PIX: Meet the Nach Baliye 5 Contestants

Star Plus's Nach Baliye returns with Season 5 after four years.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra, director Sajid Khan and choreographer Terrence Lewis will judge the show while Karan Wahi and Gautam Rode will host it.

Eleven celebrity couples will participate. Here's who they are:
 
Rahul and Dimpy Mahajan

Rahul, controversial son of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, and Dimpy got married on a reality show and have been through tumultuous ups and downs in their marriage. Now they have decided to dance together in Nach Baliye 5.

While she may know a bit about dancing, what about Rahul?

"I don't know how to dance but I will enjoy myself. I have never danced in my life; this is the first time I am dancing so it's fun. After all the injuries and hours of rehearsals, it's an experience that is worth it," says Rahul.

He adds, "My mother is glad that I am making an effort to learn dancing. Initially, I had bodyache, but now I look forward to the rehearsals. What I take back home from this show is that I will be able to shake a leg with Dimpy at parties."
 
Dimpy is forthright about her spouse's lack of skill. "Each step you have to teach him 40 times and he still doesn't understand," she says.

But she admits, "It takes lots of guts to come and perform on national television. He might agree or disagree, but he is doing this show only for me because he knows I love dancing at weddings and parties."

Newlyweds Karan Mehra and Nisha Rawal cancelled their honeymoon to be on the show.  

"We were always keen on doing Nach Baliye as dance is our passion. How could we say no when the show has come back after four years?" says Nisha.

Karan adds, "My hectic work schedule does not give me enough time to spend with my wife. Doing this show is a way for us to spend time together."

Kushal of Ek Hazaron Mein Meri Behna Hai met Elena, a Bulgarian model, in New York, and sparks flew. It will be interesting to see Elena improvise, fit in, and let Kushal take the lead.
 
"Nach Baliye is going to be a different experience for me," Kushal says. "People loved me as Virat and now I want people to know who Kushal is and love me as Kushal."
 
"After 12 hours of shooting, I have to practice for my dance, explain to Elena the meaning of each and every sentence/lyrics so that she can understand the dance. It is a hectic but at the same time fun experience with my baliye."

TV actors Jai Bhanushali and his wife Mahi Vij are not new to dance reality shows but they will be dancing together on a reality show for the first time.

"Both of us participated in Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in different seasons and reached the finals but couldn't win the show. Let's keep our fingers crossed this time," says Jai.

Why did he switch from being a host (on Dance India Dance) to being a participant?

"My wife wanted to be part of this show..."

Mahi interrupts, "He agreed for the cheque, you know."

Jai agrees with her: "...for my wife and the cheque," he amends.

Smita Bansal, who plays the mother-in-law of Anandi in Balika Vadhu and has just had a baby a couple of months ago, will participate with her director husband Ankush.

"I love dancing so I convinced my husband also to take part in this show. We are on the show just to enjoy ourselves, no threat to others," smiles Smita.

Love blossomed between Ravi and Sargun on the sets of a TV serial. Ravi Dubey is the ideal son and perfect husband of Saas Bina Sasural.

His partner is Sargun Mehta, who has just started playing Mona Singh's daughter Bulbul in Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada.

Says Ravi, "This is a great platform to learn dance and we are experimenting with all forms of dance."

And who is the better dancer of the two?

"Ravi," says Sargun, who admits it's exhausting to shoot for a daily soap and rehearse for a dance show "but somehow I manage."

Neelu Vaghela aka Bhabho is a Rajasthani film actress. She is currently the popular saas on Diya Aur Baati Hum.

Husband Arvind is a Rajasthani super star.

They are the senior most couple on the show.

TV actress Deepshika Nagpal and Keshav Arora were married last year, and this year they will dance to each other's tunes.

"Keshav gets stressed when he doesn't get the steps right. He just starts yelling at me because he can't shout at others. Even the choreographer gives more time to him.

"My children say, 'Papa is dancing well' and my maid says, 'Bhaiya achha dance nach rahe hai.' Nobody bothers to say anything about my dance," says Deepshika, albeit with a smile.

Amar Kunwar mesmerised the nation with his dancing talent. Now he's the heartthrob of Dil Dosti Dance.

Charlie is known for her carefree attitude and her flamboyant style in Best Friends Forever.

This couple symbolise today's youth and their bindass attitude may just have the nation rooting for them.

Suhashi charmed audiences in Yahan Mein Ghar Ghar Kheli.

She will soon be seen as the multi-tasking housewife Sona in the new show Housewife Hai... Sab Jaanti Hai.

She married her college sweetheart of 10 years, Jaisheel, and dance drew them even closer when they started learning salsa!

Remember the sexy Kanta Laga girl Shefali Zariwala?

She will be partnered with Parag Tyagi in Nach Baliye 5. The bold item girl met the introvert Parag, a television star, and love happened.

Will Parag be able to match her step for step? Shefali has no doubts.

"Initially, he was scared to thrown me in the air and to spin, but now he does it confidently. I am so proud of him," she says.