Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; August 10, 2016)


“I felt I was a misfit as a judge on the show. I loved hosting the show for those few episodes I did. But when you have such talented dance gurus sitting, it becomes very awkward for me to judge anyone. I don’t think I am that big yet,” smiled the modest actor.

But there’s another issue that bothered him on the show. He laughs, “I cannot say bad things to anyone and it was very difficult for me to criticise anyone’s performance.” Does that mean he has bid goodbye to TV for good? “No, I would be happy to do shows where I get to host them. Judging is not on my mind right now.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 11, 2015)

Upala KBR (DNA; September 4, 2015)

Shahid Kapoor is a compulsive coffee drinker, who believes in spreading the love around. While in London recently, for his honeymoon, Shahid picked up his favourite (and expensive one at that!) brand of coffee — Davidoff — not just for himself, but for all the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded contestants. Says a source, “The Jhalak unit keeps shooting round the clock and they feel lethargic during the night. The reality show has an exhausting and extremely gruelling schedule which goes on for two shifts sometimes.Shahid himself often feels sleepy and has to have several cups of coffee to stay awake and alert. He brews it, cappuccino-style, just the way he loves it. It was very generous of the actor as he must have spent a small fortune buying the stuff for the entire team!”

Shahid drinks almost eight to ten cups of coffee everyday. Adds the insider, “Shahid picks various kinds of coffee while travelling abroad. He is fond of gourmet coffee. In fact, the actor is also quite an expert on coffee-making and can hold forth on everything from how to brew it better to enriching the taste.”

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; September 3, 2015)

Television show host Manish Paul is known for his comic timing and sense of humour, but it seems Shahid Kapoor isn’t amused. According to the latest buzz on the grapevine, the duo exchanged some icy vibes on the set of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded when Manish made some “personal” comments about Shahid, who is judging the dance reality show. The actor apparently brought the matter to the notice of the production team.

A source says, “Manish has been hosting Jhalak for the past two seasons and at times, his jokes tend to get personal. So, some celebrities and contestants do not like it. But Shahid decided to speak out and inform the makers too.”

Of late, the actor has been consciously guarding details about his personal life. In fact, at the trailer launch of his upcoming film Shaandaar, he snubbed all questions related to his married life and wife, Mira Rajput. Adds the source, “Shahid likes to keep his personal life personal. He does not enjoy it when the jokes and comments go overboard.” Manish denies the buzz and says, “(There is) nothing like that. We are having a lot of fun on the set. There is no problem at all.”

While Shahid was unavailable for comment, the channel’s spokesperson says: “There is absolutely no truth to it. Shahid is fond of Manish and their chemistry is very good which is visible on the show. We are surprised with these rumours being floated.”

Shahid Kapoor's younger brother, Ishaan, was also spotted on the set
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 27, 2015)

Tuesday was a day full of surprises for Shahid Kapoor, at least while he was on the sets of the dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded. Alia Bhatt dropped by unexpectedly, taking the 34-year-old actor and his co-judge, Karan Johar, by surprise. The actress, who has just returned from a detox break in London and Austria, waltzed in around lunchtime and greeted her mentor-cum-friend Karan and the Kapoor boy with hugs.

"The two were pleasantly surprised when they saw Alia walking in. She told them that she had come specially to meet them. After hanging around the sets for a few minutes, the trio retired to Karan's vanity van for a meal. She was there for almost an hour," reveals a source.

Shahid's younger brother, Ishaan Khattar, was also spotted on the sets, getting groovy whenever the music played. "Not many know but like Shahid, Ishaan too is a trained dancer known for his killer moves," adds the source.

Shahid has often been spotted riding a segway on the show and was teaching the tricks to Ishaan, whom he dotes over.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 27, 2015)

Rumours about Karan Johar bidding adieu to celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded have proven true. The filmmaker shot for his last episode on Tuesday to heed the call of the director’s chair.

In his official statement, KJo says, “This season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa has been really exciting... However, owing to my film commitments, I am unable to be a part of the season till the end. Shahid (Kapoor) has been my partner-in-crime this season; we shared great chemistry which has made this season fun and entertaining for the viewers. A special shout out to Lauren Gottlieb, Ganesh Hegde and Manish Paul for adding lots of oomph, excitement and making this one of the most entertaining seasons.”

Karan had apparently intimated the makers about his from September as he is taking his next project, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, to the floors. A source says, “But the channel wanted him to stay as he was the only big name on the judging panel apart from Shahid Kapoor. Shahid is new to television and they were keen to have someone with more experience. Karan, on his part, tried to adjust his schedule, but things didn’t work out.”

