« Back to article

Print this article

Amitabh Bachchan: NO desire to make KBC format contestant friendly

Amitabh Bachchan will host the seventh season of the gameshow Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), which he has helped to make so popular.

The format of the show remains the same but there are a few changes -- the prize money has been increased to Rs 7 crores, a life line called Power Paplu has been added, the fastest finger first will not be the best out of three, the time limit of the phone-a-friend has increased, and the set and location has changed.

Bachchan doesn’t like to take credit for the popularity of the show. "I take zero credit. The show is very well constructed and not just a simple question and answer thing. Very deep research has gone into it.

'If I sit on the hot seat, I won't go beyond two questions'

Anybody can run the show. It's running in 127 countries and I am not there in those countries. I am only here in India. There is an intrinsic value in the show," he says.

Would he like to sit in the hot seat?

“I can’t go beyond two questions!" he replies.

Is the new format contestant-friendly and makes it more easy for contestants to win?

“I don’t think so. Some opportunities have been replaced by others. I don’t think there is a desire to make the format contestant friendly,” he says.

'Every day you learn something from someone, especially the newcomers as they are so talented, capable, self made'

Despite his many years at the top of the profession, Bachchan says, “I learn every day from a director or an actor… every day you learn something from someone, especially the newcomers as they are so talented, capable, self made.

“I am surprised that in their very first film they do so well because I am still learning how to do better.”

'I think being a host is lot more tough as TV is impromptu'

Is being a host more difficult than being an actor?

"I think it is lot more tough as TV is impromptu. In films, dialogues and story are written by others and you just have to follow someone’s vision and speak. Here, you are in direct contact with the audience and everything is impromptu. You have to talk to the contestants on the show. It is said that even just two seconds of silence is bad on television," Bachchan replies.

'My favourite TV hosts are Salman, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and others'

So what has TV taught him?

"Meeting new people, understanding their situation and mindset, gaining general knowledge,” he says.

And who are his favourite TV hosts?

“I like Salman, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and others,” the superstar signs off.

Lastly, what are his thoughts on the Zanjeer remake that will release next week?

I don’t have the rights (of the film). It is made by people, who own the rights and they have the prerogative.