KBC, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Bigg Boss, Cinestars Ki Khoj — a long list of reality shows is waiting in the wings. With so much action and star powered dhamaal about to unfold on TV in the upcoming season, it is only fair to call it a reality blast. Deebashree Mohanty tells you what lies ahead
Move over epic love stories, romance between jodis not made for each other, ugly vamps and illogical tracks. It’s time for a reality blast with some huge names and big bucks doing all the talking.
Reality entertainment ka mai baap is all set to return in a grand way, a source on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorpati (KBC) Season 8, said, not willing to say anything more about the concept, show or even the host. Press him for the tagline for this season and he reluctantly says; “Iss manch se koi bhi khali haath nahi jaata”. So, is everyone going to get a gift on the setsIJ “Wait and watch,” is all he says. As the phone lines for the contest opened on May 5, makers believe this time, the show is going to surpass all expectations.
“This year we are attempting to bring the show closer to our viewers by engaging various mediums through which they can enhance their chance to be on the much coveted Hot Seat. We are confident that once the season gets underway, it will strike a deep emotional chord with the entire country, like never before,” Gaurav Seth, senior vice-president and head marketing at Sony Entertainment Television, says.
If the KBC app on mobile platforms has not touched the emotional chord yet, visit Amitabh Bachchan’s fan page on social networking sites to get an idea about how excited he is to be a part of the show, season after season. As for fans, they can’t wait any longer after this announcement. “I have started preparing to participate on the show. This time, I am hopeful that I will get there. For me, KBC is a success because of the huge prize money and the special host. Otherwise, it was like any other run-of-the-mill quiz show on TV,” 23-year-old Namita Gupta, a student from Delhi University says.
Such is the hype that TVR gurus and soothsayers have started predicting never before popularity of the show. According to Tarun Bhatia, owner of realitytvindia.com, a portal that ranks Indian reality shows, KBC 8 is going to be a topper all the way. “Endemol is a clever production house and Sidharth Basu, a shrewd businessman. He knows he can’t afford to present a stagnant show in front of his audience and so he packs it up with newbies. last year he sprung a lot of surprises and this year will be no different,” Bhatia says, predicting a healthy TVR for the show from day one. According to a buzz, the show will mark an entry in September-October.
Add a dash of glamour to reality and you have a sure shot crowd puller. Riding high on the success of the 2004 version of India’s Best Cinestar Ki Khoj, Zee TV is all set to revive the popular format, albeit with slight alterations in approach and presentation. Post IPl, the Essel Vision produced show will replace Zee TV’s current favourite, Dance India Dance (DID) li’l Masters, which airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9pm.
“The show is back after a long hiatus and is slated to be the next big thing after IPl. The initial hype has been created. The best part is the timing of the show which is going to act in its favour,” Bhatia says.
The first auditions started on April 15 in Amritsar to scout out the most impressive candidates. It will be followed by other countries like UK, North America, South East Asia and many more. Participants within the age group 18-40 years can take part in this reality show. They will be groomed by Bollywood’s most popular casting directors, filmmakers, actors and choreographers, and will in turn showcase their acting and dancing talents to an international audience over a span of 15 weeks.
With the show’s earlier outing having produced stars like Ankita lokhande (Pavitra Rishta), Sarwar Ahuja (Punar Vivaah), Aditi Sharma (ladies vs Ricky Bahl), Sharad Malhotra and Divyanka Tripathi (Banoo Main Teri Dulhann), Yuvika Chaudhary (Om Shanti Om) and Himanshu Malhotra (Bhagonwali), all eyes on who will be the next star.
“This time round we are not concentrating on massive public auditions but have another casting process which is being used,” Namit Sharma, Zee TV’s programming head, says. About the format of the show, Essel Vision producer Nitin Keni reveals: “We are working on a different design, but nothing is finalised as yet. We are still ideating, but the series will be about finding out the best actor/actress through various levels and then from the EVPl side, we will also be giving them a chance to act in our projects.”
When it comes to celeb entertainment no one can come close to the popularity of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa on Colors. With several top celeb names doing the rounds, this year promises to be more dhamakedaar than ever. Sanaya Irani, Karan Kundra, Yuvvraj Singh, dancer Daksha Sheth, Shobhaa De, Milkha Singh, Atif Aslam and the sultry lulia Vantur, rumoured to be Salman Khan’s love interest, have made it to the list of probables. With the seventh edition of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (JDJ) all set to kick off by the end of June, it looks like the team is back with their winning formula.
“It is not only about the performances but the celebrity in itself is a big TRP raiser. So, the production house has carefully picked out people who are a face to reckon with. The list is pretty impressive,” Bhatia tells you.
To add to the show’s viewership, are comedians Kiku Sharda and VJ Andy who will be making appearances to keep the audience entertained. While Sophie Choudhry will effortlessly bring in the oomph factor, Purab Kohli, cricketer S Sreesanth and singer Sukhwinder Singh are also going to be major crowd pullers for the show. Sticking to its mantra of bringing a professional dancer on board to raise the standards of dance, JDJ 7 might see the talented Shakti Mohan doing the boogey woogey.
The child prodigy chosen for this season is eight-year old Akshat Singh, of India’s Got Talent 5. Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit, choreographer Remo D’Souza and host Manish Paul have been retained from the last season according to sources.
Next but not the least, Salman Khan has already given his nod for hosting the upcoming season of Bigg Boss that will make a grand entry towards the end of this year.