Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor turns producer with Indian version of 24

Slumdog Millionaire star Anil Kapoor will take the helm as producer when he brings to Viacom's India arm, Viacom18, the Indian version of the cult American espionage show ‘24’, which will air exclusively on one of India's leading general entertainment channels, COLORS, from the summer of 2013.
 
The hit ‘24’, which has won a raft of accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards and Golden Globes and has netted the coveted titles of: Best Television Series and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama) for its star Kiefer Sutherland, will now be made for Indian audiences when Anil Kapoor chooses the COLORS television brand as his broadcast partner for the Indian adaptation of ‘24’.
 
The show marks Anil Kapoor’s debut on Indian television and will also be the launch project for his company Anil Kapoor Film Co.

The show catapulted Anil to international fame when he played the role of Omar Hassan in Season 8 of the international series.

In the Indian adaptation Anil plays the lead role taking on complex assignments that he resolves in twenty four hours.
 
With the acquisition, COLORS and Anil Kapoor Film Co will pave the way for a new ‘hybrid’ genre of entertainment that sees an interesting amalgamation of fiction and reality.

24 takes a gigantic leap from the existing crime-thrillers on Indian TV, with a unique real-time narration format providing action, thrills, suspense, drama and the exhilaration of solving complex cases in 24 hours.

Its iconic sets, never-seen-before stunts, slick-edited sequences, and high-definition recording are set to create a superlative viewing experience for Indian viewers.

The show, which is watched by millions of viewers worldwide, is poised to be a unprecedented success in India as well.
 
Commenting on the acquisition of 24, Raj Nayak, CEO of COLORS said: “COLORS has been at the forefront of bringing newer genres and changing the game for Indian television. We continuously push limits of programming and successfully have delivered international formats such as Bigg Boss, India’s Got Talent, Khatron Ke Khiladi, and Ring Ka King in the recent years.

24 is a show that brings Anil Kapoor’s mass appeal and COLORS’ mass audience together to create history in Indian television. It’s an honour to bag 24 for COLORS; in fact it’s a reward for our efforts and our firm belief in continuously providing disruptive content to our audiences.

I am confident the show will set new standards in entertainment and further connect with Indian audiences”.

Confirming the news Anil Kapoor said, “For 24, I was scouting for a platform that not only had a solid connect with the audiences but also enjoyed the reputation of providing avant-garde entertainment. I am delighted that 24 will be aired on COLORS, the only channel that can match its stature and amplify its impact. 24 was my destiny, the second I was offered to play a role in the international series, I had made up my mind to bring this show to India. In less than a year I bought the rights to produce an Indian version”.

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