Shah Rukh Khan says he was shouted at by KBC producers: ‘I wanted to help contestants win Rs 1 crore, genuinely wanted…’

The one-time Kaun Banega Crorepati host, Shah Rukh Khan, spoke about how he hoped contestants, sitting on the hot seat, should make a million He reminisced about itching to help them get the answers correct.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | Updated: February 14, 2024 04:37 PM IST

3 min read

SRK, who once hosted KBC, was shouted at by producers for helping contestants. (Photo: Instagram/@imsrk & Facebook/Star Plus)

Kaun Banega Crorepati is synonymous with Amitabh Bachchan. However, during the third season (in 2007) of the quiz show, when Shah Rukh Khan hosted it, he charmed everyone with his charisma and wit. KBC marked his return to television.

The Pathaan actor, who spoke at ‘The Making of a Star: A Conversation with Shah Rukh Khan’ at the World Government Summit held in Dubai on Wednesday, spoke about turning down Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire because of his love and loyalty towards KBC. At the forum, when CNN journalist Richard Quest asked Shah Rukh to describe his feelings when a contestant was close to winning a million on the show, the actor replied, “I genuinely hoped that they won. There were so many people coming from different parts of the country. There were times when I wanted to help them, but you know, you can’t! The producers would keep shouting in your ears, saying, ‘You can’t say this!’ ‘You have already said enough! The last four or two questions were really tough.”

Also read | Shah Rukh on taking a break after 'massive flops'

SRK had once said on Koffee With Karan that he would love to host the show until he was 60 and that after Big B, he didn’t see anyone else doing it. The actor divulged that despite wanting to help the contestants win, there were times when he didn’t know the answers himself. He continued, “Suddenly, these difficult questions are thrown at you, and you’re like, ‘O my God, this person is not going to get the correct answer,’ and I felt really bad. I wished I had some hint. I didn’t want to mislead them because most of the time I didn’t know the answer.

Speaking about refusing to play the host in Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in the Oscar Award-winning film starring Dev Patel, the Jawan actor added that the character being dishonest with the contestant didn’t sit well with him. “He was shown cheating on the show, and I thought it was disrespectful to the producers of KBC because I was hosting it. I didn’t take up the role. Eventually, Anil Kapoor played it, and he did a brilliant job,” said SRK.

KBC, which started airing in the year 2000, has successfully completed 15 seasons. Quizmaster Amitabh, in December, recently bid an emotional goodbye to the audience. Through different seasons, we have seen the Agnipath actor having a banter with the contestants on the show. Previously, the megastar took to his social media handle to share inspiring stories of contestants. “There have been some amazing contestants so far, and their lives and their stories have been most inspiring, emotional, and filled with immense admiration. The interaction with them is a learning each moment for me. Their expressions, their expectations, their confidence in the responses that they give, all go into the making of every episode each day, day after day,” he penned.

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