DesiDabba - Boss, Thoda Sa Roomani Ho Jaye

So there I was, seated next to India’s entertainment powerhouse, desperately trying to get a grip on reality. And from the other end, my good friend utters the dreaded words in true Macish style; “Sakshi, aap maidam se questions ask kariye aur mai yeh photo leti hoon” (”Sakshi, you ask madam questions, and I’ll take these photos“). Thank God I had a notepad at hand or else we would have looked like some real, professional journalists (not!). Oh! Didn’t I mention, apparently we were introduced to Ms. Sawant as “Online Journalists-cum-Freelance Writers”. (Though I have some serious doubts whether she understood the terms, “online” or “freelance”)

Anyway, since I was pushed to the edge of the cliff with no usable option at hand, I decided to take the plunge.

Kindly note: My landing on Nach Baliye sets was not planned, my meeting Rakhi Sawant was unexpected and this interview was totally unanticipated – but all of this did happen, thanks to a dear friend, who decided to give me the ‘mother of all surprises’.

So ladies and gents, without any further ado - I present to you desi reality shows ki Rani, Rakhi Sawant (Juneja ishtyle).

Q. You have come so far in Nach Baliye (contest), what according to you has been the biggest contributing factor to this?

I would say it is nothing but 100% hard work and perseverance from our end. Abhishek and I have practically put our lives on hold for this show and we are determined to make it to the finals.

Q. Do you feel the judges have been fair while handing out the scores?

Of course they have been fair! Davidji, Eshaa and Vaibhaviji they have not only been fair but consistent and also very encouraging.

But just sometime back ex-contestant, Pooja Bedi had accused them of being partial.

See it’s a simple case of “Angoor ab khate ho gaye hain” (sour grapes). She has taken her departure from the show way too seriously and therefore is reacting in such a manner. The judges are doing their job with most honesty and it’s not like they don’t pick on me and Abhishek. They have criticized us and others whenever needed. They give me comments like “Rakhi today you could better”, you know, ya “energy nahi thi” ya “kabhi kabhi tum bahut fast jaarehi ho”. I get a lot of comments – sometimes I am good and sometimes not so good. But it’s all nice kyunki mein bhi ek ensaan hoon koi battery wali gudiya nahi joh hamesha perfect karoongi.(I'm human too, not a battery-operated doll which is always perfect)

And if they don’t criticize how will we perform better? So I like it when they are critical of me. It inspires me to perform better and by this I will only move forward in Nach Baliye.

Anyways they have never been critical of our choreography; it’s either been about mine or Abhishek’s energy levels.

Abhishek – They have never given us low marks because of our choreography. Once they commented about my performance and sometimes they have commented on Rakhi’s energy level being slightly low.

Q. Now most important question of all, give us a low-down on your relationship with the feisty Kashmera Shah.

Ab mein kya boloon, public ko sab khabar hai. (The public knows the whole deal) All I will say is that we are not best of friends but since we have to work on this show together, aur ab bear rakhe toh kaam nahi kiya jaata. (One can't hold grudges and work together)

So everything is normal.

Yes, I am normal. Bus mujhe apna kaam karke nikal jana hai. I am working hard.

And how is your relationship with other contestants?

I am cordial with everybody. I wish everyone “All the best” before start of the shoot and regularly cheer for everybody.

Q. Tell me something about your forthcoming movies?

Nahi is ki hi (Nach Baliye) baat karte hain zaada. (Let's talk only about Nach Baliye)

Par aap thoda toh kuch toh bata sakte hain.(But you can share something)

No I prefer to talk only about Nach Baliye since this show is the focus of my life at this moment. Movies aur upcoming projects ke barein mein phir kabhi.

Q. Who according to you, other than yourselves, have what it takes to reach Nach Baliye finals?

Abhishek – I feel Aamir and Sangeeda are really good.

Rakhi – Yes. According to me they are very good competitors; they dance well and share very good chemistry which is very evident in their performance. Par hum bhi full lagan aur mehanat se kaam kar rahe hain, ab aage kismat ki marzi. (We're working hard too, and the rest is fate.)

Q. Rakhi, how has life changed for you after Bigg Boss?

Ah! Whatever I have today is all because of Bigg Boss. If that show had not happened to me, I would have never experienced so much love from the junta, our audience. Thanks to their support, people like Karan Johar invite me on their high-profile shows, everywhere I go people stop to take my autograph and picture. Bigg Boss helped me portray my real self to the public, they were though days but now when I look at them, the experience was completely worth it.

Q. Your future plans?

I believe whatever is written in your destiny only that will come true. Nobody can take that away from you, no matter how much others try to snatch it off you. Ulte khade ho jaaoo, sar ke bal khade ho jaaoo par joh taqdeer mein likha hai…joh mere naseeb mein likha hai woh mujhe mil kar rahe ga.(One can stand upside down, hang by a hair, but whatever will be, will be - que sera sera and all that jazz)

I had no background, I was nothing. Mein ek chawl system mein rahene wali ladki thi…koi God father nahi, kuchi bhi nahi. Par mein yahaan tak pahoonchee hi na. (I'm from humble beginnings, with no Godfather, but I've done well for myself, haven't I?) So in future also, I will reach places with hard work and my destiny.

At this point my head was as good as an empty bucket, I seriously couldn’t think anything further and the picture in front had again started to get fuzzy all over again. I signaled to Melody that I was done with the questioning but when I turned again towards Rakhi to thank her for her time, She gave me her typical “WTF!!” look and said…

“Aap Abhishek se kuch nahi poochenge?” (Won't you ask Abhishek anything?)

