From tantrums to tears, reality show contestants even contemplate divorce and suicide. And yet, many shows don't have a therapist. Sunday MiD DAY looks at the need for a reality check
From tantrums to tears, reality show contestants even contemplate divorce and suicide. And yet, many shows don't have a therapist. Sunday MiD DAY looks at the need for a reality check
In Roadies 4, contestant Bani Judge yelled on camera, "I need my shrink!" It's been three years and she's now a VJ on the same show airing on MTV, but there's still no shrink.
"Any reality show should have psychiatric help," states clinical psychotherapist Seema Hingorrany. Hingorrany who has been with Bigg Boss seasons one and two, Indian Idol 3 and Boogie Woogie, feels that the production house, crew and channel are not equipped to deal with the pressure that contestants undergo in reality shows.
Shockingly though, several shows like Roadies, Splitsvilla, Big Switch, Dance India Dance and others make do without a therapist. This when their contestants get slapped, do menial tasks, receive crushing comments from judges, and cope with bad-mouthing sessions on a daily basis. In fact, their self-esteem is shattered on national television. 
Suicidal thoughts
Even with a psychologist being behind the scenes in Bigg Boss 3, Bhakhtyar Irani, Rohit Verma and Vindoo Dara Singh burst into sobs. Kamaal R Khan lashed out and threw things at the inmates, while Shamita Shetty often had tears streaming down her face. Shetty, just out of the house, says defensively, "Just when you settle down, Bigg Boss springs another surprise at you." Having Neha Patel on call to counsel the housemates is
a blessing.
Surprisingly, the Information & Broadcast Ministry has nothing to say when asked about the laws governing reality shows and the necessity of psychologists. "I have no idea," a ministry spokesperson says curtly, before declining to comment to Sunday MiD DAY. I&B Minister Ambika Soni too remained unavailable for comment.
If you think that reality show contestants who don't live away from their families have a lesser likelihood of mental breakdowns, you're wrong. Psychiatrist Dr Anjali Chhabria says that a contestant from an entertainment-related show threatened to commit suicide when she lost. "Until then, the production house and channel didn't think I was required on the sets. Then they realised how important it was," she says. In fact, a psychologist's presence even during auditions should be made mandatory.
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Even a controversial gameshow like Sach ka Saamna needed an expert. Priyanka Doshi, clinical psychologist, says that more than the contestants, their families needed to be counselled.
'They could get violent'
Clinical psychologist Trupti Jain, who has been on NDTV Imagine's Rakhi ka Swayamwar and is now on the upcoming past-life show Raaz, feels that any show that involves real people dealing with unusual situations ought to have mental help. "Otherwise, you won't know the person's psychiatric tendencies and whether they have issues with anger. They could get violent on the show."
Take the otherwise calm Amit Sadh who had an anxiety attack in Bigg Boss 1. "We'd conducted tests before the contestants went into the House, but I never expected Amit to have a breakdown. It was only after I calmed him down, that he agreed to stay on," explains Hingorrany.
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A nervous Roadies 7 contestant |
Therapists of Pati Patni Aur Woh, in which celeb couples were given charge of children, were unavailable for comment. Shailja Kejriwal, EVP, content, NDTV Imagine, says that all the couples were screened by psychologists: "They had to certify that they would be fully capable of handling children."
The children selected were also ones who weren't prone to stress or anxiety (though how they could predict the behaviour of a newborn baby is debatable). Hingorrany says she wanted to shake up celebs who passed disparaging remarks about their wards. "How could they be allowed to say that about a child on national television?" she demands.
Need to vent feelings
In Bigg Boss 3, Tanaaz and Bhakhtyar Irani have had many blow-ups. But psychologist Patel says, "He had told me about his short temper and that he cries at the drop of a hat." As for Bhakhtyar rethinking his marriage, Patel laughs it off, saying that all couples fight. She feels all reality show contestants need to vent out their feelings or share their thoughts with someone who will not judge them and who will keep it confidential.
The makers of some shows don't agree. Malaya Pradhan, creative director for Bindass' Big Switch in which 10 rich kids move to a slum to fulfill the dreams of 10 slum kids, says that the camera is their best friend. On elimination day every week, a different slumkid learns that his/her dreams are dashed. "It's a reversal of the Slumdog Millionaire situation," says Patel. Malaya, however, says defensively that the contestants are in it for the experience.
'It's sadistic!'
Ashish Patil, GM, MTV India, couldn't agree more. "This generation wants to be famous fast and get rich quick. They know exactly what they're getting into. Roadies is about physical tasks, Splitsvilla is about building relationships. There are no mind games," he says.
Which is exactly what psychologist Jain feels is the problem. She talks of auditions where Raghu Ram would interview wannabe contestants: "He was rude and abusive, he would break down their morale and then tell them, you've been selected. It's sadistic!"
Dr Chhabria (Entertainment ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Fame Gurukul, Star Vivah) recalls a former Roadies contestant from a couple of years ago, who went into depression.
"She had been labelled as super-manipulative on the show. When she returned to her hometown, she had to face accusatory looks. She came to me for therapy." The psychologist feels that had there been therapists on the show, they could have helped her overcome on-screen labels.
Currently, a certain 19-year-old from Kolkata who may soon be a Roadies 7 contestant, has a history of hurting herself when she gets angry. Does she know what she's getting into? Patel can only say, "They need to have someone on board...psychologists are there,take us on!"u00a0
Rs 6,000-10,000
The amount Psychologists get paid per day on a reality show
On Roadies 7, A contestant Eric was told repeatedly that he couldn't hold his own in front of a girl he liked, until he finally broke down. He's Now been selected for the next round
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