(From left) Sahil-Manas and Sunaina-Dimple: the two Indian teams at The Amazing Race Asia 4

That was a joke. This is the real thing,” said a beaming Manas Katyal. That? Rakhi Ka Swayamvar in which the 23-year-old Delhi boy nearly became Mr Rakhi Sawant. This? The fourth edition of The Amazing Race Asia in which Manas is a finalist.

Indian reality show enthusiasts have a lot to cheer for in season four of The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) — a jaunt across the subcontinent that sees 10 teams reach new frontiers, face new challenges and better a host of trials as they compete against each other on the Emmy-winning reality series. For this is the first time that two out of the 10 teams are from India.

Joining Manas and cousin Sahil Banga in representing India are two best friends — television actresses Dimple Inamdar and Sunaina Gulia. “Both Dimple and I have been avid watchers of the US version of The Amazing Race, but had no one to team up with. A year ago, we met and became friends. One thing led to another and we discovered that both of us were looking for a partner for The Amazing Race. Now that’s providence,” Sunaina, popular as Dr Anjali in STAR One’s Dill Mill Gayye, told t2 at the launch of the show at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands last week.

While Sunaina rushed back from a vacation in Brazil to audition for the show, Sahil was woken up by Manas and dragged to the auditions in the middle of the night! “He just told me to grab my passport and head to Malad (a Mumbai suburb) where the auditions were being held. The next thing I knew we were on the show,” said Sahil, an aspiring actor.

The two Indian teams count team effort and mental strength are their strengths on the show that saw them traverse the streets of Singapore, the villages of India, the beaches of Thailand, the Philippines countryside and the jungles of Malaysia. “We have gone for days without proper food and rest. We have walked through the night and even slept on the beach. Manas and Sahil didn’t have a bath for days together,” laughed Dimple — seen in soaps like Aathvaan Vachan and Yahaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli — as the boys rolled their eyes in mock anger.

Up against teams from Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Philippines, the two Indian teams bonded well, despite being in competition with each other. “I remember we were sleeping on the pavement in some country. We were tired and frustrated and were on the verge of tears. Suddenly Manas came up with, ‘Thank God, there is no Salman Khan here to run us down’. Despite the situation, we all couldn’t stop laughing. The crew kept wondering what the joke was all about,” recalled Dimple, as the others burst out laughing.

“Off camera, we were really good buddies. But as soon as the race started, our fangs came out. Man, we were ruthless,” added Sunaina.

On a show that demands a lot physically, the Indians had their fair share of injuries. “I hurt my knee badly while doing a particular task and had to walk for miles after that,” said Manas, while the girls endured much more than chipped fingernails. “There were times when I felt I had no limbs. I was so numb,” said Sunaina, who spent the first four years of her life in Durgapur.

While the teams are tight-lipped on who the winner is — TARA goes on air on September 23 on AXN — host Allan Wu, a veteran of three seasons, had kind words for the two Indian teams. “While Manas and Sahil were the cool dudes on the show, Sunaina and Dimple represented girl power. They were among the best teams that we have ever had on The Amazing Race,” Wu told t2.

Win or lose, the Indians are glad for the experience. “No Indian reality show promises the kind of adventure that TARA has in store for its participants,” said Manas who would like to come back to the show in subsequent seasons. “Maybe Rakhi Sawant will partner him next season,” laughed the girls.

Priyanka Roy