Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 15, 2014)

Best remembered as the host of Antakshari which aired for over a decade, Annu Kapoor and his music show will be back on the small screen in the coming months.

The makers are currently working on a format to give the show a youthful appeal. Though Kapoor will be part of the show, he will not host it. Plans are to rope him in as a mentor who will guide and encourage the contestants.

Producer Gajendra Singh, who is synonymous with music reality shows, says, “Yes, I am reviving my show Antakshari in a new format. Since Annu Kapoor was the face of the show, there cannot be an Antakshari without him. This time, we will give him a larger role; he’ll be the guiding light in the show. RJ Mantra will anchor the new season.”

Singh is also retaining the names of the three contesting teams on the show — Parwaane, Mastaane and Deewane. But the show will not have any celebrity contestants; it will mostly have youngsters. “We have to cater to the new generation now,” adds Singh.

Kapoor had hosted Antakshari, which was a popular show from 1994 to 2005. It will now air on a rival channel and not the channel it was originally aired on.