Anil Kapoor to make TV debut in Indian adaptation of 24

Television channel Colors has successfully in the past, adapted TV show formats from the West and sold them to a welcoming Indian audience. After taking up rights of Big Brother from Sony TV and turning it into a hugely popular series Bigg Boss running into its fifth season, the channel is all set to launch a Hindi version of American thriller 24, which also marked Anil Kapoor’s debut on American television. The show was the longest running espionage-themed television drama on American television and has won the Emmy and Golden Globe in various categories. The story of 24 revolves around a counter terrorist unit agent, Jack Bauer, who protects America from terrorist attacks. In each episode you see him foiling terrorist plots. In the Indian adaptation of the series, Anil Kapoor will play the lead character. With this show Anil Kapoor will make his television debut. [caption id=“attachment_537160” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Courtesy: ibn live[/caption] 24 originally aired on Fox television, and also featured Anil Kapoor. He bought the rights of series from Fox almost a year ago and  sold it to Colors television. Kapoor told Business Standard, “While scouting for a perfect partner we were in talks with 2-3 leading channels, we chose Colors as in them we see the right platform that not only had a solid connect with the audiences but also enjoyed the reputation of providing futuristic entertainment. I am delighted that 24 will be aired on Colors, the only channel that can match its stature and amplify its impact.” The show is likely to be aired in the summer of 2013 and will be directed by Abhinay Deo of the Delhi Belly fame and will be written by Rensil D’ Silva, who directed Kurbaan. Although the amount for which the deal has been sealed has not been announced, reports claim that the deal is being pegged at around Rs 150 crore. Times of India quoted Ameet Naik of Naik & Naik, the lawyers for Anil Kapoor Films, saying that this is definitely one of the highest licensee deals for a fiction-format show on Indian TV. Disclaimer: Firstpost.com is owned by the Network18 group which also owns Colors.