They can do all that

Manpriya Singh

They’ve all been dealt and are ready to be done with—talent hunts, dance shows, celebrity contestants, relationship sagas. Looking for something ‘different’ in television is a far fling; for the audience even anything ‘interesting’ will do. Twelve celebrities hitting the panic button and opting for dare devilry sounds good enough to begin with. “Wherever we go they ask us about what will be different in this show,” Rithvik Dhanjani answers on behalf of the channel and eleven other celebrity contestants too. Namely, Dino Morea, Gauahar Khan, Gurmeet Choudhary, Mandira Bedi, Shibani Dandekar, Meiyang Chang, Madhurima Tuli, VJs Bani and Andy, Chef Ranvir Brar and comedy’s darling Bharti Singh.

And with Farhan Akhtar for a host, Zee TV’s upcoming big ticket celebrity show I Can Do That boasts of a list good enough to capture the audience with attention deficit syndrome. “There are going to be super talented professionals flown in from the length and breadth of the country. They will be exhibiting their skills while the 12 celebrities sitting in a row will have to say and whether they can do it,” he elaborates on the concept, while in Chandigarh for promotions.

Adapted from the already successful franchise in the US, Italy, Russia and Bulgaria, the show has been slated into a six-week series and the winner will be decided on the basis of studio voting.

Play-full journey

Even though the big credit goes to Pavitra Rishta, the role closest to Rithvik’s heart is, “that of a werewolf in Pyaar Kii Ek Kahaani.” Currently also seen on Yeh Hai Aashiqui, however, at the moment he is taking a break from fiction. “Till the time, I don’t get the right script,” shares the lad brought up in Dubai but creatively nurtured in Mumbai. Any query on a character he wish he had played, leads to a moment’s reflection. Till you make Hollywood open to the hypothetical question. “I’d love to play Brad Pitt’s character in Curious Case of Benjamin Button and also Sherlock Holmes.” As for Bollywood, will he too settle for a two bit role like many other television stars? “If the role is significant, that’s good enough for me, even if it is small. As an actor I look for the script in totality. For instance we all remember Chatur in Three Idiots.” Whether we do or we don’t is a separate issue, but he’s already on the right track.

To premiere on October 17 on Zee TV.