Sony banega Crorepati

The show that changed the fortunes of Star Plus is back on Sony in its fourth season with its original host and the same prize money of one crore

The show that changed the fortunes of Star Plus is back on Sony in its fourth season with its original host and the same prize money of one crore
The first time it was launched in 2000,Kaun Banega Crorepati changed the fortunes of the channel it was aired on,i.e Star Plus as well as of its host,the redoubtable Amitabh Bachchan,who not only scaled new heights of popularity but also became a trendsetter. Suddenly,TV was no longer considered a poor cousin to the big screen and film stars made a beeline to sign as hosts on various shows. Since then,many star-studded shows have come on television,but not all have succeeded.

Refusing to take the credit as a trendsetter,Bachchan recounts the first time he was offered the show. Many people adviced me against it. They felt that I was moving from 70 mm to small screen. But I didnt think that way. I am an actor and willing to explore every medium. There are many examples internationally of actors having successfully done TV,films and stage simultaneously, he quips. Now,a decade later,Bachchan revisits the show that made him a household name,but this time on another channel,Sony.

Incidentally,Sony is grappling between fourth and fifth position in the charts and needs that one big show to pull it out of its lacuna. When asked if they are expecting KBC4 to change its fortunes,Ajit Thakur,Business Head and EVP,Sony,said,Yes,it will be the next propeller for our growth. The show is historic and we are hoping it will repeat its performance.

Apparently,two other leading channels were vying for the rights for KBC before Sony clinched it. Thakur lists out three reasons for acquiring the show. After KBCs success,channels were flooded with talent-hunts and reality shows but game-shows had phased out. We were looking at creating inclusive programming unlike other GECs,which have shows that target either kids,mothers or the male members of the household. KBC,on the other hand,caters to everybody and is the mother of all game-shows. It is is entertaining and informative,which makes it ideal for family viewing, informs Thakur. As for Aamir Khan being approached for the show,Thakur dismisses is as speculation. Bachchan was our first choice, he insists.

For Bachchan,the show is a sort of homecoming. This is the first show that I hosted on TV,so coming back to it is like a homecoming, he said at the launch of the show. The superstar had hosted two seasons of KBC before opting out of the third one due to health reasons as he had to undergo an operation. About Shah Rukh Khan hosting the third season,Bachchan is all praise for the Khan who he says did an efficient job.

So,what prompted him to come back to the show now? I had a series of meetings with the Sony officials,who told me they will be making changes in the game-show,and I agreed, informs the superstar. Thakur reasons that 10 years have passed since the first season and the audience profile has changed. We are making a lot of changes, he informs. He,however,is unwilling to divulge any details now.

The show is likely to be aired in October-November. Auditions for the show will start from the first week of August. Salman Khans 10 Ka Dum will also be aired toward the end of this year. 10 Ka Dum 3 was scheduled for this year and theres a possibility of it being aired simultaneously with KBC4. Right now,Salman is shooting in Sri Lanka and we are yet to work out the dates, explains Thakur. However,according to sources,10 Ka Dum will be aired after KBC4 sometime in November.