Jhalak Dhikhla Ja 4 Contestants

Jhalak Dhikhhla Jaa Contestants, Jhalak Dhikhla Ja 4 Contestants 2009
Jhalak Dhikhhla Jaa is back with a new lot of assorted celebrities in its third season. From former cricket player and commenter Mohinder Amarnath to sexy model Gauhar Khan to rapper Hard Kaur to magician Ugesh Sarcar and Maine Pyaar Kiya heroine Bhagyashree, this season promises to be exciting. They will be judged by an all-woman panel: Saroj Khan, Juhi Chawla and Vaibhavi Merchant. Shweta Tiwari and Shiv Pandit will be the hosts.

We take a closer look at the 12 celebrity contestants on the show.

Gauhar Khan

A model and former Miss India Earth, Gauhar is a graduate from Anupam Kher's school of acting, and hopes to make a career in films as well. She's following her sister Nigar Khan's footsteps by dancing to success in Jhalak.

"There is an overload of reality show but Jhalak stands out," Gauhar tells us. "It is a different journey for me and I am looking forward to taking up something which not many people even know me to do. I am not a trained dancer but I like to believe that I can dance and pick up steps fast. Dancing with a choreographer and matching his steps is a different ballgame and will be tough."

Monica Bedi

Monica Bedi was seen in films like Jodi No 1, Jaanam Samjha Karo and Pyaar, Ishq Aur Mohabbat before she left her movie career to join boyfriend and wanted gangster Abu Salem abroad.

After facing many lows in life, Monica finally managed to leave her tragic past behind, and make a good comeback in Bigg Boss last year. She struck a cord with audiences, and then tried her hand at dance with Jhalak.

"I took up this show because I am very passionate about dance. That's my first love," she says. "I forget everything around me when I start dancing. But I am not a trained dancer. I'm nervous because I will be dancing after seven or eight years."

Bhagyashree

Bhagyashree became a sensation when her debut film with Salman Khan, Maine Pyaar Kiya shot to success. But she preferred matrimony instead of an acting career, and slipped off the radar.

Bhagyashree later made a comeback with Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, and now in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.

"I was very excited when I was offered this show because I was dying to learn salsa and this is the right platform to learn dance," she says. "I have done films which didn't require much dancing, so I will learn something new from this show. I have two left feet, so my husband and children have told me to have fun but not to make a fool of myself!"

Shilpa Shukla

After hockey, Shilpa Shukla has learnt that her next claim to fame may, in fact, be dance. The Chak De! India girl is all for trying something new in Jhalak.

"I agreed to do this because it's a show with an international format and you get to learn different dance forms from your choreographer," Shilpa says. "It's too early to say who is the best. But yes, Gauhar Khan is very flexible and moves her body very well. I rate myself five on the scale. But I have a strong feeling that I will get nine or 10 (later)."

Ram Kapoor

Ram Kapoor made Kasamh Se's Jai Walia very popular, and also bagged many awards for it. Now, the actor hopes to create the same magic in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.

"I am happy to work with Sony TV again after a gap of 10 years. When I got this offer, my wife Gautami convinced me to take part in this show. She told me to get out of my onscreen strict image and show the real Ram," Ram says, adding with a laugh, "I am definitely going to shed some kilos by the end of the season! I have just lost 250 grams now."

Hard Kaur

Punjabi Indian rapper Hard Kaur aka Taran Kaur Dhillon made waves with her song Glassy and Move your body (Johnny Gaddaar). She followed it up with songs in movies like Ugly Aur Pagli, Singh Is Kinng, Kismat Konnection and Bachna Ae Haseeno.

"I enjoy dancing," Hard Kaur says. "I have being planning to go to the gym for quite a long time but never got time. Don't you think it's an excellent opportunity to lose weight without even paying a single penny and also get paid for dancing? Jokes apart, I am very excited because I am going to learn and perform different forms of dance like Indian classical, folk and Bollywood dance numbers."

Ugesh Sarcar

Bangalore-based Ugesh was introduced to magic at an early age, thanks to his father M C Sarcar. Now, this jadugar wants to try another kind of magic on the dance floor.

"Dancing and singing is not my forte, I've never done it before," Ugesh says. "But it's fun to learn. I have already hurt my body and cannot sleep at night. But I promise not to use magic to learn dance."

Karan Singh Grover

His TV career kick-started with shows like Kasautii Zindagii Kay Solhah Singaar, C I D but Karan tasted real success when he became Dr Armaan Mallik in Dill Mill Gaye.

"I am going to make a fool of myself on national television, so why not learn some dance forms while at it? I am an actor learning to dance. Dancing is not difficult but I have a genuine problem in following instructions. I have a mental block - the moment I follow instructions, I make mistakes. My choreographer is having tough time but she is very patient."

Parul Chauhan

Parul left her engineering course midway in Lucknow, and came to Mumbai to make a name for herself in showbiz. She bagged the lead role in Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai, and today, she has become a household name. Audiences will see her in a new avatar on this show.

"It's my first reality show and I am looking forward to it. It will be tough because it is live and there can be no retakes. I will take negative comments in my stride and not hit back. It's just a competition, not war."

Mohinder Amarnath

Veteran cricket player Mohinder Jimmy Amarnath has always been known for his fighting spirit. Every time he was dropped from the Indian team, he fought his way back with sterling performances. Now, his brings that determination to Jhalak Dikhla Jaa.

"I have scored several boundaries and sixers on the cricket pitch. Let's see how much of my magic will reflect on this stage," he says.