What does it feel like to be part of a talent hunt? Accounts have been written in the past by wannabes who have been through hell and back in their struggle to make a mark in glamour country.

When Zee TV announced a competition to unearth two new faces - who would debut in a Zee movie - through a nationwide talent search called India's Best- Cinestar Ki Khoj, it gave Indiantelevision.com's editorial team a chance to get first hand experience of the grind that strugglers go through to make it to the arc lights. And the baby of the editorial pack - Sonali Krishna - volunteered to be the guinea pig. The following is her narrative of her experiences at the auditions of Zee TV's India's Best written in a light hearted tongue in cheek style. Read on to be regaled.- Editor

The rich and famous - Come behold me.

'Main Madhuri Dixit banna chahti hoon.' Maybe, I could be sounded out by some Hollywood agent too, since Aishwarya Rai is not too keen on the crossover scene. Hence, with stars (literally) in my eyes, I decided to take my shot at fame with Zee TV's latest initiative India's Best - Cinestar Ki Khoj.

Though a journalist by profession and frame of mind, the star-struck side of me (yeah, even us hacks have it!!) wondered what it would be like to be part of the glam and glitter of Bollywood.

And so on to my tale.

1 June 11:00 am: Editorial meeting. Trupti, my don't-mess-with-me colleague, is assigned to cover the event, scheduled for the morrow at SNDT College grounds in Mumbai's swanky Juhu suburb. The first hurdle was to sell the concept to the editor --- of me as an undercover reporter actually taking part and Trupti doing the routine reporting.

Shakalaka baby.

My shot at fame. The gift of the gab I have in spades and most opined that it was going to be a cinch for me. Even I thought so. But what's a script without an anti-climax?

2 June: I had to look a natural wannabe star. But it seemed the script-writer of my story was in a foul mood that morning and everything that could have possibly gone wrong, did so. Right from problems with my make-up, to the outfit I was to wear, to coordinating with our cameraman, nothing seemed to be working out.

The blazing sun did not deter the thousands of wannabes at the SNDT campus in Mumbai during Zee TV's talent hunt for newcomers for a movie

Reaching SNDT. I almost had a heart attack looking at the (what seemed at first glance) tens of thousands of acting wannabes with stars in their eyes in a serpentine queue that seemed to go on forever.

I learnt that there were several hurdles I would have to cross. The main gate of the college was the first, followed by another entrance which would lead to a registration desk. After this I would have to wait in a waiting room. Only then would I be led in to the audition room.

I was tempted to just flash my Press card and barge in, but went through the agony of standing with the hoi-polloi under the hot summer June sun.

Did the Salmans, Sunnys and Preitys --- whose co-stars the seemingly teeming masses were aiming to be --- ever have to go through such a grind?

On one sweaty afternoon...

Inconvenience apart, I realised that for me it was just another another feature or journalistic report. And I was having some fun in the bargain as well. My heart went out though, to most of the others there. Many had stars, the glitter of stardom in their eyes. For them, it appeared to be a make or mar situation. The thought brought me down to ground reality in a jiffy.

After two hours of getting burnt under the blazing sun, I finally managed to get past the first gate to the queue inside and thereafter it took another hour before I reached the waiting room. It dawned on me: in the becoming-a-star business, there's a premium on patience.

And so I entered the final queue. Anxiety levels were peaking and I tried to keep calm amongst flailing arms, contorted faces and impromptu retakes of rehearsed lines. Struggling with my script and my ridiculous Hindi, a sincere seven minute rehearsal had me all set to kill. Quite an effort with guys misbehaving (why do these uncool types always have to do the guy thing?) and event coordinators trying to bring some order to this madhouse, it was truly a trip down high school lane.

My shot at fame.....

And, then it was time for me to make my million dollar entry. Striding confidently up to the judge, I introduced myself. My polite gesture was rebuffed by the judge.

"Please start the act," he snapped.

What's the hurry, I thought? A little encouragement wouldn't kill anybody. But, I guess, a job is just a job for most --- whether it's me looking for an `inside' story or a jury member who has to go through the routine.

My colleague, Trupti, quickly entered, requesting the judge if she could cover this particular audition. Permission granted. Two lines down, I couldn't recall more and blurted out, "Sir, please can I do it again?"

Zee chairman Subhash Chandra (r) with ace acting coach Kishore Namit Kapoor at the audition

Mercifully, permission was granted. And so we have a rewind of Act 1. I fall flat on my face again. Trupti, the official one, asks about my performance.

"Don't judge the event on the last performance," were the man's bitter words.

And the thought that flashed in my mind was that my one chance at fame had gone up in flames.

On my way out, I bumped into optimism, an eager beaver guy.

"What's a four-hour wait for a lifetime of goodies," said the good soul.

Fools' paradise I say, but hey, good attitude!

But I had more important things on my mind. Like putting out some copy that had enough creative inspiration to pass muster with my skeptical editor who remained only partly convinced that the whole exercise had not been a waste of precious time.

You win some, you lose some.