Anchors Of JDJ2

Rohit Roy

Rohit Roy was a science graduate with dreams of doing his MBA in the US when fate led him down another road. When he did not get a student visa, Rohit took up the first job he got—as a salesman at a Zodiac store. Soon after, he began working as an assistant director to ad filmmaker Kunal Kapoor; he also took up offers to model. It was then that director Anant Balani spotted him and offered him the lead role in his film Jazbaat. Though the film didn’t do well, Rohit realised that acting was his true calling.

His next assignment—Rishabh Malhotra in the soap Swabhimaan—established him as a household name. Since then there has been no looking back. He acted in Zee TV’s Baat Ban Jaaye and directed 52 episodes of its second season. His stint as the brash scion of a political family in Sarrkkar won him kudos, while his role in Viraasat won him three awards—best actor, best dressed actor on TV and the Society Magazine Young Achiever’s award.

He has also hosted a number of live events and game shows like The Price is Right on Channel Nine, Dance Divas on Zoom, Sa Re Ga Ma on Zee, Houzee on Play TV, and is currently doing Wild Ten on Zee Music.

Rohit is one actor who has managed to straddle both TV and films with equal ease. He did films like Delhii Heights, Shootout at Lokhandwala and Dus Kahaniyan. Now Rohit wants to direct his first film by the end of the year.

Mona Singh

Mona Singh came to the forefront as Jasmeet Walia aka Jassi in the popular television serial Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (2003). "Whatever I have achieved today, whatever I am is because of the serial. The response has been phenomenal. I never thought it would be such a huge hit. I feel really lucky,” she says.

After Jassi…, Mona wanted to create an identity for herself as Mona Singh in showbiz. In 2006, she participated in Jhalak Dikhla Jaa (based on the internationally-renowned reality-based dance show Dancing with the Stars) and won.

Her current projects include hosting the Indian version of the popular international TV show Extreme Makeover. The Sony show will travel to five cities looking for people whose faces have been damaged or scarred at birth or in an accident. “We are looking for serious cases where faces have been damaged due to explosions or acid attacks. There are many people in India who hide such members of the family. We are here to change their lives forever,” said Mona.

Mona has also taken over from Mandira Bedi and will now host Extraa Shots on Set Max. She is very excited about her new role. “Once I started shooting for it, I realised it's quite a tough job. I have to speak and speak, and at the same time be camera-friendly,” she said.

Mona is hosting Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa

Mona Singh stole everyone's hearts with her act as plain Jane in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. But the actress seems to be in no mood for another dai ly on television. "I don't think that anything bigger than Jassi can happen on the small screen," she says, quickly adding, "I don't see myself playing a mother to someone who is double my age."

Neither is she in a hurry to tie the knot with boyfriend Karan Oberoi. "Oh, there's still time for it," comes the standard reply For the time be . ing, she is busy doing reality shows. "I'm hosting and participating in lot of such programmes," she says.

Mona is hosting Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. She says, "I won the competition last year so I know how difficult it gets for those who participate. I can relate to them well." She will also feature in another reality show, Extreme Makeover, starting next month. Her big screen plans? Pat came the reply, "There's a film I'm doing but can't talk about it now." Well, we hope the wait will be worthwhile, Mona.

Mona replaces Shveta as anchor on 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 2'

Remember the fireworks between Mona Singh and Shveta Salve during Sony TV's last year's dance competition 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'? The battle hots up again as Shveta is ousted by Mona as the anchor of the second season of the show.

What happened? Shveta doesn't have a clue. But she isn't sulking either. 'These things happen. Yes, I was looking forward to it. But never mind,' Shveta told IANS.

Last year, both the ladies were poised to take away the winner's crown. Shveta with her dancing skills and Madhuri Dixit features was the judges' favourite. But Mona with her perseverance and warmth worked hard on herself and sneaked the crown from under Shveta's nose much to everyone surprise.

Ever since, the two women haven't exactly been seeing eye-to-eye.

A year later, feathers were about to be unruffled when Shveta was signed to co-host 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 2' with Rohit Roy. The duo was to replace Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi.

Now in a sudden and surprising development Shveta has been ousted from the anchor's chair, to be replaced by Mona.

Apparently, Mona was seen to have a warmer and more viewer-friendly personality than Shveta, hence the eleventh hour decision to replace the original choice.

Rohit said: 'I'm aware of the change. It will be interesting to see how the show goes.'

Mona coyly refused to comment.

But 'Jhalak 2' seems to be going through casting dilemmas from the start. While the show is poised to resume from the last week of September, none of the judges from the first season, namely Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Farah Khan and Shilpa Shetty, have agreed to return on the show.

Only one judge, Urmila Matondkar, has been confirmed. The second judge is likely to be Shiamak Davar.

As for the third, your guess is as good as mine.

Mini Mathur, Cyrus Broacha, Mika, Sonali Kukarni are some of the stars who will be seen participating in the show.