Amitabh To work with Balki Again

Amitabh To work with Balki Again  

Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) He gave an award-winning performance as a progeric child in R. Balakrishnan's (Balki) hit film "Paa" and now Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is planning to work with him again.

"Sitting with RBalki is always a refreshing experience and this evening we talked of so many issues and so many film possibilities and so many stories that need to be made.

"He narrated four-five ideas and they were all fantastic. Problem is which one to start, and start first," Amitabh posted on his blog.

Amitabh worked with Balki in "Paa" and "Cheeni Kum".

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Big B Interview on KBC

I was merely a fortunate bystander: Big B on KBC (Interview)  

By Subhash K. Jha 

Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan, who is set to host "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC) for the third time, refuses to take credit for turning the game show into a phenomenon when it was launched in 2000 with him as the host.

"I was merely a fortunate bystander that climbed on to the KBC joy ride. I am happy that it worked," Amitabh, 67, said. 

He feels the show worked because "KBC conceptually was brilliant in its design. There was drama, learning, suspense and thrills all rolled into one. Its presentation was something that had been pioneering for Indian television. All these factors worked in its favour".

The fourth season will go on air before the year ends. 

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: You are back on KBC though on a different channel this time. What made you agree to host the show a third time?

A: Sony TV now has the rights for KBC and they approached me. They shared with me their research and the changes that they wished to incorporate in the show and I agreed. 

Q: Earlier you also hosted "Bigg Boss". Doesn't television eat into the precious time that you have for movies?

A; No it does not. The schedules get planned accordingly and film and TV get different slots and it all works out. I was also not shooting any film during the time of "Bigg Boss" and its very likely that for KBC also the film shoot shall begin after the season is over. But even if it were not to, adjustments in dates would be made and incorporated.

Q: KBC changed the relationship between cinema and television forever. No other game show since then has had the same impact. Do you in some ways, feel responsible for bringing cinema closer to the home medium?

A: That is too large a credit that you put on my shoulders. Innovators of the game show, its presenters and broadcasters and then the public are the ones that decide what shall work and how. I was merely a fortunate bystander that climbed on to the KBC joy ride. I am happy that it worked. This is not the first example of such a fusion. It has happened many times before, both here and in the West.

Q: Not too many television shows after KBC featuring your colleagues have seen the success of KBC. Why do you think KBC remains one of its kind?

A: I would firstly disagree that shows featuring my colleagues were not successful or as large as KBC. They have all done well - Shah Rukh (Khan), Salman (Khan) and several others have all had their value and continue to have their importance. 

KBC conceptually was brilliant in its design. There was drama, learning, suspense and thrills all rolled into one. Its presentation was something that had been pioneering for Indian television. All these factors worked in its favor.

Q: You've done two seasons of KBC. How would Season 3 be different?

A: Its host and anchor is 10 years older and wears glasses!!

Q: Your connect with the home viewing audience has proven to be exceptional. How do you intend to carry that connectivity forward this time?

A: The format of the show is binding by contract, but yes, there are some innovations that will be different from the earlier one. The channel does not wish me to disclose this right now. They wish to bring that up at an appropriate time.

Q: Anil Kapoor played KBC host in "Slumdog Millionaire". Do you think he did the role well?

A: Yes, he was very good.

Q: You've so far done only non-fiction on television. Are you at all tempted to take up one of the many soaps that are being offered to you?

A: There has not been a concrete proposal to do a soap, but if there were to be one I would not mind considering it.

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Amitabh Bachchan KBC Season 4 Press Meet

Amitabh Bachchan KBC Season 4 Press Meet

DESCRIPTION:	Amitabh Bachchan held a special press conference to announce the opening of the much awaited game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 4' in Mumbai. Here's bringing you some highlights from his interaction with the media.

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Amitabh Bachchan to say Lock kiya jaaye on KBC again

Amitabh to say 'Lock kiya jaaye' on 'KBC' again  

Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) "Sure, confident, lock kiya jaaye?" These words in Amitabh Bachchan resounding voice will be heard on TV once again with the megastar all set to return with the fourth season of the popular game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC).

"I am glad to be back with 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'. It is always a great pleasure to be associated with BIG Synergy," Amitabh said at a press conference for the show's official announcement Wednesday.

The show will air on Sony TV before the year ends. 

Based on the British show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?", KBC created history when it was first launched on Star Plus in 2000 with Amitabh as the host. He returned with the second season in 2005, after which superstar Shah Rukh Khan took over the baton in 2007.

Now, Big B, as he is popularly known, is back to charm the audience.

"The language and the typical words that I used in the second season will be the same. There will be no changes in that regard," Amitabh said.

Channel officials, however, said there would be "many changes" in the format and process of the show, details of which would be divulged at a press conference later.

Said Ajit Thakur, business head of Sony TV: "The audition process will be more elaborate and this time the first 10 contestants will be chosen through an on-ground event where Amitabh-ji will engage in a video conference and ask questions."

The channel is confident that the audience will come back to see the show because they have "retained the three pillars of the show".

"The three pillars of 'KBC' are intact. The money - Rs.1 crore - is still a life changing amount for many common people, the knowledge on the show is still useful and of course, Amitabh Bachchan and his presence will always draw audiences. That's why people will still see 'KBC'," said Thakur.

The phone lines for the new season will open in August.  

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Amitabh Bachchan to play himself in new film

Amitabh Bachchan to play himself in new film

Ranjib Mazumder / DNA Wednesday, July 7, 2010 11:01 IST

Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan, who has mesmerised audiences nationwide, will be playing himself in a new movie. The actor will be playing Amitabh Bachchan himself in Karan Razdan's Bhatti on Chutti.

The film stars Anupam Kher who is an obsessed fan of Bachchan.

In the first draft of the film, only the bungalow of Big B was supposed to be shown in the film. But as the film progressed, the makers became ambitious and wanted to get  Bachchan on-board.

So director Karan Razdan and Anupam Kher got in touch with him. And he agreed.

Karan confirms, "Yes, Amitabh Bachchan is there in our film and he is playing himself. This film does celebrate his stardom and the iconic figure he has become. When we approached him for the film, we showed him the five minute cut of the film. And he was sweet enough to act in the film."

However, while shooting for the film, Karan came to know that Big B was impressed with the film. "When we came on the sets to shoot, he took me aside and told me that he was very impressed with the film. Andwhen an actor of his stature tells you something like that, it definitely boosts your morale. I guess he knew that our film's concept is something very new and that's the reason he agreed to endorse it," he says.

Apparently, Big B didn't take a single penny for making a special appearance in his film. "This is between us; Mr Bachchan and me. I don't think I should be talking about the remuneration part," he says.

Anupam Kher plays the titular character who goes on holiday at the Lake District in London and gets entangled in a sinister game.

The comedy of errors reveals other secrets as the story unfolds. 

Since Anupam plays an obsessed fan of Big B, Bachchan inspires him to do some good deeds.