Monday, January 22, 2007

Would Shah Rukh Surpass Amitabh Bachchan in Kaun Banega Crorepati

Ahead of the resuming of popular television show “Kaun Banega Crorepati” sponsored by Star Plus, Shah Rukh Khan is coming with his new job of hosting the show. Though the show was first hosted by Big B Amitabh Bachchan, it is now all about Shah Rukh Khan. So, the analysis between the two Bollywood stars has been started with full stream. About three months ago Shah Rukh Khan starrer Don was released while he played the leading role of Don. The movie was a remake of Don (1978) where Amitabh was the protagonist.

Moneycontrol reported:

Amitabh Bachchan began it at the age of 58, which also happened to be his debut on the small screen. SRK takes the rein, when he is just 41 and it's not his first TV career also. He has already tasted it with Fauji, when he was just 24, and then again with Circus.

Big B had a lot at stake when he took the hot seat. His career was flagging then and his finances in the doldrums in the wake of the collapse of ABCL. KBC resurrected not only his popularity, in fact it brought in a complete turnaround to his career and fortunes.

SRK does not face any such challenge. Rather, he steps into the show when his career is at the pinnacle and if at all people are calling it a big bargain, it's because he risks losing some of his fame, if not fortune, just in case he fails to live up to expectations. But SRK being SRK, it's not only mushkil (difficult) to write him off so easily, it's namunkin (impossible) too!

One score where, many suspect, SRK might slip is the stature and the demi-god image of Big B, which had added an element of reverence and awe to the show. There were occasions when contestants would proclaim that more than their crorepati dreams, it was their longing to be in the company of the Big B which brought them to KBC.

SRK is no demi-god, but then King Khan does carry the charm and appeal that can only be second to that of Big B's. And if Big B was reverence personified, SRK packages all the 'fun and energy', something that is likely to go extremely well with the young. So, it maybe that SRK might bring in a change in the audience profile, but that may not mean lower TRP at all.

It cannot be said before whether Shah Rukh will be able to take the show out of the Bachchan’s image. However, it is true that the show itself has a big attraction in the market but is it really possible to ignore the host’s performance in such a show specially after being started with the legend like Amitabh Bachchan. I hope, the show will get its own image and people will enjoy it.

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