The legacy of Kaun Banega Crorepati stretches far beyond its flashing lights and lifelines. Behind every memorable moment, every iconic line, stands a team of people whose voices shaped the show. One of them is RD Tailang, the man whose pen gave us phrases that live rent-free in the minds of millions. From “lock kiya jaye” to “afsos galat jawab”, Tailang’s words became part of the country’s language, delivered with unmatched gravitas by Amitabh Bachchan’s legendary baritone.
Tailang remembers the nerves of the first shoot day vividly. Writing for such a colossal star came with its own weight. The entire team, including Bachchan himself, felt the pressure. He recalled how the actor, despite his towering presence, was so tense he asked them to skip the customary “all the best” before cameras rolled because it only made him more anxious. “Then, he walked out, like a lion, and it was a dream come true for me,” Tailang reminisced.
Before KBC, Tailang worked on Movers & Shakers, Shekhar Suman’s popular chat show. When KBC came along, many seasoned writers and journalists auditioned for the role. Thanks to his experience on Movers & Shakers, Tailang knew what lines would suit a host. It turned out, Amitabh Bachchan thought exactly the same. Once selected, Tailang became part of every brainstorming session, rehearsal, and shoot. Seasons rolled on, and suddenly, two and a half decades had gone by.
The journey wasn’t just about scripts and phrases. It transformed careers. “Personally, professionally and financially, KBC has been a huge career boost, giving me more than I could have hoped for,” Tailang admitted. He credited Bachchan for turning simple lines into national catchphrases, much like the actor did with his famous film dialogues over the years.
Language on the show evolved too. Initially, KBC stayed rooted in Hindustani, moving away from typical “Hello, Hi” greetings to a more culturally rich “aadar, aadab, abhinandan, aabhar.” But as years passed and technology crept deeper into daily life, the language had to adapt. “Vilambhana which was acceptable in 2000 will have people wondering what it means today,” Tailang laughed, acknowledging that even Bachchan, at 82, has kept pace with contemporary idioms and expressions.
Tailang insisted that while Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? succeeded globally, the Hindi adaptation resonated uniquely with India. When civil services aspirant Harshvardhan Nawathe became the first crorepati, the studio erupted in celebration. Stories like Rahat Taslim, Babita Tade, and Sushil Kumar proved how everyday people, often dismissed as underdogs, could triumph using homegrown wisdom.
When promotional ideas began to run dry, it was Bachchan who suggested including a daily thought, a nugget of life advice, poetry, or philosophy. These snippets enriched the show and eventually found their way into a book titled Amitabh Ka Khazana, later translated into Soul Curry for You and Me.
KBC briefly saw Shah Rukh Khan step in as host during its third season. Tailang admitted the shift brought its own charm. “Mr Bachchan is like a father figure… Shah Rukh was projected as a dost,” he smiled. Khan’s friendly banter, casual lingo, and youthful energy gave the show a fresh vibe, though it never quite replaced the aura of its original host.
As for rumours about Bachchan’s retirement from KBC, Tailang dismissed them outright. The actor’s emotional sign-off at the end of last season had sparked speculation, but Tailang revealed Bachchan recently visited Sony’s office for rehearsals. “He’s still an integral part of KBC, very charged up about Season 17, and soon people will be asking, ‘Nau baj gaya kya?’” he signed off.
