Life OK acquires The Bachelorette format; signs Mallika Sherawat

Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 22
indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Mallika Sherawat is looking for a companion and she is coming to your TV screen, courtesy Star TV?s Life OK.

The channel today announced that it has acquired the format of the popular US reality dating game show The Bachelor and has commissioned the Zodiak-owned SOL Productions to produce the Indian version ? of its adaptation The Bachelorette. The Indian version is slated to be called The Bachelorette India - Mere Khayalon ki Mallika?.

SOL had earlier produced Rakhi Ka Swayamvar which ran very successfully on the now shut down Imagine TV, thanks to Rakhi Sawant?s bold antics. Its opening episode notched up 4.1 TVRs according to TAM data for 2009 and its grand finale Rakhi Ka Swayamvar Faisle Ki Raat, which was aired live on 2 August 2009 from 9-11.30 pm, fetched a whopping TVR of 8.4 for Imagine.

Says Life OK business head Ajit Thakur: "We decided to go and acquire the licence for the original format from Warner. Any show like this that has happened in India earlier was actually inspired by The Bachelorette.?

According to Thakur, Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika will run for 20 episodes over 10 weeks. ?The promos have been shot, currently we are soliciting entries, and these will be followed by auditions,? he says.

The Bachelorette India will trail Sherawat, who is known for her boldness, as she explores a new facet of love and companionship in her life. The gripping reality series aims to help the bold and brazen actor find her "Prince Charming".

"This show gives us an unique opportunity to partner Mallika in her quest to find true love," says Thakur.
He refused to reveal any date or time slot for the premiere of the first episode of Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika. All that he was willing to say was that he was confident ?that the series will strengthen Life OK?s programming and set another benchmark in quality entertainment.?

As per TAM data for week 15 in 2013, Life OK reported 110 GRPs and its ratings have been dropping over the past few weeks, something that Thakur attributes to Phase II digitisation.