The Cheery People

For retired out-of-work star guests, they create a make believe world of popularity still within reach, for neo-contestants, they are the first date with a fan following 8212; even if their acts are paid and stage-managed. 8220;Occasionally we do cheer out of genuine enjoyment,8221; says Balraj Singh, 19, a diploma student and a pro at the act. 8220;I8217;ve cheered in Fame X, Boogie Woogie, Bigg Boss and Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj,8221; he rattles off his CV with a touch of pride. And why not? He has introduced nearly 20 of his friends and college mates 8220;into the line8221; too.

Gurpreet Kaur, coordinator and crowd provider, and a full time film extra she has had a scene with Sunny Deol in Gadar Ek Prem Katha explains, 8220;These boys and girls can be divided into two categories 8212; the decent ones, who are a bit HiFi, can speak English and are better educated, generally up to BA 1st year and the others who are fifth-sixth standard pass outs. I have a troupe of 50 kids.8221;

We meet Kaur at RK studio between the shoots of another gala episode of Fame X, where like her, there are six-seven other coordinators from different suburbs in Mumbai. 8220;Each has brought 40-50 kids, as the requirement for such reality shows is nearly 300. We8217;re paid Rs 400 for every kid of which Rs 150 is paid to each boy and Rs 200 to each girl. Many of these kids are from poor families and this is a decent source of earning compared to a menial jobs they may take up. Also, they get good food.8221;

Kaur and her troupe belong to an increasing tribe of unacknowledged professionals who feed on the ever-growing entertainment industry8217;s sudden obsession with reality shows post the success of the Indian Idol format. 8220;You had some genuine guests and audience in shows like the earlier Antakshari. But these days everyone fills up their shows with a paid audience,8221; says Kaur.

Not everybody agrees. As a break between the shoots is announced and a chirpy bunch of 300-plus teens and youngsters troop out, Shashikant breaks from the queue and Kaur8217;s watchful eyes to reveal: 8220;Nobody comes here to earn a living. Hundred rupees is hardly anything for spending 12-16 hours per day. Stories of poverty leading us to play the crowd are exaggerated. You can earn much more in any other job, in spite of the free lunches.8221; Not discounting the unpredictability of a shoot and long hours. 8220;Last time we came at 11 in the morning and the show wound up at 4 am the next day. First judge Daler Mehndi came three hours late and then host Shilpa Saklani took hours to get her script right and we just had to stand through all of that doing nothing for five hours. And within two hours of the ending of Fame X, we were packed off to Karjat to cheer for the afternoon eviction on Bigg Boss,8221; says Bunty Singh of MG Acharya College, who has come in with his college bag and has been a part shows like The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Shabhash India and Music Masti Dhoom.

So what keeps them going through this colossal wastage of time and energy? Shashikant, also a student of engineering at Mumbai8217;s Vasantdada Patil College says, 8220;This is the only way I can come within touching distance of my favourite stars.8221; He8217;s met Kapil Dev, Ganesh Hegde and Shilpa Shetty so far and wishes 8220;to clap for Shah Rukh as part of the KBC audience.8221;

One need not necessarily come with a coordinator. For big shows, the crowd often swells up through word of mouth. 8220;If you come to the right studio at the right time you gain entry. Once inside, even if you are unattached, some coordinator will spot you and add you to his team. The more crowd they get, the fatter is their pay check,8221; says Imran Khan, 18, on his third outing in Fame X.

Sapna Singh, a diploma student says, 8220;They turned away my brother because he was too short. Girls can manage with heels, but boys have to be 5.5 inches or above. We get paid more than boys, but then we spend more on make-up.8221;

Though there is an ideal age limit of no less than 18 the upper limit being 28-30, 8220;there are 14-year-olds in the crowd too,8221; points out Khan, adding, 8220;You just have to be tall, wear western outfits, and you are in. Chappal wearers is a no-no. Looking good is important, or you are relegated to the sitting audience.8221;

Does anyone see a career as a cheerleader? Vipul, 20, says: 8220;It can8217;t be a career as only a particular age group is in demand, but one could graduate to working in films.8221;