Welcome - Week I

21st Jan 2013 Monday

Welcome airs at 2 am here, so I will watch the episode tomorrow morning Looking forward to watching Sanaya on screen again! Depending on what the show is like, will make daily or weekly posts ... probably I will post as long as Sanaya is in the show, and go back to general update once her part ends.

Monday - Episode I - Love this girl, but either the whole thing was scripted, or a good part of it was ... cannot believe that Sanaya would fall off to sleep before a party she was hosting! Guess they had to make her do something controversial, otherwise she's too sweet to indulge in the bitching - that was left for Ragini and Nigar! Of the four guests, didn't care for Andy at all, Manoj ditto ... Nigar was out to criticise - seriously - stone in pasta???!!! Ragini was loud and bindaas ... her interactions with Nigar seemed scripted too.
More later ... Sanaya really showed what a genuinely sweet person she is ... hosting could have been a lot better, but she tried, and accepted all comments, deserved and undeserved, with a smile. She had the toughest time, being the first.

*Edited*
Critical review - Ram Kapoor was there only for the introduction.
Four contestants were introduced, of whom I knew only Sanaya.
Hadn't heard of Andy - he came across as very pompous and full of himself.
Hadn't heard of Manoj - he came across as a bit ignorant, and determinedly so.
Had heard of Nigar, hadn't seen her before - she came across as fake and not very nice.
Sanaya - is not Khushi! not in terms of being perfect Indian bahu, expert in cooking and everything else. She came across as Sanaya :)

Shopping - at roadside vegetable stall, haggling for veggies ... no one told you that you're a TV superstar, Sanaya?! Apparently not. Gotta love this girl!
Cooking with iPad propped up in the veggie basket ... considering I just spent last evening googling chocolate cake, and had it ready to carry into the kitchen to use, this struck an immediate chord!

Hosting skills -
Critical review - not being ready in time for guests because she went to sleep, guests who are coming for the first time, and whom she didn't know at all, then asking Nigar to greet the rest while she changed ... a big 'no no'.
Sanaya fangirl review - Oh come on! This was obviously scripted! No way Sanaya went off to sleep with a camera peering into her face!

Critical review - Not having any drinks besides water - another 'no no'.  Should keep at least a couple of juices and some nibbles for early arrivals while waiting for everyone to arrive.
Sanaya fangirl  review - *silence*

Menu - was totally to my taste. Who wants to go to someone's house and eat dal chawal?! Soup, bruschettas, two main dishes - veg and non-veg, and two desserts - one with and one without alcohol.
Critical review - if you have a Continental menu, must have some breads and butter on the side, as well as a fresh tossed salad.
Sanaya fangirl review - that would also have shut up Manoj and his incessant demands for tomatoes.

Critical review - host does not ask to be entertained. Should have had some music playing, and since it was a first meeting for everyone, organised a simple ice-breaker game like twenty questions, or quizzing the guests about each other, which don't need much preparation.
Sanaya fangirl review - she was tired and a bit upset with the constant barbed and downright insulting remarks, am betting that she will say nothing of the sort in anyone else's homes. She was definitely not in her element, am guessing she has never had such obnoxious guests, who manage to find stones in pasta, refuse to eat mushrooms - that part is fine, but to call them kukkurmutta as though accusing your host of having harvested those very mushrooms for your table is pretty rude behaviour.

Desserts - were good, and everyone liked them. Obviously, the one thing Sanaya loves, she made well. As happens with all cooks. Including myself in that bracket - of people who enjoy making desserts the most :) 

Guests - Andy was obnoxious, didn't like him at all. Far too full of himself. Manoj seemed to take pride in being ignorant and wanting to remain so. His remarks about a nearby restaurant in the end really lowered him in my eyes. If you don't eat in someone's house, go home and fill your stomach, don't ask for a restaurant. Nigar - Ragini's catfight seemed totally scripted, Ragini was a bit loud and brash, and Nigar took offence very easily. Loved the way Ragini supported Sanaya - Sanaya has some good friends in the industry, and they all seem to be the same genuine type as Sanaya herself.

Finally I loved the way they all gave Sanaya marks for her sweet personality, if not for her cooking. Felt bad for her being constantly insulted and her efforts belittled - I really hope most of it was scripted, I would never invite such guests for a second time in my home!
And I bet Sanaya took the first shot at being host just to get it over with, so that she could concentrate on enjoying the rest of the week of eating!

Sanaya fangirl review - And so am I ... can watch the rest of the Sanaya episodes without worrying about her being insulted. Such a pleasure to watch her on screen again, and to see that the sweetness she reflects in her face and her eyes is so genuine. 

Edit - Sanaya is on the January cover of Zing! 
Sanaya Zing magazine cover
Have to order this one! I loved her interview.

Sanaya talks about her Zing magazine cover.
Sanaya's Zing mag interview  - Written update

TB video - Sanaya talking about Zing mag shoot - She's in the same dress as the Gul interview - did she do both the interviews the same day?

Edit again - Adding this here as this is the Sanaya post for the week
Upcoming - Gul Khan interviews Sanaya Irani on forum32.
Is Gul planning to take up journalism as an alternate profession? Just wondering
Sanaya Irani interview on forum32 - teaser