The reality show that is offering a platform to mothers of all ages to showcase their dancing talent, DID Super Moms on Zee TV (airing on weekends at 9pm), is reaching the business end with the voting lines being opened to viewers. Jay Bhanushali speaks to The Telegraph about hosting another dance show right after DID Li’l Champs but this time with mothers as contestants in place of children.

How does it feel to host back-to-back editions of DID?

It gives me the message that I’m doing something right. Channels don’t like to repeat anchors but I’m happy that they have so much faith in me that they thought of giving me one more season. DID Li’l Masters was a great success and DID Super Moms too is doing well. DID is really close to my heart and I am happy that I can do justice (to my role).

Why do you think the channel went for back-to-back episodes?

DID was the first dance reality show to give a platform to the common man. There was a long gap in between before the Li’l Masters season. We are trying to get the same flavour. Of course, Geeta (Kapoor) and Terence (Lewis) are not part of the show but they come for special episodes. And they have Remo (D’Souza) and me (from the original cast). It always depends on people’s response. In case a show doesn’t work, the channel has a bank of ideas to replace it with. But the first show (Li’l Masters) did really well and Super Moms is a great concept. So many mothers out there have sacrificed their dreams after marriage. This is like a second chance given to them. Indian television is mostly watched by homemakers. So this is a show actually of our viewers. They are the ones watching and it’s working for us.

Riddhi Tiwari, one of the DID Super Moms contestants, tastes a pakoda cooked by Badshah as Remo D’Souza and Jay Bhanushali look on

You mentioned a long gap. So was it to make up for two years of Covid that they are having two seasons of DID one after another?

No. DID L’il Masters and DID Super Moms are different shows altogether and this is just the third season of Super Moms. The last time it took place was seven years back. I was not available. Karan Wahi had hosted it.

Tell us about the difference in the experience of interacting with children earlier and now mothers.

The two are different shows altogether for me to host. The mothers know that this is their only chance to be famous and showcase their talent. Zee is the only platform that is giving an opportunity to mothers. I was surprised to see the talent. The best part is they love to talk. We — judges Urmila (Matondkar), Remo and Bhagyashree as well as I — can get the audience for the first couple of episodes. But if the content is not good, no show can work. The base of the show is dance. That has to be there. I had to snatch the mic away from a couple of mothers as they would have taken an hour! They complain about their husbands, do crazy things on stage… that’s what the show is about. There are only six performances, each of two minutes. As a host, I don’t have to think about what will happen in the remaining time. They provide the entertainment.

Tell us about the episode where a wedding took place.

One of the participants, Varsha (Bumra), is a mazdoor from Haryana. She learnt dancing watching the videos of Vartika (Jha), who is now a choreographer on the show. In a shaadi-special episode, each mother was being asked about her wedding. Varsha said that hers had no ritual. Her mother called her to see a boy at home. There and then it was a decided that they were suitable for each other. He put sindoor on her forehead and a garland of fake flowers was brought. Ghar ke andar hi usski shaadi ho gayi. There were just four people in the wedding — the two sets of parents. So we decided to hold a proper wedding, called a pandit and got everything done on the sets.

Varsha Bumra’s wedding being hosted on the sets

There was another episode where a husband was not willing to let the wife take part…

Yes, it is very difficult for a homemaker or even for a working woman to leave everything and participate in a reality show because there are so many responsibilities on them — cooking the food, taking care of the child.... This lady, Simrit (Kaur Khosla), had come from Chandigarh without informing the husband. He had earlier objected to her participation, asking who would take care of the house if she went away to Mumbai for the show. Her father-in-law supported her and accompanied her, assuring her that his son would understand later. But despite getting selected, at the grand premiere she came to us, saying she wanted to quit the show as her husband was not ready (to let her take part). Remo called him. The husband was still not ready after speaking to Remo and needed time.

And you are also teaching a saas to give a tough time to the bahu…

(Laughs) Yes. In all TV serials, you see khitpit between saas and bahu. But here we have a saas-bahu jodi who are in love with each other. After each of her performances, Khyati (Gupta)’s mother-in-law gives her gold jewellery! That’s why we got Neelamji from the cast of the show Bhagya Lakshmi which airs just before DID on the channel. She complained that the message they were giving would ruin TV shows! So she tried to teach the real-life mom-in-law how to give a tough time to the bahu (smiles).

Who is the most talkative of the bahus?

Riddhi Tiwari. She is from Lucknow. After the audition episode, she took Remo’s shoes and ran away. I think he got them back later. In a recent episode, Badshah was wearing shoes worth almost a lakh. He gave them away to her after a conversation on shoes and left for home in a chappal. She said she would put socks inside the shoes and make them her size.

You had a pregnant lady participating.

Yes. She wanted to perform at the audition and got the wings also. But we had to tell her afterwards that it is not good for the baby. We asked her to participate in the next season once the baby was out in the world.

And was the 76-year-old lady also there only for the audition?

Yes. The audition is an occasion where we provide the stage to all mothers. So even those who do not get selected can post on social media or tell neighbours that their performance would be shown on TV. Even that one appearance is a huge thing for them. At least in her locality, people would recognise her that she came on Zee TV.

Tara has made me more emotional about my family, more responsible about my work. At night, when I reach home, she has this habit of hugging me, talking to me, asking if she could serve food to me...

Your instagram posts are full of pictures and videos of little Tara. How has life changed after she was born?

I am a different person. I can’t even explain this feeling. Before Tara, I had no idea of what daughters mean. Boys, I could picturise myself playing video games with. But Tara has made me more emotional about my family, more responsible about my work. At night, when I reach home, she has this habit of hugging me, talking to me, asking if she could serve food to me... These little things make all the difference.

Does she come often on the sets?

During Li’l Masters, Mahhi (Vij, Jay’s actor-model wife) used to send her regularly as we wanted her to play with the other kids. Now her school has started and she has to sleep early. But when Mahhi has some work, Tara comes to the set with me. When the camera is off I play with her. She has never appeared on the show though she used to copy the dance moves of the participants. I had posted a video of that also.

If wishes were horses, what kind of role would you fancy?

I would like to do anti-hero films, something like Baazigar, where you can do both romantic scenes and show a negative side.