TOI: When TV bahu became reality babe-Sanaya

In glambiz, bahus and betis of prime time television rarely get to flaunt their best faces. With almost every daily soap addressing a stereotypical small town Indian bahu/beti, small screen leading ladies only get to drape themselves in Indian attire every weeknight. But all that changes when it comes to their reality television appearances. And that seems to be the space where they show off their liberated avatars. Switch on to a reality TV show and you get to see a totally different soapy bahu/beti. Clad in hot pants, short skirts, they are the epitome of TV hotties unleashing their sizzle quotient on screen, much to the viewers' collective delight. 

Pratyusha Banerjee She rose to telly stardom as Anandi of Balika Vadhu, clad in heavy lehengas, tonnes of jewelery, a demure pallu, until Pratyusha walked out of the show for undisclosed reasons. Now the just-turned bottle blonde Pratyusha simpers sweetly, pouts prettily and shows off her well toned svelte figure in trendy denims, tee, cropped shorts, frocks "you name it and it's all there in her Bigg Boss 7 wardrobe! 

Aishwarya Sakhuja This leggy lass, who came into limelight as Toasty in Saas Bina Sasural was never seen in any outfit other than saree teamed with a trademark mangalsutra. But, as she got on to anchor India's Dancing Superstar and Nach Baliye Shriman vs Shrimati " Asihwarya decided to let that Indian image go for a pack up! One could spot her in classy evening gowns, one-piece dresses, sporting smart mane makeovers. In a nutshell for this former bahu ' a reality check' was all she needed to be a diva! 

Shweta Tiwari Who would have thought that the motormouth and dominating mom Sweety of Parvarish... would be able to turn up in such style and have her fans breathless? The typical domesticated bahu made a sparkling entry as a sultry telly diva in Nach Baliye 2, then turned up the oomph appeal in her turns in Comedy Circus and Jhalak Dikhhla Ja 6. The erstwhile telly mom turned dancing queen who transported viewers to a world of rhythm and grace with her, was a total visual delight, her sudden makeover taking everyone by surprise! 

Drashti Dhami As Geet in Geet... Hui Sabse Parayi and later as Madhubala of Madhubala...Ek Ishq Ek Junoon; one has always seen Drashti Dhami in sarees, salwar kameez, as the cardholder of the adarsh bhartiya naari image. With Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6, Drashti decided to let that carefully cultivated screen image go as she stepped on to dance floor in sexy outfits that made audiences' heart beats accelerate and jaws drop! 

Sanaya Irani As small screen's most loved girl next door turned bahu, (be it as Khushi of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? or the lead in Chhanchhan), Sanaya Irani has always glowed in her traditional best. Glimpses of the ultra glam Sanaya were visible during her short stints on Welcome Baazi Mehman Nawazi and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 where she carried off westernwear with panache.