Siddhartha Basu reveals the difference between Amitabh Bachchan and SRK as KBC hosts, says Dus Ka Dum cleaned up Salman’s ‘bad boy’ image

Kaun Banega Crorepati debuted in 2000, and recently completed its 14th season. Amitabh, who continues to be the host of the show, recently celebrated his 23-year association with it. Siddhartha recalled the craze it inspired in audiences at its peak. “Har raasta khaali ho jata tha, restaurants khali the aur jab chalte the to har ghar se wo hi music sunte the (All roads used to get empty, all restaurants would be empty, and if you walked on the road, you could hear that music coming from every house).”

Shah Rukh Khan also hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati, but only for one season. When asked about the difference between Amitabh and Shah Rukh as hosts, Siddhartha said, “Shah Rukh thinks on his feet and very witty, naturally. Attitude ke hisaab se, log Amit ji paas aate the (joins hands) pairo mein, aur Shah Rukh ko khule arms ke saath, that was the attitude (Attitude wise, people fall in Amit ji’s feet and meet Shah Rukh with open arms).”

Siddhartha also praised actor Salman Khan, who hosted his game show Dus Ka Dum. He said that the show managed to change Salman’s ‘bad boy image’.

“Salman ka audience ke saath alag hi connect hai kyunki logo ka uske saath bada connect hai. Humne jab Dus Ka Dum kiya, uska image public mein ekdum badal gaya. Usse pehle public mein uska image bad boy wala tha. Bada dildaar aadmi hai, he really takes care. To uska connection hi kuch aur hai and people accept him like that (Salman has a different connect with the audience because he has a connection with people. When we did Dus Ka Dum, his public image changed. Before that, he had a bad boy image. He is a very generous man and he really takes care. So, his connection is something different and people accept him like that),” he said.