Bigg Boss 3 will surpass last year's popularity Colors CEO

'Bigg Boss 3' will surpass last year's popularity: Colors CEO

New Delhi, Sep 5(IANS) Though "Bigg Boss" is among the most watched reality shows on Indian television, the latest version featuring Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will see the show surpassing last year's popularity, says Colors TV channel CEO Rajesh Kamat.

"After the tremendous success of 'Bigg Boss' last year, we want to take it to even higher levels this year - in ratings, in novelty and in appeal. With Mr. Bachchan on board, we strongly believe that ?Bigg Boss' this year has all the ingredients to surpass its last year's popularity," Kamat said in a press release.

Amitabh, 66, who created waves in the TV industry as host of superhit game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati", is making a comeback to the small screen after a gap of four years.

His role in "Bigg Boss" has been defined as that of a ?Pop Philosopher', which is a unique concept that will be one of the differentiators of this season.

In this role, Amitabh will bridge the gap between "Bigg Boss" participants and viewers through contextualising events, simplifying emotions as well as analysing developments that happen within the "Bigg Boss" house.

Talking of his association with the show, Amitabh said: "This is one show that has intrigued me immensely as a viewer - its format, its contestants and the psychological battle within the house. That intrigue, coupled with the unique concept that Colors shared with me for this season, excited me to be a part of ?Bigg Boss' this year."

"Bigg Boss" is the Indian version of popular British reality show "Big Brother".

It has celebrity contestants locked into a house under the surveillance of multiple cameras for a period of three months without any contact with the outside world.

In the third season of the show this year, viewers will get to decide who they want to see in the "Bigg Boss" house. Amitabh will be urging viewers through ads to send in their entries, on the basis of which a few celebrities will be approached.

The show will begin in October.

Amitabh Bachchan BigB to host Bigg Boss 3

Big B to host 'Bigg Boss'

Mumbai, Sep 4 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will return to the small screen after a gap of four years to host the third season of Colors' popular reality show "Bigg Boss", a well-placed source confirmed Friday.

" 'Bigg Boss' is set to get bigger. And Amitabh Bachchan is going to take over as host from Shilpa Shetty, who hosted it last season," the source told IANS.

The Indian version of the popular British reality show "Big Brother", "Bigg Boss" will have celebrity contestants locked into a house under the surveillance of multiple cameras for a period of three months without any contact with the outside world.

Periodic eliminations will take place based on voting by housemates and the audiences.

The show is expected to go on air around December.

Big B, who had a super hit stint as the host of "Kaun Banega Crorepati" for two seasons, will be seen on the show on the days of the elimination.

The inaugural "Bigg Boss" show in 2006 had Arshad Warsi as the host.

Amitabh Bachchan starrer Paa to release on Children's Day

Amitabh starrer 'Paa' to release on Children's Day
By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, Sep 4 (IANS) Director R. Balakrishnan, also known as Balki, has decided to release his role-reversal drama "Paa", starring Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, on Nov 13 as a tribute to Childrens Day.

"It's a film about a child within a man and a man within a child. And I can't think of a better tribute to a child than Children's Day," says Balki, who completed shooting the film in England recently.

Balki has shot his two feature films - "Cheeni Kum", an unconventional love story between a 30-plus woman and a 60-plus chef, and now "Paa" - in Britain because he loves the country.

"We shot 'Paa' in my favourite location England. Throughout the stint in Cambridge we were at sea never on land. I love shooting in London. If I have my way, I'd shoot all my films there," he said.

Balki took up the challenge of projecting the Big B like never before in "Paa".

"In 'Cheeni Kum', I really didn't have to do anything. I made him play himself. Here in 'Paa' I had to bring out that child within him which has always been there. We tapped that part of him. It wasn't easy for Amitji to play a child at heart.

"Fortunately, Abhishek and Vidya Balan too are extremely intelligent actors. Vidya has played such a charming mom. Throughout the film they behave as if Amitji is their son. For Abhishek, this was his chance to get even with his dad," said the director.

Any regrets about not casting Tabu again?

"After what she did with Amitji in 'Cheeni Kum', it wasn't possible to cast her in Vidya's role."

Balki is not bothered with how the audience will accept the two actors in reversed roles. "There's no point in making a film if it doesn't push envelopes. I won't do a film that doesn't challenge me and my actors."

Another ongoing leitmotif in Balki's cinema is the music of Ilayaraja.

"He's god. He has been a major source of inspiration. I don't think India has known a better music composer. Sadly one-half of India has not heard him enough."

For "Cheeni Kum" Balki specifically asked Ilayaraja for tunes from his Tamil films.

"I wanted Hindi moviegoers to hear those times. Even in 'Paa' I've transposed some of his South Indian tunes into Hindi. It's not that important to be original. It's more important to do what you believe in," he said.

Balki is miffed that the Big B's Progeria look has been leaked out. "Fortunately that's only a part of his look. No one came on the set to see how he looks on camera. The makeup person was given a computer-generated picture of Amitji. He improvised a lot on that and added traits from real Progeria patients."

Progeria is an extremely rare genetic disease of childhood characterized by dramatic, premature aging.

Paa Movie Stills Photos

Amitabh Bachchan Abhishek Bachchan Vidya Balan

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