Bani J, Arijit Singh and Neha Kakkar: Reality show contestants who weren't winners but earned fame

Jubin Nautiyal, who has some blockbuster songs like Zindagi Kuch Toh Bata (Bajrangi Bhaijaan), Kaabil and others to his credit, started his career with reality shows. He appeared as a participant on X Factor in 2011 but couldn’t even make it to the top 25 in the show. The show had Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali as judges. Today, the popular singer has various hit songs to his credit. Not many know that Jubin has sung for many TV serial tracks as well.

Dharmesh Yelande participated in Dance India Dance Season 2 and was the first runner-up. Though, he did not win the show, but went on to do many projects in TV and film Industry. He initially worked with Farah Khan's dancing troupe. Dharmesh was a part of the dance team that choreographed the film Tees Maar Khan. He also starred in Remo D'souza's, ABCD. He was last seen as a judge in Dance Plus.

Raghav rose to fame after being a finalist on DID season 3. He was the second runner-up of DID 3 and Rajasmita Kar went on to bag the title that season. He also had a role in the 2015 Varun Dhawan-Shraddha Kapoor starrer ABCD 2. He is entertaining audiences with his unique dance and hosting skills. He has become everyone's favourite on Dance Plus and Dance Champions. Raghav's recent pictures are proof of how the choreographer has groomed himself over the years. From his style to change in wardrobe, Raghav's transformation and success story is something that can't be ignored.

Nitibha Kaul was first seen on the reality show Bigg Boss 10 as a commoner, where she played quite well and stayed inside the house for long. She entered the house as a commoner, but became a celebrity even before she had left the house. She is now hosting a reality show 'Date to Remember' and is also an influencer.

Gurbani Judge has been associated with Roadies for a long time now. The popular VJ, who was last seen on the reality show Bigg Boss 10, was first seen on screen in the fourth season of Roadies where she won the runner-up title. Post that Bani started hosting the show and gained prominence as a VJ. She received a lot of love and votes on Bigg Boss 10 when the world got a taste of her popularity.

Fame Gurukul was the first singing based reality show and singer Arijit Singh took part in 2005. The singer was merely 18 years-old, and came into the industry with huge aspirations. Little did anyone know that the boy who was eliminated at the 6th position, would become a big name in the Indian film industry and will go on to croon songs for Bollywood biggies like Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor.

One of the most talented and bubbly judges of Indian Idol, Neha Kakkar also participated in Indian Idol season 2 in the year 2006. Yes, the charbuster singer, who now judges Indian Idol had once participated on the same as a contestant. She could not win the title of the show, but managed to get a lot of prominence. Her voice is unique and can be recognised easily. She has sung some famous numbers including, 'London Thumakda', 'Mamali Raja' and 'Aao Raja'.

He was the second one to get eliminated from Indian Idol 1, but became the most successful out of the lot in the Television industry. Soon after Indian Idol 1 happened to him, he was seen on the show Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai in the year 2005, where he played the role of Prithvi Bose for a year. Since then there has been no stopping for the actor whose recent shows include Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki, Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi.

Monali Thakur stood ninth on Indian idol and rose to fame post that for her soulful voice. She has sung the popular songs Sawaar Loon from the movie Lootera and Moh Moh Ke Dhage from Dum Laga Ke Haisha. She has won several awards for her songs. She was last seen as a judge on Rising Star.

Rahul Vaidya also rose to fame with the first season of Indian Idol and stood third. Though his boy next door image helped him earn major fan following, he lost the competition to Abhijit Sawant. Rahul sang the unplugged version of Be Intehaan for the movie Race 2 in 2013.

This Gujarat based singer got selected among the finalists for Indian Idol 3, but quit mid way as she was suffering from jaundice. She again contested in the next season, but had to quit once again as her aunt died of breast cancer. But there was no stopping for her as she returned for the fifth season of the show once again and ended up as the runner up. However, Bhoomi's career took off from there and she received lucrative offers from Bollywood. She has sung the famous song Ram Chahe Leela from Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone starrer Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela.

Folk singer from Rajasthan, Swaroop Khan also contested in one of the seasons of Indian Idol. Though his journey on the reality show was short lived, but he won the hearts of many with his voice when he sang the song Tharki Chokro for PK. He recently sang the song Mehendi in the film Dhanak.