Me (slightly more nervous) – “Par madam, I think I have enough”.

Rakhi – “Nahi aap kuch toh pucheeye. Actually kya hai ki main Abhishek ko promote karna chahati hoon”. (No, you should ask him something. Actually I want to promote him.)

Me (now at an extreme point of nervousness, to make things worse, Mel at the other end tells me, "Go ahead Sakshi, we have time") – "Okay madam, aap jaisa kahain”.

 Q8. Abhishek some weeks ago some contestant had accused you of faking injury to gain sympathy from the judges and the audience – what do you have to say to this?

Rakhi (she starts off before Abhishek can even open his mouth) – Humare face peh ek shikange bhi nahi aaye thi. Humne socha abhi humare pass aur bahut time hai improve karne ke liye.  (We weren't even scratched. We thought we have more time to improve.)

Par waise bhi aap log bahut consistent rahain hain apni performance mein. (But you've been quite consistent in your performance.)

Abhishek – Aap jis performance ki baat kar rahi hain, usmain waise bhi doh 10s or ek 8 mila tha. (Our performances have garnered two 10s and an 8 from the judges.)

Rakhi – Waise bhi har roj Diwali banana mujhe bhi nahi acha lagta. Jaise cardiogram uper neeche uper neeche hota hai waise marksbhi. Har time full marks leke jaana mujhe bhi acha nahi lagta hai. (I don't like to celebrate Diwali daily, anyway. Like a cardiogram, marks can go up and down. I don't like to score full marks every time too.)

Phir logon ko lage ka ki… (She cuts me off) (Then people will feel that…)

Rakhi – Nahi phir zada nazaar lag jati hai. Bahut nazaar lagti hain. Mujhe toh etni lagti hain ki aap believe hi nahi kar sakte ho.(No, then the evil eye might fall on us. I'm quite prone to the evil eye, you wouldn't believe how much.) In spite of our injuries we have performed. Abhishek took so many injections you can’t even begin to imagine.

Abhishek – Us din mein double shots leke perform karne gaya tha. (That day I performed after double shots.)

Rakhi – Kahane wale sab kahate hain. (Let people say what they will.)

Abhishek – I have so much determination in me to win that I am ready to cross any boundaries, so what are few mere injections?

Q. Abhishek, so what’s the driving force behind this determination you are talking about?

I am doing all this for Rakhi. I want her to win; woh meri sahas ka prateek hain.(She is the foundation of my courage.) She has not won anything in her life up until now but all that is in the past. We are confident that we will do our best in Nach Baliye and the rest is up to the audience.

Q. Some contestants are questioning your participation in the show, just like what had happened on another show where Shweta Salve was accused of being a professional dancer. What do you have to say to this?

Rakhi - Haan toh I am a professional dancer, theek hai! Nache teh hain na, toh credit kisko jana chahiye, dancers ko…yeh show Nach Baliye kya hai? (Yes, I'm a professional dancer, alright! We've danced, so who else should get the credit, but dancers - this is Nach Baliye after all.)

Abhishek – It’s a dance show.

Rakhi – It’s a dance show. Toh dancers ko hi jaana chahiye na. (So dancers should win)

Abhishek – Joh acha dance karega woh jeetega. (Who dances best will win.)

Rakhi – Joh acha karega woh hi jeetega. These people very well know that we have the potential and the capability that is required to win a contest like this. And who are they calling professionals dancers – neither I nor Abhishek have ever taken any professional dance training. Without taking any names here, everyone participating in this season has taken some sort or the other dance lessons.

Q10. So you guys are sure that you will reach the finals?

Abhishek – Definitely. We are very confident and as I said earlier, the final decision lies with the audience.

Rakhi – Dekho bhai, mujhe dance karna bahut acha lagta hai. Mera bus chale toh mein moon peh bhi dance karoon (Look here, I love to dance. I would dance on the moon if I could) but unfortunately I don’t have the kind of money required for it. But who knows maybe with Jesus’ blessings one day I will get to dance on the moon.

Q. Rakhi, do you think you are a role-model for all those coming from similar background as yourself?

Of course I am a role model and not only for people from my background but for everyone! I have had a very hard life, at home and professionally. I have had to fight practically for everything that I have achieved today. And the public knows this and therefore they have shown their support and showered me with so much affection.

Q. Anything in particular you would like to tell your fans?

The only thing I want to tell my fans is that not only to vote for me, in fact vote for those who deserve it; purely on the basis of their performance.

I would also like to take this opportunity and thank Star Channel for having us on a popular show like Nach Baliye and we shall forever be grateful for this.

Dhan-dhana-dhan! There you have it folks – the ever entertaining Rakhi Sawant!

At the beginning of our conversation I felt she was a little apprehensive (can’t really blame the woman, especially looking at how the Indian media treats her) and was sticking to her regular politically correct replies. But within minutes, I could see the real Sawant opening up – dhasu dialogues, the aggressive hand movements, high-pitched tone while emphasizing a point and the “I totally rock” attitude; all in all she was exactly as I had imagined her to be. Though I have to mention, I was slightly taken aback by her modesty and down to Earth nature.

Frankly speaking, I am not sure if I have been able to do justice to her personality via this interview – you actually have to watch her in person in order to experience the Rakhi Sawant dhamaka (really, I am not exaggerating this). But then again for this to happen, you need an awesome friend (like I do) to make an indescribable dream, a reality.

Highlights of the interview, for your viewing pleasure: