Got a business idea? Play it on television

Zee reality show will pick India's best entrepreneur.

Have a business plan in mind and no money to back it? Not to worry. You can not only get it fully funded but become a celebrity, thanks to Zee Telefilms latest reality show Business Baazigar.

From January 5, 2005, Subhash Chandra's Zee Telefilms will air a 36-episode real drama where men and women from all walks of life from across the country will get an opportunity to make a bid to make their big dream come true. The winners will get funded for whatever their business idea is worth.

Abhijit Saxena, vice-president, Zee Telefilms, told Business Standard, "With our reality shows and other programmes, we have become a part of the common man's life, primarily in non-metro cities, small cities or even remote parts of the country. Business Baazigar is another such programme."

In this real life drama, executives, students, housewives and even the retired, from cities as well as small towns and villages, will compete for the title of "India's best entrepreneur" and obtain funding to implement their idea. The show, being produced by 25 FPS Media, goes on air from January 2005.

The process will start by a call for entries, followed by a panel shortlisting the thousands of preliminary entries down to a manageable number of around 100.

These will then be further shortlisted to 20 who will compete with one another. According to the company, auditors of repute will supervise the entire shortlisting process to ensure completely transparency.

"The judging criteria would be the contestants' intelligence, strategic skills and their ability to think on their feet when time and money are at a premium. At the conclusion of each task, the winning team will be granted a lavish reward that will consist of money as well unforgettable experiences with the biggest and the best," the spokesperson said. The final two survivors will find their big dream funded by the big jury, he added.

"Business Baazigar is not only a platform to celebrate India's best entrepreneurial ideas, it's an endeavor to provide a launch pad to the most deserving among India's budding entrepreneurs where we dare to bid for their priceless dreams and ideas," said a Zee group spokesperson.