Against the Ropes

That’s right,the girl’s getting ‘sporty’ with it,and mind it,she can beat ya all at it. It’s knock out time,and Eesha Koppikhar is warming up in the ring. Wrestle mania ahs taken over her and Colors along with Endemol is all set to fire up Indian telly with the desi version of Argentinian show,Lucha,starting August 29 at 9pm. “It’s called 100% De Dhana Dhan,and it’s reality meets fiction show based on wrestling,” Eesha connects the line and downloads hard facts.

Initially,the ground was cleared for Hard Kaur and the Great Khali,but Colors decided otherwise and roped in Eesha for De Dhana Dhan along with Sharad Saxena and mentor Dara Singh. The theme – it’s the clash of the titans,the icons versus the i-cans,where professional wrestlers will lock horns with our mushtande,live from South Africa. So is our girl ready for the action? “Why of course! I hate the cliched,and jump at the unusual. Also,the fact that I am completely into sports got me hooked to this unique concept,” says Eesha who’s given a shot at everything -from gymnastics,basketball (she’s been a state level champ) to eight years of tae-kwon-do,and soon,a black belt final exam in September! “I love to encourage and promote sports,and De Dhana Dhan is basically reviving the forgotten art,sport of India – the akhara wrestling,” says the actress who’ll be the link between the wrestlers,host Sharad,Dara and Mohan Kapoor,the commentator. Which means she’ll go behind the scenes – “My role is a lot more complex and wields immense power. I play the coordinator between the two teams in terms of the language. I am expected to notice and observe the games,the performances and help bridge the gap between all parties – the audience,the two teams and the producers,” tells Eesha. From a cop,truck driver to bouncers,the show has quite a melee of men who are ready for slam dunk!

Working on television was not an issue for Eesha for ‘the medium has immense reach and offers’. “And no,I did not postpon wedding plans with Timmy Narang because of the show. I will never compromise my personal life for work or mix the two,” she clears the air.

By now,she knows all the moves,players and rules by heart,and can tell a charkha from a brain buster and a choke slam from a drop kick. A bi-weekly,the show for Eesha holds great importance,“for wrestling is in our blood,in our culture,” Eesha says she’d love to do an action film herself. “Like Lara Croft,Charlie’s Angels or a GI Jane,” Eesha practises martial arts to stay alert,sharp and mentally strong. “I feel every school should rope in self defence or martial arts in their curriculum especially for girls,” she adds. While she hasn’t kicked anyone in real life,she’s looking forward to RGV’s Shabri where she’ll portray the life of a female gangster,and then there are two with Mukta Arts,Helloo Darling and Right Ya Wrong. Till then,she’s against the ropes!