Swayamwar 3 fails to make an impression

Imagine TV's Swayamvar seems to be losing its charm. Ratan Ka Rishta - the third season recorded the lowest ever ratings for the debut episode of the show, while Sony TV's romantic drama Bade Achche Lagte Hain emerged a winner when both shows hit the small screen the same day.

Both shows went on air Monday, but at different time slots.

Bade Achche Lagte Hain, which has brought back two of Indian television's best known faces - Sakshi Tanwar and Ram Kapoor, back to the tube, garnered a television rating point (TRP) of 1.5. While the third season of Swayamvar on Imagine TV lagged behind with a 1.2 rating, according to data provided by audience measurement agency aMap.

This is the worst ever rating for the Swayamvar, where a celebrity gets to choose his or her life partner.

The first episode of the first season of Rakhi Ka Swayamvar, featuring controversy queen Rakhi Sawant as the prospective bride, mamaged a record-breaking TRP of 3.5 for Imagine TV. And the debut episode of the second season Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaayega with Rahul Mahajan got a 2.4 rating.

It is possible that the non-controversial nature of Ratan, popular for her show Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, has led to this drastic dip in the TRPs. The first episode of the show, which aired 8 p.m., saw the introduction of the 16 prospective grooms.

Rakhi Sues Ishq Bector

They took on the Censor Board together last year but 'Item girl' Rakhi Sawant and Ishq Bector are now at loggerheads after the rapper went on a expletive ridden rant against her on air.

The Canada-born 'Hip hopper' singer made uncharitable remarks against the reality TV star during an interview on the radio channel BIG FM and Sawant has threatened to take him to court. "I am going to sue Ishq Bector. The attack was totally unwarranted and he will have to pay for it. The hurtful part is that I considered him a friend but I am going to take him to court," said Sawant who added that she is a soft target for publicity seekers like Bector.

"He is from Canada and is disrespectful towards our culture. But now he will know the consequences of it. Because I do not have a godfather, I am a soft target for people like him who want to gain publicity by insulting me," said the 31-year-old.

The two had collaborated on Bector's last album 'Jhagde' and had sent a legal notice to the Censor Board when they banned one of their songs, 'Bhoot'.

Sawant herself is not new to controversies and had earlier grabbed headlines with her TV 'Swayamvar' and the 'kiss' controversy with Punjabi singer Mika.

FIR against Rakhi Sawant?

One may or may not like the hyped item girl Rakhi Sawant. However it will not take much for one to admit that she neither can be ignored. Be it negative or positive the ever incorrigible Rakhi is never far from the focus of attention.

The same old saga of her “swayamvar” has again brought her into news. The story goes something like this. The man who claims to have originally masterminded the script of the famous reality show Rakhi Ka Swayamvar is being threatened by the actress. He seemed to have sued the house in charge of production for using his script without his prior permission.

The actress who happened to be in spotlight on account of the show is allegedly threatening the man so that he withdraws the case against the concerned production house. The allegation was formerly lodged by the victim in the civil court. Consequently the police have been directed to file an F.I.R against the accused party. Both threatening and copying come under the purview of offences. Apart from the actress many others have also been sued on the similar charge of threatening.

In Indian history Swayamvar was looked up to with high regard as a possible platform for finding an eligible bridegroom. It is sad and ironical that the same concept is being exploited by a few for publicity gimmicks

Oops, Rakhi does it again!

Rakhi Sawant has stirred the hornet’s nest again. Not long after she was in the dock for allegedly driving a young man to suicide after she called him impotent, the starlet, 32, has been accused of molesting a Delhi-based guru, Swami Arvind, giving him a panic attack that landed him in hospital. The two were part of a reality show on India TV — Bigg Toss — loosely based on Bigg Boss, which makes contestants stay together in a villa in Noida.

“I have left the show because Rakhi, whom I treated like my daughter, sat on my lap and made me do a close dance with her. I kept on saying, ‘for God’s sake, leave me, I am not here to do these cheap and obscene acts’, but she did not listen and humiliated me in front of so many viewers. I was shocked to see a woman molesting a man like this,” says the 48-year-old. The Shraddha channel show host was admitted to the Geeta Gupta Nursing Home in Shahdara last week after he suffered an angina attack and his blood pressure shot up.

Sawant, however, denies the allegations. “By accusing me of molesting him, he is only gaining mileage in my name. Rakhi Sawant ke saath naam juda toh popular ho jayega (If you get linked with me, you will get popular),” she says, adding, “He was not fit for the show. Main us dhongi-paakhandi baba ka asli chehra saamne laayi hun (I have ripped the mask off that fraudulent priest). Why did he not raise the issue while he was in the house?”

Some are sure that it’s just another publicity gimmick. “It’s a new show and it’s Rakhi Sawant, so it’s obviously all a tamasha,” says Nitesh Singh, 21, a viewer of the show. “Rakhi Sawant can go to any extent to gain attention. But if the priest is indeed in hospital, this is just not on,” says Bobby Darling, former Bigg Boss contestant.

'In 'Bigg Toss', Rakhi, Veena will add a lot of drama'

They wanted to be different, says Hemant Sharma, news editor of India TV, and that is why they came up with 'Bigg Toss', which sees item girl Rakhi Sawant and Pakistani actress Veena Malik entertaining viewers by discussing cricketers in their unique style during the World Cup matches.

'Usually, during the World Cup matches, all the news channels organise discussions with four or five experts in the studio. This concept doesn't excite people anymore. We wanted to do something different so we zeroed in on this concept,' Sharma told IANS.

'Bigg Toss', which went on air Feb 17, will be shown only when India is playing. It features 12 contestants divided into two groups who will choose their favourite player from the Indian team and bet on him. The group that scores the maximum points will be declared the winner of a Honda car.

Why Rakhi and Veena?

'Both of them can add a lot of drama to the show and people are interested in watching them on small screen,' Sharma said.

Apart from Rakhi and Veena, the list of contestants includes cricketer Yuvraj Singh's father Yograj Singh, singers Shankar Sawhney and Ashok Masti, beautician Sylvie and RJ Simran, among others.