GECs
‘KBC’ 2005 to offer Rs 20 million prize money
MUMBAI: Whether the cash registers are going to start ringing again for Star will be known in due course, but what is certain is that participants of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) 2005 can look forward to twice the winnings of the original.
Star Plus is bringing back its runaway success and Amitabh Bachchan hosted show KBC by July and this time round the stakes are going to be higher; twice as high to be precise with the prize money being jacked up to Rs 20 million
Confirming this exclusively to indiantelevision.com, Star network’s executive vice president, content and communications Deepak Sehgal says, “Pre-production work has already started. KBC 2005 will continue to be produced by Siddharth Basu’s Synergy Communications and the production house has already begun the ground work for the show; in terms of scripting, research and setting up the telephone lines which definitely takes a lot of time.”
On being queried about the time slot and launch date of the programme, Sehgal said, “Though I cannot reveal too many details of the show at this point in time; all I can say is that we have a balance of 85 episodes with Mr Bachchan. He has already given us the dates and shooting will start as per the schedule planned.”
As reported earlier, Bachchan had told Subhash K Jha, a columnist with indiantelevision.com, that KBC was being revived in July. “I kept shifting the date because of my film commitments. But now I don’t think delaying KBC makes any sense. While I still have my wits I better get down to it. So I’ll make time for KBC in July,” Bachchan told Jha.
KBC, the Indian version of the international hit show Who Wants to be a Millionaire was earlier launched on 3 July, 2000 and went off air in 2002. The show not only propelled the Star network onto the number one slot, but also redefined television viewing in the country. What will be interesting to watch is whether Star introduces some element of novelty (other than the increased prize money) to revive KBC’s popularity which was waning towards the end before being put off air.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
