her request.
Swapnali, a student of Khalsa College, is studying for her HSC exams. She has a younger brother, who is preparing for his SSC exams. "So I am not exactly celebrating at the moment," says this Parel resident.
"My family is extremely happy for me. We shot for the finale a while ago, but we could not tell anyone about the prize. It is only now — and after the episode is telecast — will everyone know about my victory." Classical dancer
Swapnali has been learning kathak since the age of eight, and dreams of becoming a choreographer. In the final round, she danced to Kahe Ched Mohe, from Devdas. "Sridevi told me I reminded her of the way Sandhya danced, in V Shantaram's films. This was a big compliment for me," says the student, who plans to use the prize money to study further. Pompi and splendour
Pompi, on the other hand, is yet unclear about what she will do with the prize money. "Maybe I will use it for my parents," she says. She gyrated to the tunes of Lucky Lips from the Salman Khan starrer Lucky - No Time For Love. "I incorporated break dance into it and Sridevi marvelled at my ability to break-dance, despite being a woman."
Pompi gave up on her studies after school and wants to dance and act just like her idol, Madhuri Dixit. "I plan to shift to Mumbai soon to pursue my dream," she says. "My sister and brothers are ecstatic at my achievement."
Swapnali and Pompi were among the finalists, which included Anee Lama (Hyderabad), Alisha Singh, (Jharkhand) Jayant Prem (New Delhi), Neha Marda and Prasanjit Biswas (both Kolkata). Incidentally, Neha features in the SaharaOne soap, Saat Rahega Always.
Kaboom, anchored by Ravi Behl and Naved Jaafrey, went on air in August as a nationwide search to find the best dancer in the men, women and freestyle solo category.
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Ishaani
