Wannabe icons get reality bitten

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="53.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/1029689.cms" alt="/photo/1029689.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" center=""><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">Who will get the crown? Amit Sana (L) or Abhijeet Sawant (</span><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Photo: indianidolonset.com)</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br />When translated, Sony’s tagline reads ''will make you forget everything''.For over four months, it hosted a show which kept the entire nation on tenterhooks. On Thursday, it comes to a much-awaited climax.<br /><br />However, the star will not be the show, but the final showman. On Sony''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span> , India''s popular reality show, tomorrow will be the last day for text messaging, the last day for votes and prayers for the final contestants - Abhijeet Sawant and Amit Sana.<br /><br />The sweet triumph comes topped with Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) prize money and a golden contract with a major Indian music label.<br /><br />There has been intense competition, endless moments of nail-biting suspense and the horror of being voted out.<br /><br />Timesofindia.com spoke to three such finalists who rode the crazy rollercoaster ride.<br /><br />The nation dreamt their dreams, shared their ecstasy and felt their final anguish as these contestants left the stage one by one. Their <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span> dreams may have been smashed, but their journey to fame - and imminent fortune - has just begun.<br /><br />Rahul Saxena is a small town boy from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His musical journey took him to Delhi and then to tinseltown Mumbai. After the contest, the wanna-be singer has found fame in the form of his billboards all over Mumbai.<br /><br />As for fortune, it''s just around the corner. "Just months back I was one among many strugglers in Mumbai, but today I have offers from Anu Malik, Farah Khan, Jatin-Lalit, Himesh Reshammiya, Shankar Ehsaan and Loy," says Rahul breathlessly.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="53.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/1029690.cms" alt="/photo/1029690.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" center=""><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">The stars: (from Left) Rahul Saxena, Aditi Paul and Harish Moyal (</span><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Photo: indianidolonset.com)</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br />Harish Moyal, another a small-town boy, too, took the traditional route to Mumbai, but returned to Delhi sad and rejected, until <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span> came along.<br /><br />Born in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Harish worked in a small fabrication shop for knives. Such was his passion for music that as a 12-year-old he took music classes on the sly. <br /><br />As a 20-year-old he sold his bike to participate in a music competition in Delhi, where he settled down later in search of opportunity.<br /><br />Living a mundane life of a struggling singer, Harish was catapulted to instant fame. <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span> gave him a second chance in Mumbai. His life has changed. With the new found fame, he wishes to make it big within six months.<br /><br />But the biggest change has been in his image. His black mop has turned straight blonde. "Before my hair turn back from blonde to black, I need to make it big, else no one would remember me," says Harish, smiling.<br /><br />Growing up in the security of her middle-class family in Kolkata, Aditi Paul had never imagined a life in the fast lanes of Mumbai. But an audition with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span> changed it all.<br /><br />"A better opportunity couldn''t have knocked my doors. I''m all set to take off for Mumbai and chase my dreams," says Aditi.<br /><br />Aditi''s newfound fame is apparent. Her parents overhear her name while travelling in the Kolkata metro. This simple girl from Kolkata has grown confident too. "I haven''t signed any contracts but things look bright," she says.<br /><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="right" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="right" border="1" width="35.6%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/1029691.cms" alt="/photo/1029691.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">A house painter from Ludhiana, Ravinder Ravi, epitomises middle India’s aspirations. He was undoubtedly the most popular contestant in </span><span style="" font-size:="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span><span style="" font-size:=""> . With a humble background and no formal training in music, Ravi managed to make it to the top five. His popularity was apparent back home, where his fans put up posters, requesting SMS and phone votes for him. (</span><span style="" font-size:="" font-style:="" italic="">Photo: indianidolonset.com)</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">As for tomorrow''s big winner, Aditi and Rahul have their bets on Abhijeet. "Abhijeet is a package. He has looks, personality and is a great singer. He deserves to be India''s idol," says Rahul.<br /><br />Aditi seconds Rahul''s choice. "Among all of us he was the best performer on stage, truly a show stealer," she says grudgingly.<br /><br />Harish Moyal, meanwhile, is undecided on his choice of the winner. He still feels Rahul would have been the most deserving winner.<br /><br />After Rahul made his exit, Harish''s next bet was Ravinder Ravi (see table), the face of the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span> show.<br /><br />Who wins on Thursday is anyone''s guess, but Harish''s conclusion of the show in the most apt: <br /><br />"The best singer wont''t be the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span>. Following the voting patterns, I came to the conclusion that the most loved contestant will become the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Indian Idol</span>."</div> </div>