The much promoted [V] Popstars band will stage its first public concert on 25 May.

The five girls who make up the band are currently undergoing intensive training and thorough image makeover, says Channel [V] programming head Devika Sharma. While model Noyonika Chatterjee is the band manager, dancer Shiamak Davar has been entrusted with choreographing the event. As part of the complete turnaround, the five girls have "lost weight, fine tuned their dance skills, got their hair treated and their wardrobe refurbished by Manish Malhotra," says Sharma.

The Popstars project, into which Star India has reportedly sunk in Rs 50 million, seems to be paying dividends for the channel. Sharma says Popstars is currently the highest rated show on [V], adding that the channel's reach has increased since its launch. The 13-part series is also being shown in Hindi on sister channel Star Plus on Fridays at 7 pm, targeting the family audiences.

The five girls who get a shot at fame as India's Spice Girls are Pratichee Mohapatra, Neha Bhasin, Mahua Kamat, Anushka Manchanda and Seema Ramchandani.

The group is currently spending several sessions in a studio recording the album, which is being penned by Javed Akhtar. The music is being composed by eight music directors including Jatin Lalit and Sandeep Chowta.

The band, as yet unnamed, made its first live appearance on 26 April.