When J-Lo's choreographer boyfriend became a subziwallah for Jhalak

“Jennifer Lopez & Maks Chmerkovskiy Go Dancing On Hot Date.”

That’s the first headline that surfaces in Google if you run a search for Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Add to that a visual of him cradling J-Lo. Never mind the Dolly Bindra face Lopez is making, that’s a snapshot that Chmerkovskiy would probably want to frame and gloat about to his future grandchildren. After all, how many men actually get to hold Lopez in their arms? That’s as good a reason for being a paparazzi favourite as any.

Unfortunately for Chmerkovskiy, Indian television might just change his claim to fame.

During a recent episode of Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, which has Chmerkovskiy as one of its judges,  the anchor Drashti Dhami handed him a gamchha and a basket of vegetables.

There is nothing particularly appalling about a basketful of palak and lauki. In fact, one could argue that sharing a stage with Karan Johar and Madhuri Dixit possibly extends a sense of legitimacy to these vegetables. But what on earth were they doing on a reality show and why had poor Chmerkovskiy gone from carrying J-Lo to a basket of vegetables?

The whole thing was part of a skit performed by comedian Kiku Sharda. Chmerkovskiy was, of all things, the subziwallah who steals Sharda’s heart.

When Chmerkovskiy was asked to walk up to the stage and be a part of the skit, his face was a visual guide to How to Communicate WTF Without Saying It In Words. He even asked what’s going on, to which Karan Johar responded with the suggestion that Chemerkovsiy take the next flight back home.

You have to forgive the professional choreographer and Latin American dance expert, who has been a part of Dancing With The Stars for several seasons, for not getting the basics of an Indian dance reality show right. Chmerkovskiy possibly didn’t get the brief of the show before he decided to appear on Jhalaak Dikhla Jaa - it’s drama before dance.

Chmerkovskiy is trying to do his bit, but it’s quite clear he’s not feeling much love for the show. After one performance, he paid a compliment in Hindi to the contestant (Asish). “Tehelka macha diya apne,” Chmerkovskiy read from a chit of paper, in a ‘Can I get a tube of toothpaste?’ tone. The set erupted into wild cheering as the compliment-giver looked as interested as Mohan Bhagwat would be in Sherlock.

Now there are reports that Chmerkovskiy is leaving , having completed the four episodes for which he was initially contracted. We can’t help but suspect he’s running for his life. Which makes sense if all Jhalak can offer him is a basket of vegetables. After all, he may have Jennifer Lopez  waiting for him on the other side of all this.