Big B Amithabh's repsonse on SRK's KBC3

As the new season of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ or KBC takes off with Shahrukh Khan taking over from the indomitable Amitabh Bachchan as anchor of the show, comparisons are inevitable. But the ‘Big B’ himself, refuses to take the bait.

KBC, back in a brand new avatar with a brand new quiz master, seems to be looking for a brand new image as well. But all the hype around Shahrukh seems to be lost on the man whom he has replaced. Amitabh Bachchan's first reaction was this disinterested comment:

“I haven’t connected to it, because I haven’t seen (the programme) yet.”

Amitabh Bachchan might have little interest in the fate of the new show, but that has not stopped the producers of KBC from trying out every trick in the book to reinvent a show haunted by the ghosts of last season when the formidable Big B over shadowed all.

Adman Prahlad Kakkar opines, “The new KBC is much more informal, it's much more in connect. There was a sense of reserve and tremendous sense of awe that Mr Bachchan invoked. Shahrukh invokes an equal sense of connect and being one with the contestants.”


Truly, gone is the straight jacketed larger than life father figure – replaced by the irreverent, relaxed and approachable Shahrukh. If Amitabh with his impeccable Hindi had the audience mesmerized, then Shahrukh in complete Bollywood style set the tone right in the first episode itself – even if it meant having a little fun at Big B’s expense! Khan briefly parodied Bachchan’s ornate style of delivery and concluding with a layman’s “Samjhe?” (Got it?)

Another departure from the old, is the conscious effort being made to rope in young viewership. The famous “lock kiya jaye” phrase has been replaced with “freeze kar do”, while “computerji” has been rechristened “Compaq-da”.

While Shahrukh plays on his charm for all its worth, one cannot also miss the nervous energy. And for those still hung up on the Bachchan baritone – you can catch him in the ad breaks as Bachchan’s brand Cadbury happens to be one of KBC'S chief sponsors!