For a show that first aired 25 years ago, Kaun Banega Crorepati (Sony Entertainment Television) hasn’t lost its grip on Indian audiences. It’s not because of big production changes or flashy upgrades. In fact, very little has changed. And that’s exactly why it still works.
Season after season, KBC offers something simple: one person, one chair, one shot at changing their life. But it’s never just about the money. It’s about the story behind the person in that hot seat, and the one constant watching over it all is Amitabh Bachchan.
Bachchan isn’t just the host — He is the show
It’s hard to separate KBC from the man who’s led it for nearly all its seasons. Amitabh Bachchan doesn’t treat it like a gig. He treats it like a responsibility. His presence doesn’t overwhelm the format, but it grounds it. He listens when people speak. He gives them time. There’s weight in the way he asks a question, but more so in the way he reacts when a contestant opens up.
That’s where the heart of KBC really lies, not in the quiz mechanics, but in the small, unscripted moments between questions. A nervous smile. A short pause. A personal story told simply. Bachchan doesn’t rush through these. He respects them. And in doing so, he makes everyone watching do the same.
It’s familiar, and that’s the point
KBC doesn’t try to be trendy. It doesn’t reinvent itself every year. The format has stayed mostly intact, and that’s why people trust it. You know what you’re walking into when you tune in. You’re not watching for surprises. You’re watching for connection, with the contestant, with the host, and maybe even with yourself.
There’s comfort in that rhythm. Questions, lifelines, audience reactions — all expected. But it’s who sits across from the host that makes each episode different. A farmer. A student. A nurse. A parent trying to give their child a better life. That’s the part that never gets old.
It’s a show that belongs to its viewers
Bachchan recently said the show feels like sitting with his extended family. That doesn’t sound like a soundbite. It sounds like someone who understands what this show has become, not just a platform, but a shared space.
And that’s why Kaun Banega Crorepati continues to matter. It’s not perfect. It doesn’t need to be. What it does well is listen. It gives people their moments. And sometimes, especially on national television, that’s more than enough.
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