New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) From a small town like Berhampur in Orissa to the glitzy world of showbiz in Mumbai — the Prince Dance Group, winner of the reality show “India’s Got Talent”, has certainly come a long way and the members feel overjoyed when people called them celebrities.
“It was big struggle to be where we are today. We faced many difficulties. But now it feels great when people call us stars and give us so much respect. No one knew us earlier, but today we are famous,” Krishna Mohan Reddy, who leads the group, told IANS.

The Prince Dance Group, comprising 26 artistes, all below 22 years of age, won Rs.5 million as cash prize and a Maruti Suzuki Ritz car after winning the dance show “India’s Got Talent” Aug 23.

While Reddy is a graduate, the majority of the group’s members are daily wage earners. None of them had ever received professional dance training, but they mesmerised audience and the judges with their performance, which was based on episodes from the “Mahabharata”.

However, it was not easy for the group to make their dream come true.

“We didn’t have money and we had to travel 12 km to find a place to practice. We used to practice at the Gopalpur beach or near a Kali temple. There was resistance from my family. They said what will I gain out of dance. But I’m happy that I proved myself and today we are doing so well,” said Reddy, 26.

Along with the money, the group has also got a two-year contract from Sony.

“After the show, we didn’t know what to do and where to go. But because of this contract, all our shows and travel etc are managed by Sony,” said Reddy.

Since August, the group has performed more than 40 shows around the country and are looking forward to international events.

“We might go abroad in January. I don’t know when and where, but there are talks,” Reddy explained, who was instrumental in changing the lives of the members of his dance group.

“Most members of my group were wage earners. They used to work so hard but in return used to get so little. I’m so happy that now they don’t have to go for their work and they get enough to run their families. It is a big satisfaction,” said Reddy.