DD hopes Knock-out crorepatis with Kabir Bedi

NEW DELHI, DEC 5: After virtually saying no to Bachchan and the ad revenue that Kaun Banega Crorepati would have raked in, a repentant Pra...

NEW DELHI, DEC 5: After virtually saying no to Bachchan and the ad revenue that Kaun Banega Crorepati would have raked in, a repentant Prasar Bharati Corporation has signed up ex-Hollywood/Bollywood star Kabir Bedi to host a Crorepati clone for its main channel. With this move, Bedi joins an illustrious group of “clonepatis”, viz Shekhar Suman, Govinda, Manisha Koirala, Ashutosh Rana, and Govinda, while Doordarshan (DD) joins the Crorepati race for more revenue.

DD seems to have also reconciled to the fact that quiz shows, when packaged well, need not necessarily end up gambling or lottery exercises. Sources say Sidhartha Basu, the man behind the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, had knocked at DD’s door first. At the time, officials had second thoughts about the show and said no to the producer. While DD’s loss was Star’s gain, the former, it seems, has learnt a valuable lesson.

Set to start on January 28, next year, Knock-out, a sponsored programme, will be a weekly affair, marketed by Cinevista, and according to Sunil Mehta, will continue for three years to begin with, in a never-before-seen format, and will be giving away Rs 1 crore every week to competitors and the audience.

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With over 70 per cent viewership, DD may well have the last laugh in the numbers game if advertisers chip in.

UNI ADDS: Bedi, who has acted in a James Bond movie Octopussy, apart from several others in Hollywood and closer home in Mumbai, feels that hosting the show will be a challenge. “The programme is unique and I am going to give my best,” he said during an informal chat with newspersons.

However, Sunil Mehta of Cinevista, which is producing the show, refused to divulge the format of the new game show. “All I can say is it is going to be unique. Today, I am here just to introduce Kabir (Bedi),” he said when asked about the details of the show.

About the host, he said: “Kabir is very handsome, good in build and health, has a good height and looks, a great personality, an endearing smile, a great voice, maturity and intellect — and hence was a natural choice for knock-out.”

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When asked about Amitabh Bachchan who hosts KBC, Bedi said: “He is a popular actor. He is successful and everyone respects him,” adding: “I started on the small screen by hosting a show for Delhi Doordarshan while in college. Three decades later, this is a homecoming for me in more ways than one.”

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