August 14, 2008 - Netra Raghuraman wins Fear Factor Khatron ke Khiladi.
I remember watching that episode - the expression of joy and accomplishment on Netra's face, and saying to myself 'Wow, I can hardly imagine what it would feel like to be in her place!' All my life I was the tomboy of my clan, 'One among the guys'. I don't think there's been a single day in my life without some adventure even if it was just jumping a wall on a shortcut to school.
February 24, 2009 - I'm driving back home from the gym. It's around 10:45pm and my favourite radio show 'City City Bang Bang' is playing on the stereo. I catch on to the RJs announcement "For all those of you who missed applying for the auditions to Fear Factor, Khatron Ke Khiladi - Level 2 here's your last chance... Enter the Jump the Queue contest and get a chance to go directly to the auditions in Mumbai"
My hands fumbled around for my cell phone while all my attention was focused on the sms number to send responses to. I already had the answer to the question in my head. All I had to do was hit SEND. Phew!!! Once I'd sent it I was happy and then forgot all about it the next morning.
Two days later an unknown number flashed on my phone and the lady on the other side of the line said she was calling regarding Khatron Ke Khiladi and that I won the Jump the Queue contest and a chance to go to the Mumbai auditions!!! It was 3 days later at Andheri Sports complex. My heart raced as my mind quickly started building dreams of being on the show. Actually meeting Akshay Kumar, who I'd been a huge fan of since 1990, gave me butterflies!!
March 1, 2009 - I arrived at the venue and fortunately for me there was a separated queue for the JTQ winners; unlike the 10,000 odd others who, by the way, had to send in their applications online which were later screened and only approved ones were called for auditioning. When I saw their never ending queue though, my hopes and dreams came crashing down to the ground and more so when I learnt that they were auditioning in 5 other cities too! The vast majority of applicants that surrounded me were struggling Bollywood aspirants with some 100 odd auditioning experiences and this was my FIRST! No way was there a chance for me among the 25,000 people they were seeing for the final 13 to be on the show.
My wait was around an hour, and then it was my turn - I walked into the room and was asked to wait in standby as the judges discussed the previous applicant. It was Netra herself and a very handsome, tall, well-built guy who I didn't recognize. The butterflies came flooding back into my stomach as I walked to my spot in front of the camera and the excitement was now back! I guess I was just myself again - I gave the audition my best and let them know just how I was perfect for the show with all my varied experiences. It was somewhere during the audition that I realised that I'd been in that room for much longer than most others and then I knew they liked me and I had only a few seconds to convince them that I was right, and so I calmed my nerves and went for it! When Arjun, the male judge (who I knew later was the director of the show), asked me to do a physical strength test to check if I really was as strong as they needed, that's when I knew I'd nail it; that's what I've always been the most proud of - my fitness and strength! When I was done Netra clapped and cheered and so did Arjun, he was pleased. I left with a smile and with higher hopes of making it through.
March 7, 2009 - It was holi and I was home (expecting the call). It finally came in around 4 in the evening - I was shortlisted for the 2nd audition which would decide who the final 13 all-India were. I can remember being speechless and even stammering, even wondering if it was a prank of sorts. This audition, they said, was a 3-day camp where we'd be checked by various tasks like driving, swimming, bike riding, etc. along with medical texts and fitness checks.
March 13-15, 2009 - 20 finalists met at Hotel Oritel in Andheri, Mumbai. They were from all over the country - 17 guys and 3 girls. 'This is going to be tough,' I told myself since we were already the top choices. In the 3 days that we spent getting through the various tests and tasks we also got to know each other and some even became good friends. But after all, we were there to be on the show and everyone knew this - no one lost focus. Most performed all the tasks well, except for a couple and now the anxiety was building to hear the results. Of course, we downed a few pints of beer at the end of the 3-day camp to ease our nerves, but the 17th was going to be our big day.
March 17, 2009 - After getting through the longest two days perhaps (after the wait for my SSC results), the call came in at around 5pm - I was going to CAPE TOWN in 11 days!!!!! I learned shortly that I was the only girl who got through too, doubling my excitement. The days until the 28th just flew past as each of us ran around buying clothes and preparing for our BIG TRIP to South Africa and AKSHAY KUMAR and (the guys of course couldn't stop dreaming about) the 13 haseenas :)
My story in short - Upar waala jab bhi detha hai, Chappar phar kar detha hai!!!
March 28, 2009 - 13 super-rocking stars (Ali, Alok, Arjun, Fahad, Goonj, Gurmeet, Jatin, Prashant, Sandeep, Sandhan, Sundeep, Swapnesh and JANICE) leave to Cape Town along with the 13 haseenas and THE KHILADI himself! The rest is history.
Watch the episodes online on desiforum.com
