"Guys...just bring it on," says Jhalak contestant Archana Vijaya

The beautiful model cum sports anchor Archana Vijaya is excited about her new dancing avatar in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 5 on Colors. “I am nervous as well for I have never danced before on stage. Prior to this my only contact with dance was shaking a leg at the night club. This is a different world altogether. I am having great fun picking up skills of Latin American dance forms, be it Salsa, Jazz etc. And off course, our very own Bollywood style, without which any desi dance show is incomplete.” Kolkata born Vijaya entered the world of entertainment via reality talent shows. She won Channel V’s Get Gorgeous in 2004. She then went on to become a VJ for the same channel hosting travel shows such like Freedom Express 1 and 2. So given her reality TV back ground, would she be comfortable with all the other elements beside talent which abound most such formats? “I know what you mean hence before signing on, I first asked the production house (BBC Worldwide) if we would need to fight and back bitch with other contestants and judges? They said ‘no’… you are celebrity so just go out there and have fun. If something happens naturally, it is different thing.” This 29 year old hottie is quite happy with her young and talented choreographer in the show. “Sanam (Sanam Johar) is very good and really pushes me to the limit. I have discovered muscles in my body which I never thought I had and have even assaulted them. Dancing with him gives me the feeling that I am 19 again.” Before Jhalak, Vijaya was seen as one of the anchors in Extraa Innings for IPL season 5. “I have been a part of this T20 extravaganza since the past two seasons now.” So how does she compare sports with dance? “Quite similar, as both are live, you also can’t afford to goof up and always need to give your 100 percent concentration.” She is also quite happy to have Sri Lankan cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya as a co-contestant. “I have met him before during my international tours (she has also hosted shows on Neo Cricket) and he is a great guy to be with.” In closing we asked Vijaya if she is scared of Jhalak’s TV bahu brigade contestants, namely Giaa Maanek (Saath Nibhana Sathiya) and Pratyusha Banerjee (Balika Vadhu). “I know daily soap leads might have an advantage of being seen on tube every day, but I will not let these things disturb me. I also have been well received during my cricket anchoring days, so guys just bring it on”