It’s hard to imagine Indian television without Kaun Banega Crorepati, and Kaun Banega Crorepati is equally unimaginable without Amitabh Bachchan. As we step into a new year, another season of the iconic quiz show has come to an end. On Friday, KBC 17 aired its final episode, featuring an emotional Amitabh Bachchan thanking viewers for their support since the show first premiered in 2000. Reflecting on the journey, he described spending more than one-third of his life with the show as a true blessing. In his opening monologue, he said:
“Sometimes, we live a moment so deeply and get so lost in it that when it reaches its final point, it feels as though it had just begun, and yet it is ending so soon. Everything feels like it happened just yesterday. As I go through these emotions, I am about to begin the last day of this game. Spending more than one-third of my life, with all of you has been a great fortune for me.”
He added, “Whenever I have come on your TV screens, you have welcomed me with open arms. When I laughed, you laughed with me, and when my eyes filled with tears, your eyes shed tears too. You have been my companions on this journey, from the beginning to the very end. I can only say this much to you: if you exist, this game exists, and if this game exists, then we exist. Thank you so much.”
The finale also featured a musical extravaganza. Amitabh Bachchan performed for over 30 minutes, delivering renditions of iconic songs such as Rang Barse, Hori Khele Raghuveera, and Mere Angne Mein. Comedian Kiku Sharda also joined the hot seat, adding humor to the night and delighting audiences with his antics.
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Earlier, in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Sameer Nair, who acquired the adaptation rights of the popular British show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, revealed how Amitabh was approached to host the Hindi version. Nair recalled that Jaya Bachchan, Amitabh’s wife, was initially unsure about him making a full-time switch to television. “When we first went to him, it was complicated because it was TV and he was a film star. It was somewhere not correct to shrink him to the small screen.” Nair added that Amitabh even visited the sets of the original British show in London before finally agreeing to host KBC.
Talking about the show’s enduring popularity, Nair said, “The love of the audience for Mr Bachchan has been really enduring. When we first did KBC, there was no Google. Which means you had to really wait through the break to get the correct answer. But even now, when he asks the question, you can Google it, yet you don’t. Because you want to watch the show, the drama, and the playout the way it’s intended.”
