To add some funk to the TV viewing time of our audience that is currently served a predictable platter of tear-jerker daily soaps and super natural series, Zee TV has come up with the new concept – Dilli Darlings. Its star-cast is unique and you have probably never met these actresses before – unless you are a regular at a high society Delhi soiree. The protagonists are actually real life women, from some of Delhi’s most affluent families, and most of them are business women in their own right.
And this time the cameras have reaches everywhere from the bedrooms to closed-door parties. The drama is real and raw, this time. We are talking about Dilli Darlings, where 10 affluent socialites of Delhi go on proving to the audience as to why they are the real deal, the real darlings of the capital city!
And this time the cameras have reaches everywhere from the bedrooms to closed-door parties. The drama is real and raw, this time. We are talking about Dilli Darlings, where 10 affluent socialites of Delhi go on proving to the audience as to why they are the real deal, the real darlings of the capital city!
And to bring this on, one of the Dillli Darlings, Manya Pathak, famous in Delhi’s party circuit, invited us for an exclusive screening of the first two episodes of the ambitious show at her own hip pub, Ministry Of Beer. Attended by media and influencers, the party also saw Manya’s swish set of friends in attendance.
What do we say? The gathering was definitely a high class show-shaa. Women decked up in classy outfits and heavy make-up who were most interested in their own selfies than the screening itself.
But this made me kind of excited to see the episode just to know if the audience would get the same feeling that I am having at the moment? But believe me there was more to it.
Sticking to formula, like most shows on TV, this one too had its opening shot in a mandir - Shaloo Jindal, one of the Dilli Darlings, offering prayers to the Goddess in a desi avatar. Sounds too plain? Wait to till read this. Shaalu’s house help is recording the proceedings in a phone camera, so the clip can later be edited for social media.
More about Shaalu - the lady flaunts the traditional and contemporary with equal ease. Her sartorial choices are elaborate! You’ll never find her wearing the same clothes twice. In fact, the contrast between her sanskaari bahu avatar at home and a stunning diva outside is truly dramatic. Her craze for high heels can be gauged by the fact that she’s got a glass staircase installed in her house just so that she can hear her heels go click-clack when she decides to descend.
Next was West Delhi’s ‘Bullet Queen’ Puja Dua who loves everything white and gold, bargains like a pro, and has a doting husband known in the circuit as the “Bullet King.” The lady was a clear example of holding a glass with no class. We see her choosing a designer dress online and reaching the famous Rajouri Garden market to get its replica. And after lot of bargaining she finally places an order. But the epic line to hear from her was “Please stop the car right before the shop, they can’t see me descend from an expensive car or they will charge me more.”
Another highlight of the show was Rashmi Sachdeva who is a crowned beauty queen having an argument with her darling daughter who looks like her younger sister as per the compliments she receives. The mother-daughter duo has different thought processes which often lead into arguments. But they get resolved when she gets a surprise LV bag for her while saying, “I want to explain to her that things doesn't come easy.” Ummm, do you now?! Well there was just so much drama in the moment that I doubt even an accomplished TV writer could think of it.
Then enters the mother to a 16-year-old who is a hot, lingerie model who loves to party and call herself the jaan of any party. She goes for an acting audition in a luxury Audi car with hubby. And we see the extremist drama there when a director is correcting her dialect for Hindi, something that leaves her visibly embarrassed. We wonder which audience she was really going for?
Then there’s Pragati Nagpal, lovingly called ‘Pari’ whose kitty parties are so LIT that people would give anything to be a part of them. A designer by profession, she takes her dear friend for shopping and proudly claims of not having a formal education to support her work.
Similarly, we get to see Guneet Virdi, who is a celebrity make-up artist. She is done applying make-up on a bride while her young daughter enters the room. It’s shown how she balances work and family life. Ok, this was something we could relate to. Yes, finally!
And to give an emotional touch to the show, it is shown how Shaloo's son scores unexpectedly well and the mother-son duo erupt in joy, breaking down in tears of happiness. This, I must confess, thoda zyada hogaya! Despite trying, I could not relate to the enthusiasm.
The two episodes do not introduce all the darlings and just before the second episode finishes, we see Manya calling them with a party invitation. And leaving all discussions behind, they start planning on what to wear and discuss what bombs they will drop and explode!
We were expecting the ladies to be locked in a same room and performing tasks to get the title. But this show is only for the ladies jinhe doosro ki zindagi mein jhakne ka shauk hai.
I am sure there will be many takers for this feisty drama that brings the unspeakable and behind-closed-doors discussions to the public domain. I just hope the makers add a touch of honesty to their characters to the viewers can connect with these darlings, at least at some level.
Image Source:- bollyy, instagram/dillidarlings