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The Most Dramatic Reality TV Stars
Looking at reality TV's most dramatic stars of 2011.
Reality TV makes for a great viewing experience and many would agree with that.
The year 2011 saw various individuals -- stars and aspiring artists -- make lasting impression on viewers in their moments of television glory.
Here's looking at some of the most dramatic reality TV stars of 2011.
Rakhi Sawant
When it comes to hogging the limelight for the wrong reasons, Rakhi Sawant tops the list for her numerous controversial sayings and doings.
She may not have the best wardrobe but when it comes to making demands, Ms Sawant is second to none.
During the shooting of Ghajab Desh Ki Ajab Kahaniya for the Imagine TV channel, she demanded that her producers buy her C-string panties and declared that she would not shoot for the show without them.
Moreover, the panties had to be in three colours -- red, green and purple. They are popular in Hollywood but rarely available in India, and Rakhi later admitted that she was inspired by none other than the American reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
Then, just before the show went on air, Rakhi expressed her willingness to marry yoga guru Baba Ramdev because he is "hot".
The Baba was not flattered and said, "It is not right to target anybody to promote one's show."
Sunny Leone
Sunny Leone, an Indo-Canadian porn star, was a surprise contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss 5. She has been a big hit with the housemates and audiences but some Indians have got a little hot under the collar over her arrival.
Parents filed complaints to ban her entry because apparently, thousands of kids were looking her up on the Internet and getting connected to porn sites!
Predictably, opportunistic political parties jumped into the fray and the Bharatiya Janata Party's youth wing president Anurag Thakur complained to the Information and Broadcasting ministry seeking action against TV channel Colors for featuring an adult entertainment star on its reality show.
Never one to let a controversy pass him by, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt entered the Bigg Boss house to offer Sunny the lead female role in his film Jism 2. He said her life as a porn star is a complex one, a journey of transformation from an ordinary girl named Karen Malhotra to being a porn star.
Simi Garewal
Simi Garewal's fans -- yup, she has them -- looked forward to the veteran actress's new show after her success with Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, where she had interviewed older celebrities and contemporaries.
But the lady failed to live up to that reputation in her new show Simi Selects India's Most Desirable, where she interviewed some of India's young stars.
The 'Minefield' section of the show, in which Simi takes on the persona of an annoying fictitious girlfriend named Kiki, who asks 'duh' questions", was universally trashed.
But her fitness and youthful -- if perhaps botoxed -- looks, came in for some praise.
Poonam Pandey
All it took for model Poonam Pandey to become a celebrity overnight was her offer to go nude if the Indian cricket team won the cricket World Cup. They did but she didn't.
She made up for it a little, though, when quizzed by reporters during a press conference on Khatron Ke Khiladi, the TV show hosted by Akshay Kumar, in which she was a contestant. Bombarded by questions about breaking her promise, Poonam unzipped her jacket to reveal a black bikini top. Not the full monty, but still...
Later, Poonam claimed that it was her semi-nude video My Bathroom Secrets that changed the fortunes of the Indian team. And another video titled Mirror Act so inspired our willow-wielders during their tour of England, she claimed, that it reversed their bad fortune.
Akashdeep Saigal (Sky)
Reportedly, Akashdeep (known as Sky) gave a lot of grief to the crew of the Shah Rukh Khan-hosted Zor Ka Jhatka by refusing to show up on the sets even after recovering from a minor rib injury, when the show was being filmed in Buenos Aires.
He was advised to discontinue shooting for some days and to lay off the booze and cigarettes for a month, advice that he ignored. The producers had no choice but to ask him to return to Mumbai.
Big mistake.
Instead of returning home quietly, Akashdeep sued the producers, Endemol India, and demanded Rs 2 crore and a 10-year contract with them. He said he would leave after the New Year.
He also indulged in a little sabotage by trying to convince the other contestants to abandon the show on the grounds that they were all working on tourist visas.
Eventually, Akashdeep moved out of the hotel and rented an apartment in Recoleta in Buenos Aires and continued to pursue his legal battle with Endemol even after the rest of the contestants returned to Mumbai.
Sushil Kumar
The 28-year-old computer operator from Bihar became the first person to win Rs 5 crore on Kaun Banega Croprepati and became an instant celebrity.
Everything, from his humble origins to his meagre salary, modest job and bright future, was endlessly commented on in numerous media interactions.
So, we know that he didn't have television when KBC first started and used to go over to his neighbour's house to watch the show. We know that he worked as a computer operator in a government-run scheme before he appeared on the show, and, like him, we never imagined he would reach the final question on KBC.
Kumar become an overnight celebrity after winning the top prize and said he now realises the repercussions of fame.
Dhaval Khatri
Dhaval Khatri, 21, from Ahmedabad in Gujarat was not an artist, who, tragically, lost both arms in an accident. He became an artist because he lost both arms in an accident.
While still recovering in hospital, he would tell his mom to stick a pencil or pen inside his bandage and would try to draw to kill the boredom.
He had no interest in painting or sketching before the accident. He was one of the contestants on Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and did some amazing stuff on the show. His aim is to hold an exhibition in Mumbai and then abroad.