IGT contestants Ankit & Shalu are reaching great heights with their talent

Ankit & Shalu, have left the world amazed with their talent! Check out what they have to say about their stint on IGT

We've been watching India's got Talent ever since it's starting airing on Television. In fact some of the contestants are unforgettable, the way they show case their talent is incredibly inspiring for not only the world but also the world at large. Who ever thought that reality shows could be as inspiring as India's got Talent? The show has started yet again with a bang and jury includes Kirron Kher, Shilpa Shetty, Badshah and Manoj Muntashir. The contestants are mind boggling as usual, they showcase talents right from dancing to singing, to gymnastics and calisthenics. It won't be wrong to say that India has immense talent!

We spoke to two incredibly talented contestants from IGT, who are Ankit and Shalu. Ankit, is a 24-year old from Delhi and belongs to a family where his father is a cab driver and mother is a house wife. They're his true inspirations, he hasn't learnt any skills from a workshop or institute but has been gifted. Ankit managed to learn the unique art of calisthenics and body balancing just by watching other people on the internet. He used to practice in the park and his sheer hard work and dedication he got selected for India's got talent season 9. He and his team are among the top 12 contestants. Both, Ankit and Shalu have their accounts on Tiki, a short video platform where they won millions of hearts through their talent, which is a one-stop shop destination for creators while inspiring creativity and continue building a global community where people can create, share & discover the world around them and connect with other across the globe.

Shalu, is from Rohtak, Haryana, and started her journey as a gymnast from the age of 10. Her true support system is her father and he is the reason she got introduced to gymnastics. She has even competed from district to state and then national levels where she was awarded for her talent. Although, her neighbors and relatives have always looked down upon her but her family always supported her and encouraged her to follow her dreams and passion. Shalu, is the only source of income in her family where she is taking care of her father, mother and younger siblings. Let's have a look at what they have to say about their journey!

Here's what they share:

How did you get into the art of calisthenics?

Ankit: Hum school se dost hai pehle bas khelte the starting main jaise hand stand type ki activities karte the, yeh sab karta tha zyada toh phir mere dost mujhe dekh ke park main jaane lage toh park main ek jhula type ka ek bar tha toh wahan se start kiya, latakte rahe toh aise hamari activities start hui toh phir humne kuch videos dekhi YT par phir wahan se kuch seekha. Lekin humein yeh nahi pata tha ki isko calisthenics kehte hain uss time hum 8 class main the toh videos wagera banate the phir dheere videos banani start kari aur phir mujhko Tiki app se call aayi thi mujhe tab pata nahi tha ki kya hai Tiki unhone mujhe ki yeh ek platform hai jahan aap apne videos upload karke reach badha sakte hain toh phir maine wahan videos daalna start kiya.

What was your reaction like when you got selected for IGT season 9?

Ankit: Uss time toh bahut hi zyada proud feel hua ghar walon ko bhi ki hum IGT main jaa rahe hain par woh Tiki app se mujhe support mili kyunki jab maine apni videos daalni start kari toh itni zyada viral hone lagi meri videos toh wahan se humein contact kiya gaya. IG jaise bahut saare app the toh wahan se humein contact kiya gaya phir humne audition diya Delhi ek school main andar jaake first time phir wahan se unhone humein select kiya wahan se humari journey start hui.

Shalu: Actually main season 8 main bhi aayi hoon, jisme maine solo perform kiya tha gymnastics ke ek event hota hai "uneven path" jisme humein latak ke apne stunts karne hote hain toh yeh maine season 8 main kiya tha. Lekin season 9 main mera koi plan nahi tha ki mujhe nahi tha ki main jaaongi nahi jaaongi auditions maine diya tha. Yahan ek group "Bonfire" jinke saath main abhi hoon toh unhone apna audition clear kiya toh TV round main aaye toh unko ek ya do lakiyon ki need thi toh stunts aur dance dono karti hain toh unhone IGT walon ko mera reference diya kyunki main season 8 main bhi aayi thi toh mujhe call aaya ki aapko aana hai aur 24th ka shoot hai toh aapko aana hi padega, toh maine kaha ki maine ek shoot already liya hua hai toh main nahi aa sakti, uske baad "Bonfire" ko golden buzzer mila aur woh seedha semi final main pahunch gaye thoda sa andar se feel hua ki itna bada platform hai kaash main chali jaati. Uske baad ohir mujhe call aaya mere paas aur parson bhi jo shoot hua hai hamara usme bhi humein do golden buzzers mile ek saath.

What inspired you to become a gymnast and how?

Shalu: Main 5th class main thi toh papa ne ghar par hi start karwaya tha kyunki meri height thodi choti thi toh unhone mujhe ghar par hi exercise karwaya jaise rasi par latak jaana ya phir woh lohe ka koi pipe banwake diya papa ne woh mujhe laa kar diya par jo meri taayeji thi woh chote bachon ka school chalati thi pehle jo ek baal bhavan type hota hai toh unhone dekha ki wahan ek teacher haijo bachon ko district se national level tak le jaati hain gymnastics main, toh papa mujhe wahan leke gaye toh wahin se maine kiya gymnastics. Aur mujhe flips bachpan se pasand hai aur mer andar flexibility bhi hai toh maine socha ki shows karna bahut acha rahega!

