MEET THE BALIYE STARS

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dhaval

@dhaval_h_parekh

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Posted: 19 years ago

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The new dance gameshow on Star One, Nach Baliye, features celebrity couples grooving with relative awkwardness in a show where they have to face a new challenge.

Don't Miss: Behind the scenes of Nach Baliye

Here's a look at five of the Nach Baliye couples:

Mansi Joshi and Rohit Roy

Mansi: Rohit is a very good dancer, so he picks up steps faster. But I have two left feet. We are completely mismatched, as far as dancing goes. I've put in more hard work. Luckily, I am on a break now, so it is not so hectic. Rohit, poor guy, comes to the rehearsals directly from his shoots.

We have fought a lot during the rehearsals. I don't think any of the 10 couples have not fought. If they say they didn't fight, they are lying. But we are still together, so I guess it's okay!

At the end of the day, everyone knows that we are actors and not professional dancers. The judges have been told to keep that in mind. Thank God for that!

Rohit: Initially, we were kicked about working together. We've been wanting to do that for a long time. Mansi is not a very good dancer, but it isn't just about the dance prowess, it's about real people. When I am around, Mansi is more comfortable and confident.

I'm a good dancer but honestly, it does not mean anything. I am more concerned about Mansi. I thought I was a cool cat but that's not true. I'm very nervous. I'm so protective about Mansi that I forget what I have to do. Any husband would do the same.

(Mansi's best known for playing the second Kkusum, and Rohit can currently be seen in Zee's Sarkkar)

Text: Rashmi Ail | Photographs: Jewella C Miranda
Design: Uday Kuckian

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Manish and Poonam Goel

Manish: I am nervous, excited, scared, everything right now. I have a good memory and pick up steps well. Poonam is natural and graceful. We are doing a song from Salaam Namaste, which is peppy and catchy. We need to look like the boy and girl-next-door.

Fashion designer Anna Singh has given us the perfect look. I'm happy with the way the costumes have turned out. The judges are looking at the chemistry, the grace, the chemistry and of course, it's a dancing competition, so dance prowess will be judged too.

It's a one-take shot, I hope we do not goof up.

Poonam: I am nervous because I have a tendency to goof up with my steps. Honestly, after seeing the other couples perform, we are all s***ting bricks! Everybody is so good. The judges are going to have a real tough time.

Delnaaz, with all her fat, is graceful. Sachinji with his age is so good, and so is Archanaji. The audience will find it difficult to cast their vote. I guess the judges are going to look for chemistry between the married couple. They know we are not professional dancers. Even if we goof up, the art lies in covering it up and going on. That's where our acting talent will save the day for us. We need to adjust our facial expressions at the spur of the moment.

(Manish acted in both Bhabhi and Kasautii Zindagi Kay, the latter being where he met actress wife Poonam)

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Varun Badola and Rajeshwari Sachdev

Rajeshwari: We do not need a reason to fight, but Nach Baliye helped and did its bit. I lost my patience at times. Varun takes two hours to pick up a step whereas I take five minutes! I'm like, 'It's just one step, it's so simple.' With him, it's another story. His hand movements are not co-ordinated with those of his legs. I'm a trained classical dancer.

Having said that, I'll say Varun is good, he works really hard. We are getting a chance to spend time together which is wonderful. When you're performing with your husband, there is a personal edge to it. lt's as exciting as performing in an intercollegiate with your boyfriend.

My biggest fear is my sandal's heel getting stuck in my sari.

Varun: Nach Baliye is a serious competition, taken in good spirit. It has been hectic. Rajeshwari is a classical dancer, I'm not. The more I practice, the better I get. It's as simple as that. Besides, it's the only form of exercise I get!

Right from my school days, I never played to lose. Nobody does. You are in it for the fun of it but at the back of your mind the thought of winning is always there. Especially, when the prize money is huge.

The longer we last in the competition, the more time Rajeshwari and I get to spend with each other. We hardly get to spend anytime together. The work schedules are hectic, I'm out of town, so getting to be with each other is an incentive.

(Television-writer Varun also acts in shows like Desh Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, while Rajeshwari can be seen in the intense Rihhaee)

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Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi

Parmeet: We were one of the best performers at the rehearsal. I am happy with the result. Now we have to match higher standards. The stakes are high. Archana and I have had our arguments. I'd put that down to creative differences. That's part and parcel of the game, part of the fun. It's fine as long as you don't carry it home.

I'm in Nach Baliye to win, to put my best and have fun doing that. It's such a big show, on such a massive scale. After KBC, it's the next best thing on television, and I'm happy to be a part of it.

Archana: I have been touted as a good dancer after Jalwa, but then again it's a case of screen v/s real life. The fact that I am not a natural dancer is a well-guarded secret, and I was not too thrilled about coming out of the closet. I wasn't gung-ho about the fact that now everybody will realise I have two left feet.

It's been 17 years since our wedding and dancing with Parmeet did take us back into our youth. It took us back to our going around days. We are actors. Now we are told to compete in an area, which is not our core competency, and told that our level of success will be judged in a domain completely alien to us.

I think the couple you really have to watch out for is Sachin and Supriya, they are mind-blowing. So are Varun and Rajeshwari, which is not surprising as Rajeshwari is a trained dancer.

(Archana stars in the comic Aasmaan Se Tapki, while Parmeet Sethi has just ended a successful run with Jassi Jaise Koi Nahin)

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Neeru Bajwa and Amit Sadh

Neeru: I was keen to do the show because it guaranteed time with Amit. We rarely get to spend time together. Secondly, I love dancing and wanted to do something different from the regular, run-of-the-mill fare.

Amit has not danced earlier, so initially he was against it. Then, he took it up as a challenge and worked very hard. He'd rehearse everyday. He's put in more effort than I have. I have never lost patience with him.

Everybody's lying that they are not good. When I saw the other couples perform, I was stunned. They are all amazing. I'm especially scared of Saroj Khan being on the panel of judges. I have no words to express my respect for her. I've grown up dancing to the songs she's choreographed.

Amit: Neeru and I are the only unmarried couple on the show. I don't get scared usually. I've lived on the footpath for two years, so nothing scares me. I'm very excited about being a part of something so grand and beautiful.

I will charm the audience into voting for me. Saroj Khan is the mother of choreography in India. The best choreographer is now going to judge the worst dancer! I've never danced before in my life. So you can imagine how pathetic I am.

But one thing I can say in my defence is that I am a hardcore perfectionist.

(Set to marry later this year, engaged couple Neeru and Amit show off their chemistry in Guns N Roses)