Vivek Oberoi, Anurag Basu & Sonali Bendre to judge Zee TV's 'India's Best Dramebaaz'

Having celebrated the singing and dancing talents of the masses and made heroes out of India’s common man, Zee TV is all set to provide a national platform for India’s acting talent! A pioneer at introducing unique, homegrown non-fiction formats like ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ and ‘Dance India Dance’ that have captured the pulse of the audience, Zee TV announces a brand-new reality show with a differentiated concept. Aptly titled ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’, the talent hunt show will put children in the age range of 5-12 years through a series of tasks and challenges that will groom them as actors and test their creativity, spontaneity and acting capabilities.

With the resounding success of both the seasons of ‘DID L’il Masters’ and ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs’ - two immensely popular reality talent hunt show formats centered around kids,  Zee TV, is undoubtedly the ruler of this genre of shows. Zee TV has proven time and again that it understands children like no one else does! The kids talent hunt show, ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’, does naturally hold a lot of promise!

To judge the kids on their histrionic skills, the channel has roped in popular actors Vivek Oberoi, Sonali Bendre and the much celebrated film-maker Anurag Basu. Fans of the Saathiya heartthrob will be delighted to know that the show marks Vivek’s debut on television and the actor is very excited about the same.

Over three months ago, Zee TV began its countrywide search for the 18 brightest, spunkiest, the most mischievous and talented kids from across the country. Zee TV’s talent scouts have conducted auditions in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Patna, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Indore, Lucknow, Ranchi and Dehradun and the short-listed contestants are currently undergoing comprehensive workshops on honing their talent.

About making his debut on television, Vivek said, “Over the years, I’ve received many offers to work on television but it had to be a show that I connected with. Besides, I’ve recently turned papa and it’s the ideal time for me to be surrounded by mischievous kids. It’ll give me a good heads up on what’s coming my way!” He added, My role on the show is more like that of a big brother to the kids who will guide them. Had there been such wonderful avenues for acting when I was a kid, I’d have surely participated!”

About taking on the judge’s mantle, Sonali added, “The show concept is unique and Zee has always been a frontrunner in reality shows. It’s my first time on Zee TV and the show presents a win-win situation for me … I just love kids. I’m glad that ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’ provides an atmosphere that puts children at ease, allows them to come into their own and be themselves. The kind of talent we have seen so far is overwhelming … they’re such cute kids and they talk so much especially when they speak about their parents… their innocence is adorable and will appeal to absolutely everybody!”

So what is it that the judges are looking for? Anurag said, “The format is new and a first on Indian television. I have worked with Zee TV before and it is difficult for me to turn down their offer. I am also selfish as I only do things from where I can take something back. With ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’, I am getting an opportunity to interact with so many talented children. We are not saying that we will create future superstars here. Our main objective will be to bring out the spontaneity of the kids where they will perform without being conscious. That is why apart from watching their performances, I am spending time with them personally to understand their creativity. I think naughty, mischievous kids will do better in this space! As a director, I will look into the technical aspects of every act and guide the contestants in that regard.”

Ajay Bhalwankar, Head – Content (Hindi GECs), ZEEL said, “With India’s Best Dramebaaz, Zee TV is yet again introducing an all-new format in the non-fiction genre. Acting is something each one of us engages in, perhaps, without even realizing it. We all go through life portraying a variety of roles we are called upon to play. Children, without a doubt, are the most natural actors as they are simply not conscious of themselves. In this show, the judges, hosts and the creative team have created an atmosphere that is most conducive for the kids to completely come out of their shells, bloom and act effortlessly, delivering one heart-warming performance after another. I’m sure the audience will just fall in love with the kids!”

‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’ is a 13-week reality series that will air every Saturday-Sunday at 9 PM on Zee TV, starting February 23. The show is produced by Essel Vision, the in-house production arm of the Essel Group.

Judges Profiles:

Anurag Basu: His association with Zee dates back to the year 2000 when he directed Koshish Ek Asha, a show that made it to the top of the heap on Zee TV’s primetime. His stint as a director on television was quickly followed by an illustrious career as a film director as his work got noticed in the right quarters. He hit a home run and made headlines with the sensational thriller ‘Murder’ in 2004. His work in films like ‘Gangster’ and ‘Life in a Metro’ displayed his deftness and maturity as a director. His latest film Barfi has struck a golden balance between scoring critical acclaim and raking in a powerful 100 crore collection at the box office. Friends, without a doubt, he’s clearly the man of the moment and he is all set to make his debut as a judge on a reality show on television.

Sonali Bendre: Her radiant beauty and poise made her a supermodel at the very beginning of her career. She wowed the audience in her first film and walked away with the Most Promising Newcomer award across a number of award shows in 1994. Ever since, there has been no looking back for this stunning diva as she charmed millions of fans with her winsome smile and believable performances across blockbusters like Sarfarosh, Duplicate, Zakhm, Diljale and Hum Saath Saath Hain. Her riveting performance in the Marathi film Anahat got her wide critical acclaim and popular awards too. Her forays on television have been met with an overwhelming response from her fans who cannot seem to get enough of her.

Vivek Oberoi: Our third and final judge is a film heartthrob making his debut on television. His hard hitting performance in his initial films like Company, Road and Dum fetched him every Promising Newcomer award. But it was Saathiya that made him every Indian girl’s dream boy overnight. His villainous turn in Shootout at Lokhandwala fetched him a deluge of awards. He packed in punch after punch with bravura performances across films like Masti, Yuva, Kisna and Rakht Charitra. Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara saw him in his element as an actor and his performance drew rave reviews. Today he’s all set to make his mark on the small screen.