Reality stars shining bright

What is common between Urmila Dhanghar, who has sung the hit Vidya Balan number "Mala jau de" in 'Ferrari Ki Sawaari', Shakti Mohan who's performed the raunchy "Aa re pritam pyaare" in 'Rowdy Rathore', Harshit Saxena who has the popular "Haal E Dil" from 'Murder 2' to his credit and Kamal Khan who's crooned "Ishq Sufiana" in 'The Dirty Picture'?

If you have been closely following the reality shows, these names will be familiar to you. While Urmila topped the 'Zee Marathi Sa Re Ga Ma Pa', Shakti danced her way to victory in Zee's 'Dance India Dance', while Kamal was unanimously voted the best singer in Zee's 'Sa ReGa Ma Pa'. Harshit did not win any of the three shows he participated in, but has already sung songs in 'Tees Maar Khan', 'Murder 2' and composed the entire score of 'Hate Story'. Sreeram, who won last year's 'Indian Idol' and is currently participating in 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar' is quite well-known for his songs in the South.

Then there's Prince Gupta, Dharmesh, Punit, Vrushali, etc, all contestants of Zee's 'Dance India Dance', who have been cast in Remo D'Souza's next film 'ABCD - Any Body Can Dance'.

Says Ashish Golwalkar, non-fiction head, Zee, "'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' and 'DID' have created careers for so many talented youth in India. No one thought a commoner from the remotest corner in the country would get such recognition and mass adulation. The shows have made them heroes not only in the chosen field, but also the region he/she hails from." A case in point is the Darjeeling-based police constable Prashant Tamang, who embarked on a new career as a singer-actor in Nepali films after his Indian Idol win.

Others like Harshit rarely go back to their hometowns once they have tasted success here. Says Harshit, "I was doing a course in physiotherapy in Lucknow, when I heard about the auditions for Voice Of India. I wasn't sure if I would be selected, but I took the risk and came to Mumbai in 2007. Since then I have shifted base and am making a career in the industry."

However, the road is not hunky dory for all. Promises made by celebrated judges on the show are rarely fulfilled. A singer, also a winner of a talent hunt, on the condition of anonymity says, "I was promised by a big-time music composer that he will give me a break in his next film, but once the show was over, he refused to even meet me forget giving me a break!" But that doesn't stop them from pushing their luck. And luck favours the brave, they say!