Sweet (and strong) 16

In the grand finale of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) 15 last December, a teary-eyed Amitabh Bachchan brought down the curtain on the season, saying, "For the last time, I am bidding you all goodbye from this show. Good night." The megastar-host's emotional farewell had sparked rumours that the game show had reached the end of the road. Now, there's good news. The shoot of KBC 16 is underway, and it will start airing from August 12.

Showrunner Arun Sheshkumar tells mid-day that the offering is back on public demand. "There was a lot of ambiguity within the channel, as nobody was talking about the next season. There was a lot of chatter on social media with people wanting [another edition of] KBC, and Mr Bachchan. [So, we're] back on public demand. This season begins with him running into the set, like he does," says Sheshkumar.

Sheshkumar

While the quiz-based show remains the same, the team has introduced new elements, including the Super Sawaal and the Dugnastra. In the latter, the contestant has the power to double their money on any one question, between the sixth and tenth question. New features have also been introduced for viewers playing the game at home. "The creative team wanted to make the show more interesting and captivating. Our viewers are in the age groups of 25 to 65 years. But with KBC 16, we are trying to attract the youth," states Sheshkumar, adding that the set at Film City has been given a new look with the use of vibrant colours.

Despite the changes, the game show's core remains the same - rewarding the knowledgeable. Emphasising that it's not only about contestants who need financial aid, the showrunner says, "Here, importance is given to knowledge. People who have knowledge and can make a difference to their lives by winning are participating."