As Sony's hit reality show Fame Gurukul chugs to its grand finale, the four remaining contestants wonder when it's their turn to leave. At 8pm tonight, one of them will be dropped, and the competition will tighten among the three remaining participants.
While Arpita is the most talented of the lot -- she's the only participant trained in classical music -- the 23-year-old has the slimmest chances of getting to the next stage.
A graduate with Economics honours from Delhi University, Arpita has changed a lot since I last saw her. She has become extremely confident. All dolled up for her performance, she also looks very beautiful.
Fame Gurukul: Behind the scenes
Arpita's father is a retired Air Force officer. He now gives management lectures at different institutions. Her mother is a music teacher and was her first guru. Arpita is the youngest of their three daughters.
The Delhi girl has now shifted to Mumbai and has been living in suburban Goregaon with her mother for the last two years. When asked what she has been doing, she replies, "I have been looking for work. I am also learning music from Anant Vaidynathanji."
After she got through the Fame Gurukul auditions, her parents were very supportive. "That is why I'm here. Although we knew this was a risky line (of work) and I would have to struggle, they agreed immediately. They have always been supportive of my singing."
Arpita thinks she does have it in her to make it to the Fame Jodi. "Apart from me, it could be either Rex or Qazi because they are very popular. I've bonded best with Rex because he's a happy-go-lucky person. He really cheers you up. I see Rex as my jodi."
Among the jugdes, Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan and Kay Kay, Arpita prefers the latter. "Kay Kay is very sweet. The comments he gives are very apt and well said. That's what I like most."
What next after Fame Gurukul? "This competition has given us plenty of exposure. To be in the top four itself is a big thing. We've been on television for 14 weeks now, and the response is immense. When we go out, people recognise us. If I don't make it, I will just work hard. I am sure I will start getting more work from the kind of exposure I've got. So we're not losing out at all."
