COLORS launches India's first cricket-format show 'Ek Khiladi Ek Hassena'

Mumbai, Sept 17 (ANI/Business Wire India): After having redefined the weekday viewing in the General entertainment category (GEC), with a variety of fiction and non fiction shows, COLORS now gears up with its new weekend prime time extravaganza, 'Ek Khiladi Ek Hasina' - India's first cricket-format show.

Ek Khiladi Ek Hasina is a potent combination of two of India's biggest passions - cricket and glamour and will team-up some of India's leading present-day-cricketing-heroes with some of the most beautiful ladies from Indian television, to fight it out.not on the grass, but on the dance-floor.

And judging them will be none other than the vivacious Sushmita Sen and the dashing Wasim Akram. Premiering on September 26, the show will air on COLORS every Friday and Saturday at 9:00 pm.

This unique cricket-format show, 'Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena' will feature Sreesanth teamed with Surveen Chawla, Harbhajan with Mona Singh, Irfan Pathan with Ashima Bhalla; Dinesh Karthik with Nigar Khan; Nikhil Chopra with Barkha Bisht and Vinod Kambli with Shama Sikander.

So, get ready to see your cricketing heroes like you've never seen them before - dancing to the tunes of popular tracks, along with their respective partners. This is surely one battle you don't want to miss - its Swing Vs Spin, experience Vs raw energy, right-hander Vs left-footed and its antics Vs talent.

Announcing 'Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena', Rajesh Kamat, Chief Executive Officer - COLORS, says "Ek Khiladi Ek Hasina is another differentiated offering from COLORS that will significantly consolidate our position over the weekends." He further added, "Given the unique format, Ek Khiladi Ek Hassena is sure to find universal appeal across demographics and will entertain the cricket-lovers as well as the showbiz-fans, equally."

The jury of 'Ek Khiladi Ek Hassena' is surely as unique as the show concept. One is the former beauty queen who after her first 'Dastak' in Bollywood has made a 'Mast Mahaul' for herself- Sushmita Sen, who now makes her maiden appearance on the small screen. The other is the tall and dashing all rounder, who the opposition once feared - Wasim Akram, former Pakistan captain, in his first ever television appearance, outside the commentary box.

That's not all - Hosting this dance reality show is Sandhaya Mridul who herself is hugely popular for her dancing skills apart from her intense role as an actress. The title track of the show has been composed by the gifted duo Salim Suleiman and Kunal Ganjawala brings it to life with his powerhouse vocals.

This distinctive format will see six pairs battle it out; the voting pattern will follow 50:50 ratio for the jury and in studio audiences. The highest scoring couple finds himself in the 'Safe Zone' while the couple with the lowest scores challenges any two pairs of their choice from the remaining lot in the challenger round. The winner takes home a cash prize of Rs 25 lakhs.

COLORS Programming Head, Ashvini Yardi elaborates, "We've all grown up idolizing our cricketing heroes. I am sure that after 'Ek Khiladi Ek Hassena', we'd be practicing their steps as well."

Speaking on her experience on the show, honorable judge Sushmita Sen said, "A channel that dares to think out of the box and does so making it a whole lot of fun is a rarity! I hope COLORS continues to paint its viewers lives with all its shows. Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena as unique as a concept as it is will be a decision I will always cherish. To witness my cricketing heroes attempt something that isn't their forte at all, with as much zeal and heartfelt enthusiasium as they did was overwhelming and great fun, making it such a pleasure to judge the show! To sum it up, I would say what I have often said on the show."

An excited Wasim Akram on his role as a jury member said, "Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena as a show is something very different and such a show can never happen again on television as they have managed to get present day cricketers whose top most passion is cricket and COLORS has got them to participate in this show. It was an incredible experience and I enjoyed every moment of it. The cricketers along with Sen add to the uniqueness of the show."

Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena introduces our celebrated cricketers on a new ground; this time on the dance floor which they are all set to burn in the company of some our most adored beauties. Viewers will witness for the first time ever men in blue groove to the music instead of the googlies. Twenty20 is pass now, as some of our cricketers battle each other with their respective partners every weekend for the ultimate dance title.

Ajit Thakur, COO, UTV Television, said, "Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena as a concept is very close to our heart and in COLORS we found the perfect partner for our ambitious project. In a country obsessed with cricket and showbiz stars, it does not get bigger than this. It was a complete roller coaster ride as we went on the floor with the project!"

ANI