GECs
‘KBC’ to come back July, say Nair, AB
MUMBAI: The cash registers are going to start ringing in July. The telephone lines are going to start humming once again. Star is bringing back its runaway success, the Amitabh Bachchan-hosted game show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in July, possibly with more prize money.
Confirming this to indiantelevision.com, Star India chief operating officer Sameer .Nair said pre-production is slated to start in February.
“We have a balance of 85 episodes with Bachchan. We can also do more,” he said. Bachchan’s existing contract with Star was for 390 episodes.
On being queried whether the prize money would remain the same, Nair said “it may be more.” The show, which changed the fortunes of Star Plus, used to hand over a maximum award of Rs 1 crore (10 million) to the winner.
But would there be any change from the original KBC, which was launched on 3 July 2000 and which went off the air in 2002? “It is too early to state anything definite now,” said Nair. Though the basic format of the show taken from Who Wants to be a Millionaire can’t change, Star could introduce some element of novelty to revive its popularity which started waning towards the end before being put off air.
KBC 2005 will continue to be produced by Siddharth Basu’s Synergy Communications.
Bachchan had earlier confirmed to 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 has told Jha.
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
