MUMBAI: AXN TV has shortlisted eight finalists for its 'AXN Hot 'n Wild Contest' in India, a company press release stated today.
The finalists have been chosen after eight weeks of grueling audition of nearly 5,000 contenders nationwide, the release informed.
AXN will announce the ultimate winners in a grand finale scheduled to be held in September. Two winners will host AXN's next local production.
AXN's finalists include, Parmita Katkar, a national-level swimmer and a Miss India Asia-Pacific titleholder; Bhairavi Goswami, model and business women; Salil Acharya, radio jockey and voice-over artiste; Rohit Chopra, a Glagrags Megamodel finalist; and Deepica Sarma a Miss India finalist and television actress from Mumbai; Kirthana Krishnan the youngest Miss Bangalore finalist, and Bharatnatyam dancer; and Rehman a pharmacy graduate from Bangalore; and Gaurav Bhatia a financial analyst and law student from Delhi.
AXN has put up vignettes of these finalists shot by an international team on its website www.axnhotnwild.indiatimes.com for a viewers' poll. The AXN release stated that this poll results will also determine the overall scores. SMS can also be sent on 8888 on typing the key word Play Hot.
The eight shortlisted contestants will now undergo intensive round of grooming and training by ex-model and choreographer Achla Sachdev.
The release quoted AXN Asia's vice president- Marketing Gregory Ho as saying, "The enthusiasm, interest and energy that the 'AXN Hot 'n Wild Contest' has created has really overwhelmed us. We intended to provide that buzz that AXN is known for, and the response only motivates and encourages us to design many more such thrilling events for our Indian viewers. The auditions saw a lot of raw talent, which we will now groom and polish for the grand finale. After all, we would like the best two to make it for our local production."
The nationwide search for Hot n Wild Contest entries kicked off from 24 June. AXN claims entries came from cities like Chandigarh, Pune, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Baroda, Jabalpur, Sikkim and Nagaland also.
