Kambakht Akshay Kumar. Stands there looking like a work out gym in designer casuals and a scarf (scarf?), clucking his tongue (tsk, tsk) at the women because they are slow in surviving the spiders. Lectures them on bravery like he had conquered Mount Everest or earned a Param Vir Chakra. Compliments them, encourages them but mostly he patronises them and scolds them till they’re feeling like the insects they’ve just parted company with — small. The man’s a downright sadist, that’s what.

Everybody loves Akshay Kumar. For his prowess, his film stunts, his ability to never take himself too seriously and to laugh at himself. Those wonderful characteristics are missing from Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi Level 2 (Colors). This Akshay Kumar is a bully and should shift his gig to Dadagiri (Bindass) where they appreciate that kind of thing.

Ideally, he should lead the way, beat the odds and challenge the contestants to join him or best him. Why doesn’t he — and other Bollywood stars who play anchor — climb inside one of those plastic coffins and fight off the beasties, himself? That would be the Akshay Kumar thing to do. And a sure fire bestseller. But no, he struts about, watching women more than half his size attempt these foolish, foolish dares while he pats them on the shoulder, awards them safety belts (whatever) and advises them to conquer fear. That’s downright ungentlemanly.

The show is unwatchable after a few minutes. We’ve had our fill of this man — or in this instance, woman — against nature contest with the first season Fear Factor and more recently by Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao (Sony), Mandira Bedi notwithstanding. At 9 pm, we want something rather more appetising than scorpions.

... contd.