Big B to host 3 more KBC seasons?

Amitabh Bachchan, after completing another successful run of Kaun Banega Crorepati’s seasons four and five in two consecutive years, will start work on the next season in the first quarter of 2012. The show is likely to return between August and October this year.

Amitabh Bachchan, after completing another successful run of Kaun Banega Crorepati’s (KBC) seasons four and five in two consecutive years, will start work on the next season in the first quarter of 2012. The show is likely to return between August and October this year.

News is that as Big B starts working on the promos, photo-shoots and more for season six in the coming months, he is likely to sign a deal for three more seasons (seven to nine). The previous deal, according to trade estimates, brought him roughly Rs 100 crore. And this time, the numbers are likely to be higher.

Our source from Sony Entertainment, the channel that aired the show’s fourth and fifth seasons, and will air the next, claims that the 69-year-old is keen to work with the channel and vice-versa.

“We love working with him and he likes to work with us. KBC is something that’s definitely on the cards for us. The last season of the show performed beyond anyone’s expectations. The ratings and the reviews are evidence. So, we are planning to take the association forward in a big way this year,” adds our source, on the condition of anonymity.

A close associate of the superstar-host also confirms the deal: “He has been popular on the show. And people love to watch, meet and interact with him through it. It has changed so many lives. So, I’m sure Amitji will host a couple of more seasons.”

Siddhartha Basu, head honcho of Big Synergy, the company that produces the show, says, “I only know about Mr Bachchan doing this season.” Sneha Rajani, business head, Sony Entertainment chose not to comment.

However, at the beginning of season five, Amitabh had said, with respect to seasons seven, eight and nine, “It’s something that the channel and the production house have to work out. If they approach me for another season, I’ll think it over. We’ll talk.”