New Delhi:
Frantic efforts are on to have Simon Cowell bring his British acerbity to the Indian version of The X Factor.
Sony, who will broadcast the music-based reality show, is keen to have the man who started it all on air - as a celebrity judge in the final episode at least, if not all through the season.
The channel has already acquired the rights for the Indian version of the singing contest from Simon himself, whose production company SyCo owns the format. And what better way to make the show popular than have the music mogul on board too?
Infamously blunt, Simon's controversial criticisms (not always constructive) and wisecracks on participants' abilities, or lack of them, on American Idol and then on The X Factor have made news time and again.
Says a source close to the channel, "There are three judges in The X Factor. Sony is keenly interested in having him in the show and not only as the producer of the original format. Plans are on to launch it in a lavish way with big names on board. Internationally it can't get any bigger than having Simon on board."
Adds the source, "A team from Sony has already left for the UK to convince him to feature in the Indian version at least in helping the jury to make the top 20 or top 12 contestants. It is their way to attract eyeballs and garner viewership."
Rumour has it that veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is one of the other judges, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Sony's plans are shrouded in secrecy and until formal announcements are made, information available is purely conjecture
Sony, who will broadcast the music-based reality show, is keen to have the man who started it all on air - as a celebrity judge in the final episode at least, if not all through the season.
The channel has already acquired the rights for the Indian version of the singing contest from Simon himself, whose production company SyCo owns the format. And what better way to make the show popular than have the music mogul on board too?
Infamously blunt, Simon's controversial criticisms (not always constructive) and wisecracks on participants' abilities, or lack of them, on American Idol and then on The X Factor have made news time and again.
Says a source close to the channel, "There are three judges in The X Factor. Sony is keenly interested in having him in the show and not only as the producer of the original format. Plans are on to launch it in a lavish way with big names on board. Internationally it can't get any bigger than having Simon on board."
Adds the source, "A team from Sony has already left for the UK to convince him to feature in the Indian version at least in helping the jury to make the top 20 or top 12 contestants. It is their way to attract eyeballs and garner viewership."
Rumour has it that veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is one of the other judges, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Sony's plans are shrouded in secrecy and until formal announcements are made, information available is purely conjecture
