Two Much

First things first. It's a show that's given soppy saas-bahus and their whole programming kitty a run for their money.

MTV Roadies is back and this time around Raghu Ram isn8217;t alone

First things first. It8217;s a show that8217;s given soppy saas-bahus and their whole programming kitty a run for their money. Into Season Six, MTV Roadies has become not just the country8217;s longest running reality show but has topped whatever TRP charts they are, showing its huge popularity among not just the youth but across diverse age groups. This year, however, they are doubling up not just the stakes and the tasks but the man himself. If you thought one Raghu Ram was enough to tackle in the auditions, there are now two of them. 8220;We didn8217;t want Roadies to get predictable,8221; grinned the man behind the show, MTV8217;s dishy looking executive producer Raghu Ram as he introduced us to his twin Rajiv Laxman, also a producer with MTV and from what we hear he too has a mean side to him.

In town to kick-off auditions, we caught up with the brothers. 8220;I love Chandigarh. I think there8217;s some Karmic connection I have with the city,8221; Raghu mentioned as we prodded him on what makes him come back each time he8217;s doing Roadies or a new show for that matter. 8220;It8217;s simple. I have always got what I have come looking for here,8221; he shoots. The past record speaks for itself. Past winners 8211; Rannvijay and Ayushman Khurana 8211; are from here, so are Bani and Varun and Vishal8230;most of whom have found careers with the channel as well. 8220;You know unlike other cities of India, where youngsters try and put on an attitude, to Chandigarhians it all comes rather naturally,8221; adds Rajiv who last came with Raghu scouting for contestants for their show Splitsvilla which too ran to a full house. And the brothers look exactly the same, though we still feel Raghu is more charming when he8217;s not losing his temper that is! 8220;It8217;s not intentional,8221; he chuckles. But why bring in the brother? 8220;We wanted to add a new dimension. We don8217;t want contestants to come prepared. Two of us is something no one can be prepared for,8221; says the brain behind the show. Speaking of doubling up, the prize money at Roadies this year is a whopping Rs 10 lakhs apart from the Hero Honda bikes. While the show did go international last season, they are now headed for Down Under. 8220;Australia is said to be the most dangerous country in the world with its hungry sharks, lonely deserts, venomous spiders,8221; MTV8217;s general manager Ashish Patil chipped in with more 8216;painful8217; details. Also the number of Roadies this year will be 20. 8220;That gives more people a chance to be a part of the show on one hand while the competition will be fiercer given there8217;s just going to be one winner,8221; added Raghu. But before you actually get that far, you8217;ll have to chat up the brothers!

The auditions will be held on September 28 and 29 at Indradhanush auditorium, Sector 5, Panchkula.