ITV

Tag: Amitabh Bachchan’s

  • Gameshow Jodi Kamaal Ki to replace KBC 2

    MUMBAI: Anchor Amitabh Bachchan’s inability to resume shooting due to ill-health has pulled the plug on the Star Plus gameshow Kaun Banega Crorepati 2 (KBC 2). Replacing KBC2 in the Saturday-Sunday slots will be another gameshow Jodi Kamaal Ki. 
    Produced by Creative Eye, Jodi Kamaal Ki is an entertainment-oriented one-hour gameshow featuring celebrity couples. Reportedly, soap star Rakshanda Khan has been roped in to anchor the show.


    As per the stop-gap arrangement, soaps Miillee and Kkavyanjali will substitute KBC 2 on Fridays.
    What makes it necessary for Star India to hurry up its replacement plans — instead of re-running the old KBC 2 episodes — is the need for a strong property to sustain its weekend band. As expected, KBC 2 had beefed up Star Plus’ position in the weekends, but the unfortunate turn of events following Bachchan’s illness went against the strategies.
    However, when the Sagars’ Prithiviraj Chauhan and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s yet-to-be named sitcom arrive, the plans may change again. These were the two big ticket shows, which were originally scheduled to replace KBC 2.
    “It will take some time for us to announce the complete plans. Presently, we are engaged in preparations of drawing a strong programming line up for the weekends,” states Star India EVP Ajay Vidyasagar. 
    Star Plus presently telecasts re-runs of KBC2 in the 9 pm – 10 pm slot on Fridays and Saturdays as it exhausted its fresh bank of KBC2 episodes following Bachchan’s illness. Bachchan, who had a commitment to shoot 85 episodes of KBC2, could complete only 61 episodes before he was hospitalised.

  • KBC2 to continue, with re-runs

    MUMBAI: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s sudden illness has finally cast its shadow over the popular KBC2, the second edition of the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
    The game show, which not only turned around Star India’s fortune the first time it ran in 2000, also proved umeed se dugna (double the expectation) in popularity in its second innings.
    The reason is obvious: anchor Bachchan, originally committed to shoot 85 episodes, is unable to continue shooting after his recent illness.
    “Next week KBC2 airs its 61st episode, on Friday 13 January, which brings us to the end of our current bank of episodes,” an official communication from Star India said today.
    So, what next? “We are planning out things. Presently, I have no comments to offer. We will get back to you soon with our decision,” Star India COO Sameer Nair told Indiantelevision.com.
    The official Star communication quoted Star India EVP content Deepak Segal as saying, “We have devised a mix of fresh KBC2 episodes and Hero Honda 12th Annual Star Screen Awards to provide complete entertainment for the next two weekends. Post that we are working things out and will have our plan in place by early next week.”
    So, here is the plan for the next two weeks. Star Plus will telecast the 60th episode — the second last episode that Bachchan shot before he was indisposed — on Friday 6 January. Star Screen Awards will take over for Saturday, 7 January, when the channel will showcase Star Screen Awards – Best of Part 2.
    The Red Carpet of Star Screen Awards will be aired at 9 pm on Saturday 14 January with the main event following on Sunday (15 January) from 7 pm onwards. In short, viewers will get to watch the remaining fresh episodes of KBC2 on 6 and 13 January.
    Star India had re-scheduled its popular game show following Bachchan’s illness to twice a week (Friday & Saturday) instead of the original thrice a week run with effect from 2 December. In between, the channel also re-ran celebrity episodes.
    But “don’t worry,” consoles the official Star release, “Star Plus will be back with Umeed Se Dugna.”

    Also read:

    Amitabh effect: ‘KBC 2’ to air twice a week