‘Om Shanti Om’ & ‘Saawariya’ war spills on TV

After Kareena Kapoor unveiled the soundtrack of her forthcoming release ‘Jab We Met’ (out 25th October) on ZEE TV’s hit music show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – Challenge 2007’, the makers of ‘Om Shanti Om’ and ‘Saawariya’ are also taking their rivalry to television.

‘Om Shanti Om’ starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone is one of two blockbusters getting its theatrical release on Diwali (9th November). The other is ‘Saawariya’, which marks the debut of Ranbir Kapoor (Rishi Kapoor’s son) and Sonam Kapoor (Anil Kapoor’s daughter).

The outcome of their box office battle will only be known in November; meanwhile the ‘Saawariya’ team has been confirmed for an appearance on STAR Plus’ ‘Voice Of India’. ‘Om Shanti Om’ team on the other hand will be seen on rival ZEE TV’s ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – Challenge 2007’. Both episodes will go head-to-head this weekend.

‘Voice Of India’s’ producer-director Gajendra Singh said: “Having Sanjay Bhansali and the two ‘Saawariya’ debutants on our show was such a delight. Sanjayji is a complete music person.”

The ‘Om Shanti Om’ special features Shreyas Talpade, Deepika Padukone and director Farah Khan. Apparently lead actor Shah Rukh Khan couldn’t do the show because of his contract with STAR.

“But he sent a list of requests for the contestants to sing. Those will be featured in the second-half of the show. During the first-half we’ll have the contestants singing the ‘Om Shanti Om’ tracks since two of our judges Vishal and Shekhar are also the music directors of Farah Khan’s film,” says Payaol Patel of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – Challenge 2007’.