The show is said to be scoring average ratings and the makers are now looking forward to have a Bollywood A-lister on the show to improve the TRPs. “ They have already approached a well known actress to add the much needed glamour. The negotiations are on. If things fall in place, they will make an announcement by next week.”
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DNA (August 27, 2015)

As we had told you earlier, Karan Johar quit the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded mid-way to shoot his next directorial Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The filmmaker tweeted, “Was a hugely emotional day for me on the sets of #JhalakReloaded yesterday…thank you to the entire team for making me feel so special.” Shahid Kapoor replied to Karan’s tweet saying, “@karanjohar you will be sorely missed on the sets of #JhalakReloaded. No one can replace you. Thank you for everything.” Sources say that all the contestants on the show got emotional, and even Karan was moved to tears. After all, Karan was part of the show for three seasons and was the only one to have continued this season. Madhuri Dixit Nene and Remo D’Souza had opted out earlier. Now, with Karan out of Jhalak, the makers are looking at bringing another judge in his place.

DNA (August 23, 2015)

While most people perceive Sooraj Pancholi to be this intense, soft, romantic guy, there’s also a fun-loving side which only his close friends and family know about. The audience got to see a bit of it when he visited the sets of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded with Athiya Shetty and Salman Khan to promote his debut film Hero. A source reveals, “Sooraj is a great mimic. While on the sets of Hero he would often play pranks on Athiya by mimicking her father Suniel Shetty. On the sets of JDJ, Sooraj imitated Hrithik Roshan. He did a great job and had everyone from Salman to judge Karan Johar and host Manish Paul in splits.”

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 27, 2015)

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 23, 2015)

Shahid Kapoor’s presence in dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded as a judge has created more buzz than the show itself. And if sources are to be believed, the star was apparently keen to test the waters before committing himself till the final episode — the reason why there are four judges on the show this season.

Says a source, “All the previous seasons have had a three-judge format, so even if Shahid had to make an exit, the rest — Karan Johar, Ganesh Hegde and Lauren Gottlieb — would continue as usual.”

The source adds that Shahid prefers to sit separately on a chair while the other judges sit together as a panel. “It was his idea to sit away from the rest, just in case he had to bow out of the show if things (read: TRPs) didn’t work. There was also a possibility that his film commitments could take a toll on his small screen presence,” states the insider.

A source close to the channel, however, maintains, “Shahid will be part of the show right till the final episode in September. There is immense speculation about his tenure because people want to make a mountain out of a molehill.”

Last weekend, the star even hosted the show riding a Segway in the absence of anchor Manish Paul. The channel source explains, “Shahid behaves likes an excited kid. He wants to experiment and try out new stuff, the reason why he judged as well as hosted the show.” Shahid remained unavailable for comment.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; July 17, 2015)

Rumour mills had been buzzing about Shahid Kapoor, who made his TV debut last week as a reality show judge, demanding to host an episode of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. However, sources close to the actor have revealed that the responsibility was, in fact, thrust on him at the last minute as part of a “surprise gig” on the show.

A source says, “Shahid is taking his small screen job seriously. He likes to go through all scripts and oversee arrangements personally. While shooting earlier this week, he was asked by the creative team to host the show all of a sudden. He was simply handed the script and told that it was for a surprise gig. However, he was sporting enough to go ahead with their plan.” Consequently, the regular host of the show, Manish Paul, was given a day’s rest.

A source from the channel says, “It was preplanned. We will show Manish getting kidnapped in the episode and Shahid will fill in for him. This is just to add a fun element to the show. Some parts of that particular episode have also been hosted by the other two judges, Karan Johar and Ganesh Hegde.”

While Shahid was not available for comment, the channel spokesperson says, “There was no demand ( by Shahid) or any publicity stunt (by the channel).”

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 16, 2015)

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; July 11, 2015)

Exactly a week after tying the knot with Mira Rajput (on July 7), Shahid Kapoor will be back to work leaving his new bride at home. He will be shooting for Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded that he is judging on July 14. The actor who got married in Delhi, will have a reception in Mumbai for his B-Town friends on July 12 and soon after, will return to the sets.

Speculation is rife that Shahid will introduce his wife on the show. JDJR host Manish Paul said, “That is our aim. We have to get her on the show. Let’s see in which mood Shahid comes on the sets, but there’s no doubt that we will tease him a lot.” Have they planned something special on the first day shoot? “Creatively we are yet to take a call,” smiles Manish.