Mumbai: Star Chief Executive Officer, Samir Nair, is confident that actor Shah Rukh Khan will step into Amitabh Bachchan's shoes with ease when he takes over as the new host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), which goes on air from mid-January next year.
"I think Shah Rukh will do a fantastic job. He'll bring his own unique charm to the show. Like Mr Bachchan, Shah Rukh is smart and bright. We all remember the celebrity episode on KBC, which he did.
It was one of our best episodes. He brought his own encyclopedia, did his research and almost won the crore. He'll bring a new spin to the show," Nair said.
Nair attributes this startling change of guard to the original host's busy schedules.
"We pursued Mr Bachchan for months. But he didn't seem to be very enthusiastic. In the meantime we acquired KBC rights in the season-format for years whereby we had to have the show on air for 52 episodes every year, or our rights lapsed. We just had to take a call,” he said.
Shah Rukh is apparently very kicked by the game show and there seems to be a hurry to go on air.
"It's very simple. We do it before or after the World Cup. We're doing it before. I've a window of opportunity available now, why not? So, the question, will anyone be able to live up to Mr Bachchan's reputation on the host's seat? I don't think we need to compare the two. It's like James Bond. You can't compare Sean Connery with Daniel Craig, or the two Dons."
Finally, what sort of fee has exchanged hands? "It's adequate," said Nair. Was it as adequate as it was for Mr Bachchan? "Yes, more than adequate," he ensured.
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