Another reality show rigged?

Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa contestant levels rigging charges against the show. Others say it’s a case of sour grapes; host channel, Sony, remained unavailable for comment.

Popular dance reality show on TV, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, has become the latest to face allegations of rigging, after celeb participant, Krushna Abhishek, called the show ‘fixed’ post his surprise elimination. In the episode to be aired tonight, stand up comic, Krushna, also actor Govinda’s nephew, will be shown the door.



"There is a pattern with the eliminations. Every year, a good dancer gets thrown out early and returns as a wild card entry," he points out. Apparently, his uncle Govinda, who was the guest judge, was asked to announce his elimination. "A guest has never been asked to announce the elimination earlier. When I asked the channel why they chose him in my case, they did not answer," he says. "Sony really hit me in the wrong place. I don’t mind being thrown out early, but not the way it happened. Also, they never disclosed the number of votes. So how would one know?"

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Madhuri Dixit

Abhishek’s girlfriend Kashmera Shah, too, ranted on stage after he was ousted, suggesting that the show was rigged. "It is hard to believe that Krushna didn’t get votes. The elimination has been unfair," she further says. Even as the show’s judges and ex-contestants are shocked at Abhishek’s elimination, they think it is a case of sour grapes. "I am shocked that Krushna is out. But that could be because of votes," says Renuka Shahane, who also participated in the show, which has stalwarts such as Madhuri Dixit and Malaika Arora Khan as judges. "I hate the voting system, it often pushes out talented participants. However, Govinda announcing Krushna’s eviction is just a coincidence, as the guest for a particular week is decided much earlier," says Remo D’souza, one of the judges. "We would never be a part of any contest that was fixed," says Khan.



The host channel, Sony, remained unavailable for comment.