<strong>A page from the personal diary of <a href=http://www.tellychakkar.com/news/love-air-monali-and-chang>Monali Thakur</a></strong> It is a good exercise for everyone to look back at their careers. I started very early as a child artist in a Bengali soap. I played the lead role of Indu in the serial <em>Aalokito Ek Indu</em>.

Though underdog Sandeep Acharya walked home with the title of <em>Indian Idol 2</em> on Saturday, judges and some of the audience had anticipated NC Karunya to win the battle. So, the judges were surprised, some viewers were flummoxed. And who else is part of the brigade too stunned to react? The top three of the first season-<em>Indian Idol</em>, that's who. Telly Chakkar spoke to the finalists of last year to check what they had to say. Karunya tops the list!

Sandip Acharya has struck gold! He now has the unique distinction of being the second <em>Indian Idol</em>, following in Abhijeet Sawant's footsteps. True to the tradition of reality shows, <em>Indian Idol 2</em> has sprung a surprise. There was no doubt in the minds of the judges and Idol watchers like us that Karunya was the better singer of the two, but popular voting has always been contrary to expert perception. For a couple of weeks there were talks in the media that Sandeep will come out victorious.

Anuj Sharma, the contestant from Himachal Pradesh has been voted out of the Idol race on Tuesday. Anuj, who had got a lucky break earlier when Jolly Das was forced to quit the show due to chicken pox, has come a long way after being eliminated in the piano round itself! What was surprising about Anuj's final adieu was the fact that the judges didn't hide their dissappointment in the man. They kept harping on how Anuj was the 'weakest link' in the top three. So finally when the verdict came, all the drama created around it fell flat!

The </em>Indian Idol 2</em> stage has never looked so gorgeous and stunning!! The stage's set with red, white and pink flowers; red and pink ribbons floated everywhere on the stage and the best part was tha the top five looked stunning in their traditional attires as they performed for the wedding special episode. Music director duo, Saleem-Suleimaan, who have worked on films like, <em>Kaal</em> and <em>Neal 'n' Nikki</em> will be the celebrity judges on the show this week.

Remember the shy Abhijeet Sawant or the reticent Amit Sana in the initial stages of <em>Indian Idol</em>????

It will be a day that the <em>Indian Idol 2</em> contestants will not forget in a hurry. Come 15 January, the 12 finalists of the show are going to participate in the Mumbai Marathon. Previous year's finalists Prajakta Shukre, Rahul Vaidya and Amit Sana will be seen leading the run!! The contestants will not only run...but they will also make a difference in the lives of cataract pateints, by running for a charity called Seeing is Believing, which works for the treatment of cataract patients.

<em>Indian Idol 2</em> is not the only ace up Sony's sleeve and Jassi may not remain its only mascot for long! Come November, the channel will launch a love story based on a Venezuelan production, <em>Juana la Virgen</em> (2002). The show will be produced by Shrey Guleri's Prime Channel, we have it on authority.