by Subhash K Jha

After trying his hand at Bollywood, Madhavan will now host a television show on Sony. Deal Ya No Deal will be a cross between Deal Or No Deal and Who Wants To Become A Millionaire. It will start in November. The prize money is likely to be to the tune of Rs 10 million.

Madhavan was recently in Mumbai to shoot the promos. "Yes, Sony approached me. We have just worked out the details. I have to shoot six days a month. But I've been asked not to speak too much about it, he said.

"All I can say is, it has no relevance or connection to Kaun Banega Crorepati. It's a different format. And we will not pitch it against KBC. Our show will be telecast on weekdays. Who on earth would dare to take on Mr Bachchan?"

Shahid Amir will design Madhavan's wardrobe. He will be given a boyish, affable look.

Sony's chief executive officer Tarun Katyal confirms, "Deal Ya No Deal is is our version of Deal Or No Deal, the number one gameshow in the world. I visited Spain and France to check out the show there. It's a phenomenal event.

"Why Madhavan? Because we needed someone boyish, intelligent and able to connect instantly with the audience. The world over, the hosts have been young genial and energetic. Madhavan fitted the bill. One or two other names, including Saif Ali Khan, were initially thrown around. But once the project finalised, it was Maddy all the way. And when he shot the promo with us, we knew we had made the right choice."

Tarun dismisses all comparisons with KBC. "Deal Ya No Deal is not like any other game show seen in any part of the world. And believe me, it wasn't expensive to buy it from its international original copy holders. We, at Sony, are on the lookout for shows that would give us a profile distinct from our competitors. When we started Fame Gurukul, we were sneered at for attempting something so outlandish. Now, that's one of our highest rated shows."

Katyal says Sony hopes to consolidate its position further with the new game show. "It will add considerably to Madhavan's fan following, that's for sure," he concludes.