A M I
T A B H B A C H C H A N
"It's
Really Frightening" Slickly
dressed and resolutely dignified, Bachchan has brought class to TV --
director Siddharth Basu likens him to a Rolls-Royce. By all accounts, his
latest avatar is a hit. In between appointments at his suburban office, Bachchan
talked to Associate Editor V.
Shankar Aiyar and Special Correspondent Anupama
Chopra about the move to TV, the agonies of
anchoring and what his family thinks.
Q. What is it like to be a TV host?
A. It's really frightening. It's something new for me. There's no
script like there is in films. So you have to really have your wits about
you. You can go for a retake but it's not fair to the contestant. It's
tough. You have to remember a lot of things like entry points, the
teleprompter. It's very involving and interesting.
Q. Why are you doing it?
A. The format is really interesting. The Star people sent me loads and
loads of detailed literature. They took me to London. I was amazed at the
show there -- it was so systematic and hi-tech. Even during the break,
they had a stand-up comic to entertain the audience. It showed the
temperament of the show. I said, if you can recreate this here, it's worth
doing. And credit to them, they got it down to the last millimetre. It's
entertainment. I've been doing so many things, so why not this?
Q. Was your acceptance a monetary
decision?
A. No, of course not.
Q. It is rumoured that you opted to do
this TV show to get out of financial problems.
A. My financial problems have to do with the company, that is ABCL.
This is not related to that at all. In any case, the company's problems
have all been cleared. This was a purely professional decision.
Q. Did your family and friends support
you in this decision?
A. A lot of people said, 'Are you mad?' But this is something unique.
I am not acting. I'm playing myself. And it wasn't going to take up so
much time. I shoot 6-7 days in the month so that leaves me with three
weeks to pursue my film career. We discussed things and there was a bit of
yes and a bit of no, and then eventually, I took my own decision.
Q. But you are an icon. Will appearing
on television four days a week affect the star mystique?
A. I have never believed there is any myth about me. I'm just another
man. I've been asked to do a show and am doing it. My job is to perform in
front of a camera. That's it.
Q. Does being on TV help film acting at
all?
A. No, they are really two different worlds. The atmosphere is very
different. To start with, KBC has an air-conditioned floor, which in films
is a rarity.
Q. How many films are you doing?
A. I'm doing five-six films.
Q. Did any of your producers or
directors object to you doing KBC?
A: No, none of my directors advised me against it. In fact, Aditya
Chopra and Karan Johar called to say that they really liked the show.
Q. In the first few shows, you seemed to
intimidate the contestant by asking 'Are you sure?' Is that your brief?
A. Actually, that's part of the game. I have to ask this before I lock
the answer. It may seem I'm disturbing the contestant but it also helps.
Sometimes they change their minds and select the right answer.
Q. What do you think really works about
KBC?
A. The beauty of the show is that even the common man can get in.
Something like Mastermind sends very elitist signals. But here it's a nice
mix. We had a typical bhaiya from Uttar Pradesh and someone from
Bulandshahr. And I'm surprised at the acumen of some of the contestants.
My general knowledge is pretty poor. There are many sections in Indian
society and KBC gives an equal opportunity to all. The questions get
tougher as the prize money gets higher but at Rs 50 lakh, it's not going
to be cheap.
Q. So all in all, has television been a
good experience?
A. I don't know if it is good or bad. I've made a commitment and I'll
see it through. In films, you know you've given a bad shot but here it's
difficult to say. On television, I don't know how I'm doing. Several
people called to say they liked it but I don't know. It's really
frightening.
|
PETER
MUKERJEA
CEO, STAR TV
"This is not About Money" |
| When he took
over as CEO of Star TV last year, Mukerjea described change as being
"essential for creativity and survival". Over the months,
he has sought to alter Star's image and KBC is his clarion call to
other channels. In an interview with Associate Editor V.
Shankar Aiyar, he speaks of how the show is only the tip
of the iceberg. Excerpts:
Q. What's the
big idea behind KBC?
A. We were the pioneers in satellite TV. We were number one. My
mission is to get back to number one in terms of image, ratings and
revenue.
Q. What do you
hope to achieve?
A. A show like this has the capacity to invoke viewers, create a
sense of participation and through that achieve my mission.
Q. Isn't this
a big gamble?
A. I am not a gambler. I am a marketing man. I study consumer
behaviour patterns, look at opportunities and maximise the returns.
Q. Isn't it
all finally a ratings game for revenue?
A. To me this is not about money. Ratings and revenue are a
byproduct. The moot point is that Star TV gets elevated to a
position of leadership.
Q. But is this
worth the money that you are spending?
A. Yes. Each episode of X-Files costs over a million dollars. Indian
TV has to rise out of the Rs 7-8 lakh bracket. Mediocrity is passe.
This is just an indication of what is to come.
Q. But isn't
recovery an issue?
A. We have to stop looking at television entertainment on a
per-episode basis. We intend to create value around production
quality. Look at the licensing and merchandising that accompanies
Baywatch or Ally McBeal. This can happen here also.
Q. You sound
almost evangelical?
A. I am. I passionately believe Indians are a global community. We
have to adopt a global approach. |
|