How and why did you decide to try for IGT?

Ankit: Humne socha ki reach badhegi yahan se iss wajah se humne audition diya kyunki hamara pehle se hi IGT main jaane ka sapna tha mere aur mere 4 doston ka bhi yehi sapna tha! Itna bada platform koi bhi jaana chahega.

Do you have a favorite judge on the show?

Ankit: Shilpa ma'am, unke saath hamara connection bhi bahut acha ho gaya hai!

Shalu: Badshah hai mere favorite judge kyunki woh bahut ache comments dete hain aur woh bhi Karnal se hain aur main bhi Haryana, Rohtak se hoon! Aur humko hamara pehla golden buzzer bhi Badshah sir ne hi diya tha.

What do you plan to do if you win IGT?

Shalu: Agar main IGT jeet jaati hoon toh Haryana main aur bhi talented bache hain toh unko train karungi aur academy open karungi aur jin bachon ko nahi mil paata yeh platform unko bhi wahan tak leke jaaungi. Maine socha hai ki government schools main jo talented bache hain unko select karke unke saath ek group banaungi aur uko aage tak leke jaaungi, maine yehi plan kiya hai!

Ankit: Aage ka plan abhi toh socha nahi hai, yeh toh humne socha hi nahi tha ki hum itni aage tak bhi pahunchengey! Hamare ghar par bhi jab pata chala tha toh sab shock ho gaye the ki first time main hi golden buzzer mil gaya aage tak pahunch gaye, bahut khush the sab the!

What are your thoughts on short video platforms and how did you decide to try Tiki?

Ankit: Tiki app ki quality bahut hi zyada achi hai aur videos bhi bahut jaldi upload hoti hai toh ussi se mujhe kaafi ache contact bhi mile matlab videos wagera dekha toh bahut acha content hai wahan pe toh unhi se maine videos daalni start kari lekin starting main start kari toh meri videos thodi nahi chali lekin baad main jab woh chalni start hui toh woh kam se kam 8M tak gayi toh aise meri videos viral hui aur mujhe reach mili! Tiki app se mujhe bahut support diya!

Shalu: Tiki jab start hi hua pehle mai TikTok main kaam karti, videos daalti thi wahan par se koi payment wagera nahi milti thi but main sochti thi ki kaise main viral hoon aur log mujhe pehchane lekin phir jab yeh application band hua uske baad thoda sa laga ki sab band ho jaate hain aur kuch faayda nahi hain yahan kaam karne ka toh humein itna dhyaan nahi dena chahiye. Toh phir jahan main kaam karti thi unhone mujhe suggest kiya Tiki par videos daalne ka aur phir dheere meri videos viral hui toh usse mujhe bahut hi acha laga ki yahan se mujhe fame mil raha hai toh main continue rakha aur sabse achi baat hai ki koi bekaar ya vulgar videos nahi hote iss platform par, main dekhti hoon toh time ka pata nahi chalta itni achi videos aati hain! IGT main bhi bahut saare groups aaye hue hain aur log kaam karna chahte hai.

What according to you was the most difficult act in the journey?

Ankit: Difficult toh hamara binte dil tha toh jahan ek prop tha cake type ka uspe humein balance karna tha jo bahut difficult tha kaafi baar hum gire aur chot lagi lekin humne dobara try kiya dar toh bahut lag raha tha kyunki height bhi bahut zyada thi!

If you ever get a chance to go in the olympics, will you be interested?

Shalu: Gymnastics ka level bahut high hai, national level hi bahut mushkil toh mujhe itna nahi lagta ki main kar sakti hoonya yahan par hamare Harayana main itna acha set up nahi hai aur coaches bhi itne nahi hain jaise meri teacher hain unhone mujhe starting main bola tha ki main iss ladki ko national level tak hi leja sakti hoon uske aage nahi le jaa sakti possible nahi ho pata!

Share a memorable moment which you'll always cherish on the show?

Shalu: Main har roz video banati hoon set par phone allowed nahi hota lekin chup chup kar videos bana leti hoon, sab banate hain video baad main bura na lage ki video shoot nahi ki!

Ankit: Bahut saare hain ek toh hamare dost hain jo nitesh -bharti stand artists hain woh close friends hain itna ki woh hume ghar par leke gaye the dinner ke liye!

Rapid Fire Questions:

Your favorite movie?

Ankit: Akshay kumar ki fighting wali jaise Rowdy Rathore.

Shalu: Hum aapke hain kaun.

Your favorite song?

Ankit: One bottle down by Yo Yo Honey Singh.

Shalu: 90s songs

Your favorite dish?

Ankit: Boiled chicken.

Shalu: Cham cham

Your favorite contestant on IGT?

Ankit: Nitesh - Bharati

Shalu: Workout warriors & warriors squad

Do you like the sea or mountains?

Ankit: Dono hi favorite hai

Shalu: sea

What are your other hobbies?

Ankit: Dancing or doing stunts.

Shalu: Dancing

Don't forget to watch them on the show.

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