Mumbai, Aug 23: Amitabh Bachchan is back, charming audiences as he hosts the 15th season of the iconic game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). The latest season premiered on August 14th on Sony TV and has been captivating viewers with its unique mix of knowledge, entertainment, and heart-touching stories.
In the sixth episode, which aired on August 22nd, Big B, as he’s affectionately known, began by welcoming Kunal Sinh Dodia, the rollover contestant, to the hot seat. However, before diving into the quiz, he took a moment to share his heartfelt wishes for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Four years have passed since the Chandrayaan-2 mission, and now, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for another lunar exploration endeavor. On the evening of August 22, the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s Lander Vikram, currently in orbit around the Moon, is set to begin its slow and calculated descent onto the lunar surface.
Amitabh Bachchan commenced the KBC 15 episode on August 22 by expressing his best wishes for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. In a poetic and touching manner, he recited a few lines about Vikram, the lander, finally meeting ‘Chanda Mama’ (the Moon). He said, “Tomorrow evening, when the Moon rises, our nation’s footprint will be etched on its surface. Tomorrow, our Chandrayaan-3 will reach the home of our ‘Maama,’ that is, Chanda Mama. Tomorrow, the Moon of our childhood stories, the Moon of lovers’ faces, the Moon of fasts and festivals, will be within our country’s reach.”
Big B continued, “This achievement is a message for every citizen of this country that our nation has taken a significant step, and now it’s our turn to do something.” He concluded by offering a prayer for the success of Chandrayaan-3 and then resumed the game with Kunal.
In this episode, Amitabh Bachchan, who serves as UNICEF’s brand ambassador against polio, revealed how he came to take on this crucial role. He recounted that he was chosen due to his iconic ‘angry young man’ image, which resonated with the campaign’s objectives.
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When the second contestant, Yogesh Kalra from Gurugram, Haryana, took the hot seat, he shared that he had served in the Indian Army for 22 years. During the game, Amitabh Bachchan read out a question related to polio, prompting him to share an intriguing anecdote about how his ‘angry young man’ persona played a pivotal role in his appointment as the brand ambassador for polio eradication.
Amitabh Bachchan explained, “It was an honor to be a part of the polio campaign. We worked diligently for eight years and faced numerous challenges. Initially, our campaign wasn’t very successful because people had misconceptions about the drops. I remember my creative director, Piyush Pande, suggested that instead of requesting people to take polio drops, I should get angry. He said my image in films is that of an angry young man, so I should bring that to life in the campaign. He said, ‘In the next campaign, you should scold.'”
Big B further shared that when WHO officials visited a village in India and asked a woman why she decided to vaccinate her child, her response was, “Amitabh ji was getting upset, so we did it.”
‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 15’ airs from Monday to Friday at 9 pm on Sony TV, and it can also be streamed on the SonyLIV app. This season has introduced some format changes, including ‘Super Sandook,’ which allows contestants to retrieve what they may have lost during the game, a new lifeline called ‘Double Dip,’ and an audience participation element called ‘Desh Ka Sawal.’ These additions have enhanced the excitement and engagement of the show, making it a must-watch for fans of KBC and Amitabh Bachchan alike.
