Akshay flags off Viacom18's new channel

Riding his way onto the stage on a bike and seeking out his 'new friend', namely a python, from under a table, Akshay Kumar made a khatarnaak entry to announce his sensational TV debut.

The Bollywood hit machine will soon be seen hosting the reality show Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi on the brand new entertainment channel, Colors, which was officially launched in Bangkok on Monday.

Buzz is that this deal makes Akshay the highest paid star on the small screen, and along with 13 Bollywood bombshells, Khiladi Kumar is all set to confront many of his own fears on this show.

"I will be performing some of the stunts myself to help contestants," Akshay said.

An initiative of the entertainment giant Viacom18, Colors will also go on air with the period drama Mohe Rang De, set during the Quit India Movement of 1942. And much like the exciting event, the channel is resolute about bringing vibrancy in the cluttered entertainment space.

"We believe that this channel is actually cut out for cohesive viewing. Cohesive viewing is where the show has interests both the male as well as for the female audience," Colors CEO Rajesh Kamat said.

Network18 Group and Viacom18 CEO Haresh Chawla says, "Viacom18 itself is backed by Network18 and therefore we bring our franchise over six or seven networks to the table. So we believe that Colors will get a lot of leverage from our network channels, plus we will bring a lot of leverage as we build up our franchise."

For those who couldn't care less about Tulsi or Parvati's lives, Colors promises a new television experience. Tune in, in July to catch the action.