Mumbai, Dec 21 (IANS) It's the annual mega merger of the two top rated soaps on Indian television. Ekta Kapoor has brought 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' and 'Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki' together in two one-hour special episodes this month.

'Yes... Yes, they (episodes) were shot on Sunday and Monday and will be aired in two one-hour episodes (Dec 20 and 24). We have it every year during the festive Dussehra-Diwali season. But this time our stars were so busy doing shows they had no time during the traditional festive season. So we had to push it up by two months,' Ekta told IANS.

Ekta promises plenty of excitement in the tie-up episodes. 'Like each year this year's merger episodes will be filled with dhamaka, masti, colours, dances and music. This time, more so than the others.'

The buzz is that Ekta is getting her bahu (daughter-in-law) blast ready to counter Smriti Irani's act on Zee TV.

Ekta avers: 'Ha, that's all I'm being asked these days. But we aren't doing the merger episodes to compete with Smriti on 'Teen Bahuraniyan.'

'The truth is I'm not competing with Smriti. She's a dear friend and someone whom I respect immensely for her personality and professionalism. However, at the end of the day we're all professionals in the business. So an element of healthy competitiveness is bound to creep in.'

She is also delighted by her blue-eyed girl Prachi Desai's victory in 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'. She personally asked all her friends to vote for the girl.

'That's the least I could do for her. We also supported our other bachcha (kid) Jai Bhanushali in every way possible in the show. And now I've asked my entire company to SMS for our stars Aamir Ali and Sanjida on 'Nach Baliye'. While we had only one evening to vote for Prachi we've a whole week for Aamir and Sanjida.'

On her protégé Prachi being launched by Farhan Akhtar in a movie, Ekta says, 'Prachi is my blue-eyed baby. I wish her absolutely the best in life. Not just me, my mom and dad also think she's a wonderful actress and a lovely human being. We'll definitely do movies with her after she finishes Farhan's film. Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor) who is directing Farhan's film is my first cousin. So it's all in the family.'