Sophie Choudry

You have heard cover versions of hit songs. Now be prepared to see them too. MTV, in association with ibibo.com, has launched a contest called ibibo MTV i.Superstar, where 17 people chosen through auditions will feature in music videos that replicate the sets in which the original song was shot.

“We will train them, style them and create a Bollywood music video just for them, where the participants will take the stage in place of their favourite superstar,” promises Vivek Bahl, general manager, community marketing, ibibo.

Not just that. Ibibo and MTV will give the 17 participants a taste of the superstar’s life — lodging in five-star hotels, grooming by hotshot fashion designers, travelling in luxury cars, the works. The entire makeover, grooming, training and the final video will be aired on MTV.

“We have already done a pilot in which a girl who wanted to be Madhuri Dixit shot a song from the Madhuri-starrer Sailaab. For that, we availed of the services of the song’s choreographer Saroj Khan and Madhuri’s make-up artist Jaywant Thakre,” says MTV VJ Sophie Choudry, who will host the show.

A total of 10 music videos will be prepared with some of the songs being duets. “This year we auditioned in three cities. Next year, we plan to reach six,” says Bahl, pointing out how Roadies had also started small.