Karishmaback on TV wid Jhalak Dokhlaja

Lolo after the lull

After being a recluse for over a year, Karisma Kapoor returns to judge a dance show on the small screen

Subhash K Jha

All speculation about Karisma Kapoor's return to the limelight can now come to an end. Karisma is all set to return, although not on the big screen.

For now, she's content to serve as a judge on Sony TV's ambitious dance show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. In their effort to spruce up the glamour quotient among the judges Jhalak… has already signed on Farah Khan, perhaps to counter the presence of Saroj Khan on Star One's second season of Nach Baliye which too starts in September.

The third judge for Jhalak Dikhla Jaa is yet to be decided. But a very hot and happening epic filmmaker is being earnestly wooed with a multitude of zeroes on his cheque.

Interestingly enough the same filmmamker was also invited to step into the judge's shoes after Farhan Akhtar refused to do the second season of Nach Baliye. After Farhan's exit Star One approached Karan Johar to step in.

But Karan also begged off, what with Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna around the corner and his chat show Koffee With Karan getting ready for a second season this November. So as things stand both the dance extravaganzas have lined up two glamorous female judges for each show. But no male celeb-judge has been confirmed for either Jhalak Dikhla Jaa or Nach Baliye, though in all probability Sony has bagged the attention of the epic filmmaker that they were both vying for.

How do the two channels see the competition between the two dance competitions? Says a Sony spokespersion, "Ours is a universally accepted format and we're looking at giving viewers a unique dance experience."

On the other hand, Star One feels it has an edge. "Our Nach Baliye is already a brand name. Plus we have a line-up of eye-popping tv couples. Much more glamorous and famous than the ones during the last Nach Baliye. Also, we feel the thrill of watching professionals from various walks dancing, is restricted to the section of viewers who know them. Our dancers on Nach Baliye will be household names from the outset."