Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) has almost been synonymous with Amitabh Bachchan since its inception in 2000. In the last minutes of the final episode of KBC 15, the megastar said, “Main Amitabh Bachchan iss daur ke liye, iss manch se aakhri baar kehne jaa raha hoon, shubh ratri [For the last time, I am bidding you all goodbye from this show. Good night].”

It remains unclear whether this marks the end of the road for the popular quiz show, or Bachchan’s association with it. It could well just be about bringing the curtain down on the latest season.

Social media was immediately flooded with reactions, with many interpreting it as Bachchan’s exit. While some fans said they were heartbroken, many termed it the end of an era.

In 2000, Bachchan’s decision to venture into television was initially met with scepticism, but his charisma and the format of KBC proved to be a winning combination. His entry into the world of television marked a significant shift in the industry. While the host’s support for contestants from diverse backgrounds resonated with the viewers, creating a sense of inclusivity, his famous catchphrase, “Lock kiya jaye?”, became a household phrase. The show’s first top prize winner was Harshvardhan Navathe, who had won Rs 1 crore.

For the third season, which premièred in 2007, the makers roped in Shah Rukh Khan as the host, but the show’s ratings dropped. Bachchan then returned to the sets of KBC in 2010 and his journey since then stands as a remarkable chapter in the history of Indian television.

As technology evolved, the quiz-based game show adapted to the digital age. Online engagement through social media and interactive applications enhanced the viewer experience, expanding the show’s reach and attracting a younger audience.

The team of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) wanted to run a special episode to mark the festival of Navratri that began yesterday. Considering the festival is observed in honour of goddess Durga, it is only fitting that host Amitabh Bachchan and the team decided to celebrate woman power on the occasion by roping in social worker Hare Ram Pandey, and actor Shefali Shah, known for her author-backed roles.

Pandey runs his not-for-profit organisation Narayan Seva Ashram that rescues abandoned girls and works towards rehabilitating them. The idea is to build a secure future for them by educating them.

A source says, “He began his journey by setting up small camps in Deoghar, Jharkhand. Today, he is a father [figure] to 35 [girls in his NGO]. In the episode, he narrated various heartfelt incidents from his life and fondly spoke about his adopted daughter, Taapsee.”

Bachchan and Shah go back a long way, having worked together in Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005). In the episode, the megastar-host also revealed that he has been addressing her as ‘Malkinji’ since then.

Bachchan said, “The way she was on the sets of the film [directed by husband Vipul Shah], I learnt who is the malkin of the house! She was in control and provided instructions wherever necessary. I thought she was zabardast!”

There are numerous ways in which Amitabh Bachchan has touched the lives of his fans and friends—sometimes through his films, and at other times, through his benevolence. And there can’t be a better occasion than his birthday to thank the megastar for it. Ahead of his 81st birthday on October 11, the Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) team shot a special episode that has Vidya Balan, Chiranjeevi, Vicky Kaushal, Anupam Kher and Boman Irani conveying their warm wishes to him.

For the episode that will be aired tomorrow, the team brought in sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan to surprise the actor.

“Ustad Amjad Ali Khan presented a medley of songs. Then, to the megastar’s surprise, actors Vidya, Chiranjeevi, Vicky, Anupam and Boman wished him through video messages. While he has worked with Vidya on Paa [2009], Te3n [2016] and many more, he had a guest appearance in Chiranjeevi’s Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy [2019]. Big B recently collaborated with Anupam and Boman on Uunchai [2022]. All of them spoke warmly about how he had inspired their love for acting,” reveals a source.

The legend was teary-eyed by the outpouring of love. “Usually I am the one who gives people tissues, but now, it’s my turn,” he quipped, before adding that he holds the birthday celebrations on the KBC set closest to his heart. Last year, Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan had featured in the special birthday episode. 

Sharing screen space with megastar Amitabh Bachchan on his long-running show, Kaun Banega Crorepati is a defining moment for every young actor. However, for Vicky Kaushal, the chance to sit opposite Bachchan on the hot seat was special for another reason—Bachchan and Kaushal’s father, ace action stunt coordinator Sham Kaushal’s association goes back 40 years.

“Few know that the legendary actor had written a beautiful note to Sham praising Vicky’s performance in his debut film, Masaan, the night after its release,” says a source, adding, “After Vicky’s marriage, when Big B spotted Sham at Mehboob Studio, he was excited. He yelled, ‘Badhai ho’, from a distance, and hugged Sham.”

Kaushal senior and Bachchan have worked on films like Mard (1985), Bhoothnath (2008), and Ribhu Dasgupta’s series, Yudh (2014).

On the Sony TV show, Bachchan and Vicky discussed their love for cricket. “They discussed playing the sport with the crew on set, when shoots would get postponed. Bachchan also revealed that he would play cricket with Sham during outdoor shoots in the picturesque locales of Kashmir. Vicky told Bachchan that gully cricket had been an important part of his life. He also shared that in his society, the sport is played throughout the night on the eve of January 26.”

Vicky turned up on the show with his The Great Indian Family co-star Manushi Chhillar. His film follows an Indian family, and celebrates the diversity of our country.