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Shahrukh Khan to host KBC

Shahrukh is to host the new edition of the popular game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', to be aired soon on Star Plus, sources in the channel said.

The sources said the hosting of the KBC, the most popular game show on Indian television till date, by Shahrukh Khan was primarily aimed at reaching out to the "below 35" age group, which today comprise two thirds of the population of India.

Considering that Shah Rukh Khan today commands a huge following among the youngsters in the country, the Channel as well as the producers of ther KBC feel that in his new role of host, the Bollywood 'Baadshah' would help draw to the programme viewership from a whole new set of audiences.

''Kaun Banega Crorepati" has redefined television viewing in India.
KBC is very close to our hearts as it laid the foundation for Star Plus unprecedented domination over the last 6 years. With the Next Gen avatar of KBC with Shah Rukh Khan as its host, we promise to engage and deliver to our audiences a whole new entertainment experience,''Sameer Nair, CEO, STAR Entertainment India, said.

Ms Shailaja Kejriwal, senior creative director of Star India, told UNI that Shah Rukh has been signed for two seasons of KBC of 52 episodes each.

''Star India has signed a 5 year contract with Celador for Kaun Banega Crorepati which gives us a continuing license to run the show for the next five years. Of this, we have already entered into a contract with Shahrukh to host the show for the next two years,''Ms Kejriwal told UNI.
Ms Kejriwal said the replacement of Amitabh Bachchan with Shahrukh Khan as host for the new edition of the KBC came about after Mr Bachchan expressed his disinclination to host the show.
''The channel had approached Mr Bachchan for resumption of the show, but he expressed his disinclination to do the show. While there is no denying that he was instrumental in the show becoming the most popular game show on Indian television, it is time to move on and who better than Shah Rukh Khan to fill his shoes. AFter all, he is the 'Badshah' of Bollywood today,''she said.
Sources said the channel had been in talks with Shah Rukh Khan for over a month now and he expressed his willingness to do the show.

The launching of the new edition of KBC comes almost an year after the show's second season - 'KBC Dwitiya' was pulled off air following Mr Bachchan's illness in November last year and the bank of episodes was exhausted. Speaking to UNI, Mr Siddharth Basu said the contestants who could not make it to the show because it had to be taken off air following Mr Bachchan's illness will get a chance to play with Shah Rukh Khan in the new edition.

Ms Shailaja Kejriwal, senior creative director of Star India, told UNI that Shah Rukh has been signed for two seasons of KBC of 52 episodes each.

Replying to a question on why the host was replaced, Ms Kejriwal said the channel had approached Mr Bachchan for resumption of the show, but he declined.
''So, we went ahead and signed Shah Rukh,'' she said.

Labels: entertainment, national

posted by News India @ 5:52 AM