New Delhi: Want to be a crorepati? In Pakistan to be one, you need beauty, poise and grace of Anarkali and of course her dancing talent.
Yes, we are talking about a reality TV show in Pakistan that promises to rock South Asian television soon, Akbar Asif Ko Anarkali Ki Talash.
A London-based millionaire, Akbar Asif, is the son of the legendary Indian filmmaker K Asif, who made the historical epic Mughal-e-Azam. Asif is now looking for his Anarkali in Pakistan through a reality TV show.
Released in 1960, K Asif’s magnificent epic based on the legendary love story of Prince Salim and Anarkali has had a cult following.
Actors Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Nigar Sultana were part of the famous star cast. The film had the kind of grandeur that had never been seen in India in those days and broke all records when it was released.
Mughal-e-Azam was a black and white extravaganza, which had been converted to colour and re-released in India in 2004. The lavish colour version broke all records and became a runaway hit.
Now, as Mughal-e-Azam is due for release in Pakistan on June 2, 2006, Asif plans to follow it with the television extravaganza Akbar Asif Ko Anarkali Ki Talash.
The show promises to be as grand as the film, with well-known international celebrities and Bollywood stars as judges along with a global audience.
For the participants, it can’t get bigger than this. The winner of the show will earn a cash prize of Rs 1.11 crores along with a film contract. And not just the winner, Rs 25 lakh can be won just by guessing the person who would crown the winner.
About the proposed show, Asif said, “Through Anarkali Ki Talash I want to bring the people of Pakistan and India together by creating a sense of friendship that would last beyond our lifetimes”.
He said the show would be a collaboration with a major Pakistani TV channel. Once the deal is struck, an international TV cooperation would be created to make the programme a worldwide attraction.
Asif hopes his show will be the next big thing in the subcontinent. “I hope it earns as much money as possible, as all the proceeds are promised to charity”, he said.
“I’m eagerly looking forward to the release of my father’s film in Pakistan. The rest of the world has had a chance to see the restored colour version of the brilliant movie in all its glory and now audiences in this great country will have the chance to do the same. I want to thank everyone who have made the momentous release of the movie happen and want to reserve special praise for President Musharraf.”
Asif has also gifted a print of Mughal-e-Azam to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf during his visit to London.
However, whether Asif’s extravaganza matches his father’s Mughal-e-Azam, only time will tell.
Comments
0 comment