Desi gossip girls

Reality shows definitely seem to be getting innovative by the day. Sample this — an all-new show where TV actors will crib and gossip on national television! Meethi Chhoorii on Imagine seems to be a bit ‘hatke’.

Every episode will see a panel of eight celebrities (all of them women) and they will be asked to comment on each other. Understandably, they will need to share their views in front of the camera when the others are not around.

If you thought the celebrities would be talking about lame issues like each others reading habits, you are mistaken. The makers, expectedly, are going to control the discussion on ‘perception’ as well.

Each episode will see these celebrities being presented with a ‘juicy’ question and they will be asked to rank each other on the same. For instance they will be asked to give their opinions on questions like — which one of these women is mostly likely to steal your boyfriend? Which one of these women will go to any lengths for publicity?

But isn’t this something akin to forcing each other to say bad things against each other? After all, it is human nature to gossip and when you are encouraged to do so (that too with the bait of free publicity on a national network), why would anyone stop?

However, the makers refuse to buy that argument. Explains Harsh Rohatgi, Head of Content and Communication at Imagine, “Meethi Chhoorii  No 1 has all the ingredients to deliver a complete entertainer. This will resonate very well, particularly with our younger audience. This is our first adaptation of a very popular international (Japanese) TV format — Women Who Rank.”

Adds Fazila Allana from SOL Productions (makers of the show), “Imagine has always dared and gone beyond conventional programming concepts presenting them in the most creative manner. Meethi Chhoorii No 1 is an enticing and engaging show.

It is undoubtedly one of the most interesting reality formats on the market. This will have a bunch of girls having fun in a party and we are telecasting that on television. I personally believe when the contestants are having so much fun in the show, the viewers wont be left behind!”

Agrees Rakshanda Khan, a participant in this show, “Working on the show has been fun as it allowed us to have informal chats with each other. We just needed to be true to ourselves self than playing mere characters on the small screen.”

The producers have been able to rake in some of the most popular names from the industry for this show. The list includes popular actresses (and vamps) — Ragini Khanna, Urvashi Dholakia, Rakshanda Khan, Mona Singh, Neha Marda, Karishma Tanna. Managing these girls as hosts of the show are two equally popular men of the small screen — Shabbir Ahluwalia and Jay Bhanushali.

Expectedly, Urvashi Dholakia will steal the limelight. Remember how she scandalised everyone by talking about her teenage pregnancy in Sach Ka Saamna? Apparently the new kids on the block — first timers for such reality  shows — Neha Marda and Vibha Anand were not too keen on participating in this show.

They were a bit worried about the impact on their image. But after a lot of convincing they agreed. Both Vibha and Neha will be seen in a very different avatar in the show. Giving up their traditional dresses, they will be donning ultra glamorous outfits for Meethi Chhoorii.

Well, considering how gossip-friendly our society is, this show is surely going to be a big hit. However it raises a few questions. In a society where we are all governed by moral values, where shows test fidelity on air, will this show thrive too, considering it is a mere reflection of basic human nature and our everyday need to gossip? Lets wait and watch. ‘Meethi Chhoorii’ No 1 airs every Saturday at 10 pm on Imagine.