MUMBAI: Star Plus has roped in Shah Rukh Khan to host Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) for two seasons comprising 52 episodes. The new season is slated to go on air by January end.
According to sources close to the development, Star Plus had approached Amitabh Bachchan, the show’s earlier anchor, to host the new season of KBC, but Bachchan citied reasons for not being able to do so. Hence the channel approached Bollywood’s King Khan – Shah Rukh to host the show. The new season will be in a completely new avatar.
KBC first started in 2000 and was responsible for turning around Star Plus’ standing in the general entertainment channels’ space. After its first season, the show came back on air in 2005 with Bachchan as host yet again and took the nation by storm with its double prize money of Rs 20 million (Rs 2 crores). It may be recalled that last year, KBC was stalled mid-season when Bachchan fell sick and was hospitalised.
For Shah Rukh Khan, this will be a coming back of sorts to television, from where he first started his career. Khan was seen in serials like Fauji (debut) and Circus, which catapulted him to fame on the small screen.
Star Entertainment India CEO Samir Nair said, “Mr Bachchan expressed his disinclination to do the show and we respect his decision. We are indebted to him for what he brought to the show but now it is time to move on and who better to hand over the baton to than Shah Rukh Khan. We have been in talks with Shah Rukh Khan for over a month now and he expressed his willingness to do the show. Shooting will begin by December-end and we expect this season to be on air by January-end.”
An official release quoted Khan as saying, “I was pleasantly surprised when Star offered me the show. I was a participant in season one of KBC… and little did I know one day I would be hosting it. It is a huge act to follow, that of Mr Bachchan… but it also excites me that I am getting an opportunity to reach out and talk and interact with my audience through a medium where I began my career as an actor years ago.”
