By Subhash K Jha

On Star One's reality show Zara Nach Ke Dikha which concluded last week judge Malaika Arora was appalled by the behaviour of the male contestants specially Bakhtiar Irani who has acquired quite a reputation for rubbing judges and fellow-contestants the wrong way.

Says Malaika, "Bakhtiar definitely has a huge chip on his shoulder. I've been on other reality shows, in fact Zara Nach Ke Dikha, was my fourth. But never have I encountered such a bad behaviour."

The male contestants staged an en masse walk-out at the grand finals after they realized they were losing.

"Can you believe what sore losers men can be?" Malaika is still incredulous days after the event. "I've always maintined the male ego is the worst thing in the world. There's no way we women can deal with it.

But to come on a reality show, promise to be fair and sporting then to walk out saying the judges didn't know their jobs was honestly a bit too much to take. I was aghast."

For the first time in her short career as a reality-show judge Malaika lost her cool. "I lost my temper and I'm not ashamed of it.

The guys really behaved badly, specially Bakhtiar who I noticed had an attitude problem from Day 1. He's a good dancer. But he can't take defeat. Since the show was formatted as a men-versus-women thing it was only natural that either the boys or the girls would win.

But Bakhtiar and the other boys just spoilt three months of the time we all spent together asa family on this reality show."

What appalled Malaika even more was the fact that Bakhtiar actually went on television to blast guest-judge Saroj Khan. "I couldn't believe what I heard when I saw Bakhtiar lashing out at Saroj-ji. Come on, she's a veteran, a legend in her field.Bakhtiar really needs to put his ego to rest before going another reality show."

The grand ginale was not the only time Malaika altercated with Bakhtiar. "Once earlier I had intervened on behalf of my colleague Chunky Pandey. I wish the boys on Zara Nach Ke Dikha had displayed more grace and chivalry. They proved Indian men treat women as the weaker sex. Luckily I've a husband who treats me as an equal. But who knows how my son will turn out!"

The experience has left a bitter taste in Malaika's mouth. And she may not do another reality show for a while. "In any case, I like to take a biggish break between two shows."