Meet the reality show stars!

They can sing, dance and act. They understand how TRPs and tears go together. A voting line is a lifeline for them. And they make a lot of money.
They are what are now known as ���reality TV stars���. While some of them do boast of an alternate work profile, and they cut the occasional album, act in a soap, try their luck on 70 mm, run their own business or simply anchor another reality show, their primary occupation seems to be reality shows.We quizzed a few SMS stars to find out what���s got them hooked to the reality bandwagon.
Bringing out the talent, but whose?
When the reality wave first swept TV, its charm lay in the fact that it was to encourage the youth, provide a platform to the talented and bring new faces into the limelight. But soon, it was taken over by newer celebs.
���It���s because of reality shows that talent from the interiors of the country is brought to the fore,��� says Debojit Saha. So once he earned his share of fame after winning Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005, why did he take part in another reality show, Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar? ���This show was about battling it out against other winners. I wanted to see where I stood,��� he explains, ���It���s a ladder to make it to your ultimate goal.���
Monica Bedi, an inmate of the Bigg Boss house (season 2) took part in the show to introduce people to the real Monica. ���After which, I wanted to establish myself as a performer, so I took part in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (season 3),��� she says. ���It was like a refresher course. I picked up many different dance forms in such a short time!���
Khayali, another reality-made star, boasts of the fact that he���s been a part of the maximum number of reality shows. ���Thirteen,��� he counts. Comedy Circus, Acting Ki Funshala, Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Funjabbi Chak De and Comedy Ka King Kaun were just a few of them. But he says, ���The shows today are simply about letting the stars make some more money, it���s not about discovering talent anymore.��� No wonder, once strugglers, now winners, re-appear on other shows. Says Abhijeet Sawant, winner of Indian Idol (season 1), ���I appeared as a celebrity participant on Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar and Nach Baliye.���
Show me the money!
Reality TV is no small business ��� it has big signing amounts, huge weekly payments and even bigger prizes. ���It���s good money, aisa nahi hai ki jeetne ke baad hi paisa milta hai,��� says Abhijeet.
Little wonder then that money is a major deciding factor. ���I recently got an offer from Sach Ka Saamna, a reality show, but the signing amount and package were quite average, so I refused,��� says Ashutosh Kaushik, winner, Roadies 5.0 and Bigg Boss (season 2). Khayali reveals the money he made as a participant on Chhote Miyan Bade Miyan - ���I earned Rs 11 lakh from this show,��� he says.
Out of sight, out of mind
���Visibility is very important. The public has a very short memory and you can���t afford to be out of sight and out of mind,��� says Debojit, who later went on to take part in Bigg Boss (season 2). ���Bigg Boss brought me good mileage,��� he admits. Abhas Joshi, a participant on Voice of India (VOI) and Junoon Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka, later went on to anchor Chhote Ustaad. ���I just cashed in on the popularity of VOI and anchored the show. Also, it was important to be able to survive in Mumbai,��� he says.
A profession to look forward to...
Are reality shows the next big career option? ���Yes, definitely. And I���m happy to see this change. Reality TV has widened the scope of what all one can do and achieve through the chhota parda,��� says Monica.
���It���s a much bigger profession than films. It has also given a new lease of life to those who had retired ��� they���re back in business as judges,��� says Khayali. He adds, ���It���s a business and I do look at it like that. You need just one show to prove yourself, what follows after that is essentially a money making exercise.���
���The trend has already started,��� feels Abhijeet. And what about having to entertain a fickle audience with singing, dancing and histrionics? ���Ab kaam hi yeh hai. I got a few offers from B-grade movies and even from saas-bahu soaps, but I refused. Koi aur acchha show aayega toh dekhenge,��� says Ashutosh.