Bigg Boss watching: As Goody drops out, RPI fights to get Athavale in

Well, it’s only day three, but one thing’s for sure: a more ill assorted, perfectly mismatched bunch of newsmakers would be difficult to find under one roof. Only pure evil genius with a wicked sense of humour could have conceived of a plan to have these 14 worlds’ apart individuals live together for the next few months in the glare of public scrutiny. But this is Bigg Boss Season 2 (Colors), courtesy Endemol India and, as host, heartthrob and the heartburn of millions, Shilpa Shetty has already warned, it will be, “bigger, meaner and gruesome real time drama.”

The choice of Goody (in that race row with Shilpa on Big Brother last year) as the English joker in this pack of Hindi-speakers, was inspirational. Unfortunately, her stay at the Bigg Boss house abruptly ended on Tuesday after medical tests reportedly indicated that she may be suffering from cancer.

However, such has been the interest sparked by the show that potential contestants are breaking the door down to gain entry; supporters of Ramdas Athavale (RPI) ransacked the Colors office and blocked traffic in Mumbai because he wasn’t on the show — Athavale had alleged he was dropped from the show because he was a Dalit and had threatened to file a case under the stringent Prevention of Atrocities Act against the channel.

His joining this cast of characters can only add to its oddity. As of now, we have seen the recently divorced Rahul Mahajan, perhaps for the first time in his life, clean not one but several toilets, play interpreter, act as general guide to the entire proceedings — and in his own words, study “the best and worst of nature”.

He began his research by asking Monica Bedi: So, what was it like in Tihar? Monica stared bemused. Did he say Tihar or Bihar?

But as she told Shilpa, she’s been through much worse and knows how to stare down the opposition (or words to that effect). So she replied: “Tihar? I was (in jail) in Hyderabad”. Rahul turned to Goody for his next lesson.

Meanwhile, former Shiv Sainik-turned-Congressman Sanjay Nirupam, who wrote on his blog that he had agreed to participate in the show to “enhance the image of the politicians through my behaviour in front of 32 cameras” curried favour with a stint of cooking. Unfortunately, that and his attempt to sing haven’t won over his housemates, and he might be rejoining politics sooner than he expected to as five of them voted to eliminate him from the show.

Goody learnt to push out her buttocks from item girl Sambhavana Seth (much to the evident delight of the male inhabitants) and revealed she had never uttered a racial slur against Shilpa. “I called her Poppadum,” she explained as if bestowing a compliment.

The behaviour of the others was equally peculiar: Rakhi Tandon made great phulkas and little conversation; Ketaki made a little conversation but no phulkas while Ehsan made one great joke. Sambhavana made great moves as an item girl and Raja Choudhary a great many sullen expressions. Model Zulfi Sayed made peace with his surroundings and actress Payal Rohatgi made do with being Goody’s medium. Roadie Ashutosh and young Alina Wadwala made no noise at all, and Debojit? Well, he just sang.

On Day 2, the group was divided into odd couples: Sanjay Nirupam with Rakhi, Ketaki with Raja (the current favourite to be ousted), Rahul with Zulfi, Alina with Debojit, Monica with Ehsan and Sambhavana with Ashutosh. (Goody was paired with Payal). Literally, tied to each other by a black ribbon, the housemates’ task is to sleep for a total of 100 hours from Monday evening to Wednesday but only one at a time and visit the toilet (individually) for ten minutes only.

Last seen, they were huddled together, fighting sleep and inaudibly cursing under their breath. So, if it’s polite, intelligent conversation you’re looking for, you’ve come to the wrong address.