As Kaun Banega Crorepati Turns 25 On July 3, An Unpublished Throwback Interview With Amitabh Bachchan News24 –

How does Kaun Banega Crorepati affect your movie career? It’s being said that the night show is becoming affected by the telecast of Crorepati?

I have heard people saying this. But I disagree. If Crorepati is affecting the movie business, then the films will have to get bigger and better. Cinema has to learn to fight new battles. We’ve overcome bigger hurdles earlier. It’s quite coincidental that I am in Mohabbatein and on Crorepati simultaneously.

Would you agree that Kaun Banega Crorepati is the best role of your career?

I think there’s a difference between my films and my television role, and somewhere down the line audiences will realize this. Whether it’s cinema or television a lot of other people besides me have roles to play. If it wasn’t for the intrinsic merit of the game Crorepati wouldn’t have worked.

Do you enjoy your one-to-one interaction with participants on Crorepati?

Everyday it’s a new experience. Each day there’s someone from a fresh background. Plus, there’s the opportunity to interact with a live audience. I keep meeting all kinds of fans and well-wishers. There have been some very emotional interactions with such people. God! There are so many memories of interactions with fans. During the time I was ill in hospital, the outpouring of affection was unforgettable. That’s an experience I’d never forget.

A section of the media had predicted your downfall when you decided to do Crorepati?

You know it’s the media’s job to write. They’re doing their job. In 1980 Devyani Chaubal had said the sun had set for Amitabh Bachchan after she saw Lawaaris. God bless her soul. This is what life is about. It throws challenges all the times. It provides new opportunities every day. I’d like to believe every day has been a new learning experience for me.  But I’m excited about being in this profession. Every day is a struggle. I’m very excited by the way life has treated me. And the excitement of the actor is very different from the excitement of the journalist. The media will always be writing about what’s happening in our lives. If we don’t do things, they won’t be able to write. Their writing is dependent on what we do. Both professions are equally challenging. Life is no less difficult for either of us.

Has the volume of fans increased after Crorepati?

They still come to my house in the evenings. And I meet them, yes(softly). I don’t think the number of fans increases or decreases due to my economic or commercial standing. They come out of an unconditional affection for me. I’m just thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to reach out to the younger generations through Kaun Banega Crorepati. I consider myself very fortunate. I‘m sure any anchor would have succeeded, given the format and technical polish.

How do you think the arrival of Govinda and his game show Kaun Banega Crorepati affects Kaun Banega Crorepati?

I believe there’s room for not one or two, but several game shows on Indian television. The atmosphere on Jeeto Chappad Phaad Ke is lighter. Some gifts are being offered.

But when we have Mr Amitabh Bachchan as host contestants don’t crave for gifts.

With the money a contestant makes in KBC he or she can go out and buy those gifts. But yes, KBC hasn’t gone into gifts.

Has KBC decided to go for weekend broadcasting to combat the threat from Jeeto Chappad Phaad Ke?

I don’t know. We did one celebrity show with Madhuri Dixit and Sachin Tendulkar over the weekend. But I really can’t say anything more about the programming and marketing. We’re now going to have a series of special featuring married couples, also kids in the mornings over the weekend. We are all geared up for that now.

Neither Zee’s Sawaal Dus Crore Ka nor Sony’s Jeeto Chappad Ke has made any dent in the popularity of KBC?

Govinda is a very consummate artiste. I’m sure he’ll be putting in a lot of innovations in his anchoring. I guess there’s  room for Chappad Phaad Ke and at least a couple of other game shows on the same lines.  Of course KBC had the advantage of being the first one out. I’m not a television strategist but  I feel  other game shows have to  come up with  innovations. As far as our show is concerned we’ll continue to come up with special segments .

Has KBC changed your life drastically?

I wouldn’t say that. Television was one of my new areas of interest during the past year. I was apprehensive about going into the home medium. A lot of my friends advised me against it, out of genuine concern. I went ahead and did it. Fortunately, it turned out well. Yes. I’m busier than before, though the days and hours of work remain unchanged. Only the nature of work has changed. Television and cinema are completely different mediums. There’s no written script for KBC.

You‘ve also proved yourself wonderful with children on Junior KBC. Do children need special handling?

Yes, they have to be treated in a particular way, and I make an effort to do that. But it isn’t really difficult. The initial process of disciplining takes place during rehearsals. Children are perhaps a little more impatient. But in all other details, the children’s KBC is no harder or easier than the regular KBC.

What do you feel when fans on the show connect so warmly with you?

It shows their genuine love and affection for me. I truly appreciate that. I’m indebted to them for being with me for so long. I just hope I continue to make them happy with my work.

A reputed columnist like the late Behram Contractor (Busybee) started by lashing out at KBC and then he revised his opinion drastically.

That was very brave of him. For a reputed journalist to go back on his words requires a lot of effort. There are very few journalists who do that. One has to be extremely brave to eat humble pie and correct one’s attitude.