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Reality show contestants who donned judges’ hat
Television reality shows are the springboard to fame for many participants. Here’s a platform that lets them cut through the clutter and showcase their talent, and become somebody from a nobody. Interestingly, quite a few of these contestants later judged the same show or other shows in the same format.
The latest is singer Neha Kakkar, who is judging Indian Idol 10. Not many would remember that the 30-year-old singer had been a contestant on Indian Idol 2 in 2006. On how the dynamics have changed, Neha says, “Life has come full circle, and the journey has been enriching. It feels wonderful to be on the other side. I feel for the contestants, understand what they’re going through since I’ve been on that side.”
Some previous examples: Lauren Gottlieb judged Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 after participating in season 6; Rannvijay Singha joined the judges’ panel of Roadies in 2014 after winning season 1 in 2003; Punit Pathak judged Dance India Dance (DID) 5 in 2015 after participating in season 2 of the show in 2009; DID 2 winner Shakti Mohan judged Dance Singapore Dance in 2015; Salman Yusuff Khan won DID 1 and judged the Kannada show Dance Dance Juniors in 2017; Dharmesh Yelande, a DID 2 runner-up and winner of Dance Ke Superstars, judged the Marathi show Mhanje Assal Dancer in 2013.
Talking about the pressure as a judge and as a contestant, Punit says, “Zameen aasman ka farak hai. As a contestant, you wait for someone to make your life; while judging, you have the responsibility to make someone’s life. While performing, your focus is your act on the stage. But as a judge, you become a mentor.”
Rannvijay says, “Roadies is about the personalities of the contestants. It’s an emotional task to understand a person, as they can win or lose because of your decisions. But since I’ve been a part of the show for 15 years, I’ve got the knowledge of the kind of contestants and why they say certain things.”
On a slightly different note, Neha says that both roles have their equal share of responsibility. “I wouldn’t call it pressure, as I’m very passionate about music,” she says. “Performing on stage is something I enjoy. And now that I’m a judge, I try and maintain a healthy balance.”
Punit feels that his time as a contestant gives him an “edge” over co-judges. He says, “I’ve been through the stress. So, I try and change that in my own way and make the journey peaceful for contestants.”