MUMBAI: Sony is looking for new producers to take on part of their dream project, "reality based soap opera" Fame Gurukul, which was being touted as the next big thing after Indian Idol.

When contacted, SET EVP and business head Tarun Katial quipped, "I have nothing to say on this."
 

Optimystix Entertainment director Sanjeev Sharma did, however, admit that his production house would no more be a part of the the Indian adaptation of the Spanish reality show Operacion Triunfo. "We are not doing Fame Gurukul. The decision was reached some time last week. After that we were travelling a bit, We have returned just today," Sharma says.

According to the the industry grapevine, differences cropped up between the two parties when Sony thought that Optimystix had gone over-budget on Indian Idol.
 
 

Says Sharma, "We were not working on any specific budget in Indian Idol. That was a reimbursable budget. There is no question of going overboard in terms of money."

It may be recalled that as in the case of Indian Idol, production work for Fame Gurukul was to be shared between Optimystix and Miditech. The on-ground activities of Fame Gurukul were assigned to Miditech while "in-studio" work was to be handled by Optimystix.

The 64-million dollar question now is of course: Will Optimystix be doing Indian Idol 2?