16 potential candidates
The Fatehgarh Palace, converted partially into a hotel and partially into a set for Rakhi Ka Swayamvar is not very impressive. Nitin Desai would have done a much better job on a Film City set or possibly could have lent his Jodhaa Akbar palace for the show.
After a wait of about 30 minutes, the bride walked in, in a shimmering brown and gold sari. Having lost a lot of weight (yoga and a strict diet, she says, is the secret behind her toned body), Rakhi looked all set for the swayamvar. Sporting a small red bindi, she blushed coyly and pouted, “Finally the moment has come and my life is going to change forever.”
The suitors have come from all over India, especially the north. There is also a NRI . Interestingly, the youngest of the 16 prospective dulhas is a 21-year-old, who believe it or faint, has been pushed into this show by his mother! “I told his parents that he is at the age to study in college and make his career but kya karen? Usski mummy daddy ne mujhe already apni bahu maana hai,” says Rakhi, rolling her eyes.
As for her parents, especially her mother, Rakhi chooses not to comment. “There is no question of convincing my mother or family members about this swayamvar. Because it’s Rakhi’s life and Rakhi takes her own decisions,” she says tossing her near-blonde mane.
Ask her about the boys and she blushes some more. She claims that they all love her immensely and are ready to go to any extent to be her dulha. So will she make her suitors go through a bow and arrow round? “Well, Sita mata ne to sirf Ramji se dhanushya todwaaya tha, mere maaikewalon ne (read NDTV Imagine) to ek se ek difficult task rakhe hain just to know kaun kitne paani mein hai.”
So what is she looking for in her husband? “He should love me unconditionally. I have always wanted that jo kabhi nahin mila mujhe zindagi mein,” she puts on her bechari act, adding, “He shouldn’t look at using me as a ladder for his career. He should be a self-made man. His intentions should be noble, uska dil bilkul saaf hona chahiye.” And yes, Rakhi promises to be a good wife. “I will be a dutiful wife, daughter-in-law and a mother. I don’t believe in half-measures. Marriage is sacred to me. I don’t want to live with him in a two- and a three- bedroom flat. I want to live in a joint family, uske maata pita ke saath. I want to fulfil all my duties as a wife and a bahu.” Ah, that should make Ekta Kapoor smile.
But isn’t marriage a private affair? Why make a spectacle of it on national TV? “Because Rakhi Sawant is a public figure, she’s a celebrity. Whatever she does, it makes for news. And why shouldn’t I choose my husband on TV? I think I am making it easier for more girls to choose their husbands. I want to create history.”
One of her suitors is Atirek Sharma, a one-time buddy of her ex-boyfriend, Abhishek Awasthi. Doesn’t that make matters odd? “No, I can’t stop anyone from participating. He’s been in the queue for the past three years. Jaise hi Abhishek ‘out’ hua, yeh ‘in’ ho gaya,” she smiles.
Finally, the question everyone is asking: Will she really marry? What if she decides to reject all of them or chicken out at the last moment? “Why would I do that? Don’t I have to face you and my fans again? Do you think I’m doing this for publicity? I said I want to marry and settle down and I will marry. Haan, yeh aur baat hai that I don’t know what happens tomorrow. Tomorrow, the guy could just walk away or things may not work out for some reasons. Contract nahin hai usske saath…I’m just hoping things will work out and our marriage is successful.”
So clearly the idea was to have a swayamwar for Rakhi Sawant and that will happen in the next few weeks, but what happens afterwards? All we can do is wait and watch and see what the queen of gimmicks comes up with this time!