Meet the contestants of Nach Baliye 7.
When Star Plus decided to re-format one of their most popular reality shows, Nach Baliye, they did so with a vengeance.
Judges Shilpa Shetty, Sajid Khan and Terrence Lewis -- who have been the faces of the show for the last two seasons -- have been dropped in favour of Chetan Bhagat, Preity Zinta and Marzi Pestonji.
Hosts Karan Wahi and Gautam Rode have been also dropped; Rithvik Dhanjani -- who won Season 6 with his partner, Asha Negi -- and Karan Patel, who shook a leg in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 6 and is seen as the much-loved but hot-tempered Raman Kumar in Yeh Hai Mohabattein, have been roped in instead.
And that's just the beginning for Nach Baliye, Season 7.
Taking a leaf from another popular reality show (wink, wink), the contestants will be locked inside the house and will only be allowed to meet their partners during rehearsals.
They will also have to perform certain tasks (nudge, nudge) and these episodes will be aired on weekdays. Their performances will be aired on weekends making this another first -- Nach Baliye, this year, will air seven days a week.
While the contestants entered the house on April 11, the show will begin airing on April 26.
Take a look at the couples who have picked up Ekta Kapoor's -- yup, Balaji Telefilms is producing the show this year -- gauntlet.
Payal Rohtagi and Sangram Singh
Wrestler Sangram Singh met his fiancee, actress Payal Rohtagi, on the sets of reality show Survivor India.
Since they are veterans of another reality show, Bigg Boss, both Sangram and Payal are expected to have an edge off the dance floor.
On stage too, they hope their chemistry will impress the judges.
Aishwarya Sakhuja and Rohit Nag
An actress meets a producer, sparks fly and they get married.
Newly-weds Aishwarya Sakhuja (Saas Bina Sasural) and Rohit Nag (they tied the knot last December) hope to charm the judges on the dance reality show.
Karishma Tanna and Upen Patel
These lovebirds, who discovered each other on Bigg Boss, didn't shy away from PDA on the popular show.
Will they opt for sizzling romantic numbers on Nach Baliye?
Nidhi and Arpit Ranka
As the menacing Duryodhan in Siddharth Tewary’s Mahabharat, Arpit Ranka did not hesitate to flex his muscles and attack the Pandavas.
Will he and his wife Nidhi make mincemeat of the opposition in their first ever reality show?
Sana Saeed and Dipesh Patel
Sanaa has already proved that she can set the telly screen on fire with her erotic dance moves in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6.
Will Dipesh match her, step-for-step, in Nach Baliye?.
Rashami Desai - Nandish Sandhu
They met and fell in love while sharing screen space on the popular show, Uttaran. They wed in 2011, survived a rocky patch in 2013, came back together in 2014 and appeared on the recently concluded adventure reality show, Khatron Ki Khiladi.
Rashami is known to be a good dancer and has participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5. Will she be able to make Nandish dance to her tune?
Amruta Khanvilkar- Himmanshoo Malhotra
Marathi actress Amruta Khanvilkar will appear on Nach Baliye 7 with her actor-husband Himmanshoo Malhotra (last seen in the television serial, Airlines).
They hope to give the other contestants a tough fight.
Neha Saxena and Shakti Arora
They are expected to be one of the favourite jodis on the show.
Shakti Arora, who is essaying the popular lead Ranveer Vaghela in the equally popular ongoing show, Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, will be accompanied by his actress-financee Neha Saxena.
If one goes by the promos, this couple -- who plan to tie the knot in June -- will set the stage on fire.
Mrunal Thakur and Sharad Chandra
Mrunal Thakur (Bulbul from Kumkum Bhagya) and her baliye, writer Sharad Chandra Tripathi, have signed on for the show as well.
This is the first time they are appearing in public as a couple and hope their romance will lend charm to their performances.
Smiley Suri and Vineet Bangera
She's Mahesh Bhatt's niece. Aalia Bhatt's cousin. Director Mohit Suri's sister. An actress. And a dancer.
He is a dance instructor.
Will Smiley Suri and Vineet Bangera be the winners of Nach Baliye this year?
Pooja Shah and Jay Soni
Jay Soni is best remembered for his role as Ishaan in Sasural Genda Phool.
His wife, Pooja, is a footwear designer and they hope their nimble moves won't go unnoticed by the judges.
