| MUMBAI:
Talk about making a big play. Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), Star India's
talismanic gameshow, will be back early next year with Bollywood's biggest superstar
Shah Rukh Khan replacing Hindi cinema icon Amitabh Bachchan as host. Star is pitching the third
season of the hit show as a "Gen Next avatar" to "reach out to
an India where two thirds of the population is below 35".
The contract that Star has signed with Shah Rukh is for two
seasons with an option to extend it further into a third season.
While Star officials have refused to comment on the payout
to the "Bollywood Badshah", Indiantelevision.com
has it from reliable sources that the two-season deal is worth
a whopping $ 7 million (roughly Rs 320 million).
Each season is for 52 episodes, which means that Shah Rukh
has committed to shooting 104 episodes of KBC in all.
It is worth noting that the second season of KBC had
to be aborted after completing only 61 of the contracted 85
episodes due to Bachchan's sudden illness.
Newswire Press Trust of India quoted Star Entertainment India
CEO Sameer Nair as saying, "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."
The show has been slotted in the 9 pm prime time band and
will air Monday through to Thursday every week, the same as
was the case when KBC first came on air. This effectively
means that each season will have a 13-week run.
Nair has been quoted in an official release as saying,
"We are extremely delighted to announce the Next Gen avatar of KBC and
are even more pleased to present Shah Rukh Khan, as its host. We promise to engage
and deliver to our audiences a whole new entertainment experience." Shah
Rukh Khan added, "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...talk and interact with my audience
through a medium where I began my career as an actor years ago. So here's looking
forward to coming round a full circle...guess unlock kiya jaaye." Star
India has signed a five-year contract with Celador for KBC, the Indian
adaptation of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The deal incorporates both
the format and programme license, and is the longest continuing license that has
ever been granted for the globally successful show.
KBC will be produced by Siddhartha Basu's Synergy
Communications. Says Basu, "KBC with SRK will
bring a whole new set of audience to Star Plus. Although I
have been associated with KBC ever since it began,
this is literally a new beginning for me. SRK's wit, energy,
excitement and enthusiasm will rub-off onto all of us and
together as a team we hope to create some magical moments
on television."
($ = Rs 45.30)
| 
