Amitabh Bachchan Quits KBC, Salman Khan New Host?

It has been reported that Salman Khan is likely to replace Amitabh Bachchan as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati. If a recent report by Bollywood Hungama is to be believed, the ‘Bhaijaan’ of Bollywood is in advanced talks with the makers of KBC and if all goes well, he will take over hosting duties from Big B in, now announced, season 17.

“Salman Khan is the king of the small screen, and the best face to replace Amitabh Bachchan is him, as he also has a strong connect with the audience in the smaller centers. Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan has also hosted KBC, and if everything goes well, Salman will be the newest to take the television sets by storm," a source cited by the entertainment portal claimed.

The insider further claimed that Amitabh Bachchan is likely to quit KBC due to “personal reasons". “Get ready to tune into Sony as Salman Khan might host the biggest and most popular quiz show of India,” the source added.

Interestingly, Sony TV announced Kaun Banega Crorepati 17 through a promo video featuring Amitabh Bachchan on April 4. In the promo, Amitabh portrayed a patient with a stomachache, hinting at the show’s return. He revealed that registrations for KBC 17 were open and encouraged fans to register via the Sony LIV app, SMS, or IVR calls. Although the exact premiere date has not been disclosed yet, KBC 17 is expected to air in August.

For the unversed, Amitabh Bachchan has been the host of KBC since its inception in 2000, except for the third season, which was hosted by Shah Rukh Khan. If Salman Khan replaces Big B, it would be interesting to see how audience will accept him as the new host of the quiz show.