Now, Anarkali may make you a millionaire

Asish Samanta / TNN / Apr 15, 2006, 20:55 IST

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K Asif's son plans to add a competitive dimension to the beautiful courtesan in his father's Mughal-e-Azam, and the stakes are high.

Now, Anarkali may make you a millionaire

K Asif's son plans to add a competitive dimension to the beautiful courtesan in his father's Mughal-e-Azam, and the stakes are high.
K Asif's magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam will finally be released on June 2 this year in Pakistan. But the big surprise, it seems, will be what the legendary director's son, Akbar Asif, has in store: A television contest Anarkali Ki Talash that will involve a stake of Rs 2.5 million in India, also bringing together participants and viewers from both India and Pakistan, alongwith celebrity judges from around the globe.
The first of its kind, this innovative concept of an international talent search, all encapsulated in a reality show, is expected to create waves in the glam world.So how did it all begin?
Divulges Akbar, "As the concept gradually snowballed, it generated massive interest. This inspired me to create a platform to search for the next international undiscovered star. That's how Anarkali Ki Talash happened."

The biggest milestone in this process is perhaps the first major collaboration between an Indian and a Pakistani channel to telecast the show worldwide. If this isn't big, what is?
Elaborating on the show, the London-based junior Asif discloses, "With the dramatics and elements of an international talent search being present, this will be the ultimate reality show. There will be two consecutive series running in both the countries. But audience participation for both the series will be from both India and Pakistan."

Coupled with worldwide enthusiasm and curiosity, the glam factor will be the celebrity judges. Though Akbar refuses to divulge names, he assures they'll comprise some of the biggest names from Hollywood, Bollywood, stars from the music and television industry and royalty too!
Obviously a contest of such proportions will involve big prize money for both the participants and viewers.
An excited Asif shares, "The winner of the programme will get a cash prize of Rs 11,100,000 apart from the extensive exposure worldwide, a complete makeover, and will feature in a movie too.
For the viewers, the prize money is a staggering Rs 2.5 million and the chances are open to anybody in both India and Pakistan. The condition: Just correctly guess which celebrity will crown the winner."
Wanting to explore the undiscovered talent all over the globe, when asked why a search for Anarkali and not Salim, Akbar quotes, "She is the heartbeat of the film and her legendary beauty is the soul. I want to find a modern day equivalent - a person possessing the same aura through this contest."
But why the search for a new Anarkali? Is Akbar planning a sequel? The London-based millionaire refused to divulge anything on that. "Not now," he says, adding, "Just wait and watch."

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