Mumbai  (ANI) Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan will be the celebrity host of the fourth edition of the popular Kaun Banega Crorepati show on Indian television.

The superstar replaces another Bollywood giant, Shah Rukh Khan, who had hosted the third season of the reality quiz show.

The 67-year-old actor said that it was an honour to host the most popular international show on Indian television once again.

“Sony feels that there has been a while since show of this kind was brought on the format. There has been lot of experimentation not just in India, but in overseas countries as well, and following those results in the research that they have done, they feel that it is time for Kaun Banega Crorepati to be back again,” said Bachchan.

When asked about how he took out time for a television show from his busy film schedule, the Big-B said that he has no movies at hand at the moment.

“No, I don’t have a film at the moment. I want to concentrate on television. So, no problem of schedule,” he said.

The show will be aired on Sony entertainment television in India.

‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ would go on air before the end of this year. (ANI)

"Sure, confident, lock kiya jaaye?" These words in Big B's 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 today (July 7).



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 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.

http://blog.taragana.com/e/2010/07/08/amitabh-bachchan-to-host-fourth-edition-of-kbc-147161/

http://bollywoodnewsstories.blogspot.com/2010/07/amitabh-bachchan-replaces-srk-on-kbc-4.html