We live in a time where teenagers are hooked onto reality shows - little do they know that these reality shows are in fact completely scripted and totally sleazy.Reality shows popped up in the late 90s to break the shackles of linear entertainment and provide viewers with stark real scenarios. Programmes nowadays take the easy way out - script the whole damn thing, add spicy twists, hire actors and present them like they're newbies no different from the viewers.
What's worse is that the fate of the winners are being decided behind closed hotel room doors. MTV Splitsvilla, a voyeuristic reality show to begin with reeks of fornication and slimy casting couches. Mid Day, a news daily recently launched a sting operation and found out some rather startling details of Splitsvilla. It was found out that the winner and the finalists were chosen on the director's bed. Moreover, contestants were seen indulging in weed and marijuana.
One of the contestants of Splitsvilla Swagata G Shah, apparently disgusted with the show spilled some rather nasty beans about its ugly truth. VJ Nikhil Chinappa, who is one of the leads in Splitsvilla and also a 'mentor' to the female contestants spent a whole day and night drinking and canoodling in the pool with them. There was also a room booked for him and a certain unnamed contestant at a hotel.
Joanna Magee (one of the top contenders and a finalist) and Sakshi Pradhan (the show's winner) were spotted in the pool with Hitesh, director of Splitsvilla and a few other men from the production team. Needless to say they spent the night there. A room was also booked for Joanna through Cafe Mambo, a disc at Goa's Baga Beach, where Nikhil Chinappa performs. Joanna stayed with Nikhil at Goa's Sun City Resort for a few days after the show had ended.
The Splitsvilla contestants were reportedly forced to sign a gag order in the form of a contract that forbids them from revealing anything about the show to the public or media. "Three or four other contestants had already signed the contract, whereas to my knowledge, they haven't. I have been receiving calls every day, asking me to sign it," said Swagata.
Splitsvilla director Hitesh abused his position to back Joanna in return for sexual favours. "When I re-entered the show, Joanna boasted she would win it. I retorted, 'I don't sleep around for Rs 6,000 like you do.' I had heard about Joanna from people in Chandigarh, her hometown.
During this conversation, Hitesh pulled me out and said, 'You get out of Splitsvilla right now. I just want this chick out of the premises. You can't speak anything against Joanna because Joanna se mujhe kaam hai. Tumse mujhe koi kaam nahi hai (Joanna is of use to me, you are of no use).'
If I had slept with him like Joanna did, I wouldn't have been voted out so early and given so little footage," said Swagata.
Apparently the other contestants were scared of speaking against Joanna, because 'she was close to the top boss'. "I had seen Joanna kissing Hitesh at a party. But I am not sure if MTV was aware of these wrongdoings," she added.
0 comments:
Post a Comment