There are many reasons why Fever FM’s, city-based RJ Ayushi agreed to participate in MTV’s Dating in the dark (DITD). One, she is nictophobic (fear of the dark), afraid of love and wanted to be the first RJ from Hyderabad on a show for MTV. The show, DITD, is a dating reality show that could be a daring adventure to remember or could mean nothing at all to some. Based on the famous international TV show with the same title, DITD gives a chance to three single men and three single women to get to know each other by losing all their inhibitions and trusting their instincts. A group date is set up in the dark, for the singletons to talk to each other, feel each other, smell but certainly not see each other until the time is up.
With the available knowledge and after viewing the international show it wasn’t just Ayushi who was apprehensive. Her team members and family too wanted her to reconsider her decision on entering the show. “I approached the programme heads of the show with my doubts and they assured me that while the idea is the same, the format was planned and designed keeping in mind the Indian sensibilities,” says Ayushi
Assured, Ayushi made up her mind to participate in the show. She was a bundle of nerves and excited at the same time. “I knew I would play my game with words and I wanted to know how and what would my date do to win me. Since we were all in one room and we would require to spend a good amount of time, we were all smelling good,” laughs Ayushi.
On the first day of the show she met the girls in one room and shared a lot of gossip. “Actually that made us look forward to meeting the guys. Falling in love in a day or in a meeting or two is not what I would agree to. Having had not so pleasant experience with love, I had decided to go with my guard on,” says Ayushi.
After the first meet with all the participants, the contestants invite one another for a romantic one-on-one date in the dark. It is all fun and games until it gets real with the contestants finally coming face to face with each other in the revealing process. The participants can touch and feel each other and smell as well, how did Ayushi agree to that, “I touched face and hand. One guy I could tell, works out and had good biceps. The other had a beard and wore beads, so I guessed he was into music. My guess came out right. I was especially impressed with one of the guys who got jelly for me. I also loved the way he spoke, made me feel special,” recollects Ayushi.
Did she allow anyone to feel her, “No, I didn’t let anyone touch my face. I wasn’t ready to ruin my make up and surprisingly the guys were very understanding, “ says Ayushi.
And what happens in the end? “Each episode climaxes with the contestant either meeting their potential partner in the balcony of the house or exiting the house straight through the front doors,” she adds.
