Zee TV wooing Madhuri Dixit for revamped game show

mumbai: zee tv is wooing actress madhuri dixit to anchor a revamped version of its game show, "sawaal dus crore ka," that has a top prize of rs. 100 million. the show, which was launched in october, is being revamped after it failed to match the runaway success of "kaun banega crorepati," a hindi version of "who wants to be a millionaire" aired on media baron rupert murdoch's star tv."kaun banega crorepati" with a top prize of 10 million is hosted by megastar amitabh bachchan and is doing phenomenally well. zee tv's revamped show is expected to hit the small screen early next year. channel executives say the format of the program is being simplified to make it easier for viewers to follow. the show's current anchors character-actor anupam kher and actress manisha koirala have been pulled out. up and coming actor ashutosh rana will be one of the new anchors. search is on for his female counterpart. zee tv executives say attempts are being made to rope in dixit, who was the hottest star of the hindi film industry in the 1990s. however, no official confirmation was available as to whether dixit has agreed to host the show. in spite of the big money offered the show was bogged down by snags from the word go. for one, viewers found the format of the program hard to follow, sources said. there were also accusations that kher was trying to imitate bachchan's mannerisms. zee insiders say that friction between kher and koirala also affected the show causing it to be scrapped. koirala was reportedly paid rs. 40 million in advance to host the show while kher got a fourth of the amount. zee tv officials admit that the show has been a disappointment with poor viewer ship and almost no revenues. sources say that the show carries very little advertising from outside sponsors and house ads are used to fill up commercial breaks. meanwhile, kher who was first dropped from the show has filed a writ petition before the bombay high court challenging his ouster from the show. in his petition he has stated that the channel was under obligation to give him a notice of 60 days before terminating his contract. the petition will be heard later this month. (ians)