Colors ropes in Amitabh Bachchan for third season of Bigg Boss

Colors has roped in Amitabh Bachchan for the third season of the show Bigg Boss. The promos announcing Bachchan’s association with Bigg Boss will break on Colors starting September 7th 2009.

The new season of the reality show will have Bachchan playing the role of ‘Pop Philosopher,’ which the channel hopes will be a significant differentiator for the new season. Bachchan will be the link between the show’s participants and its viewers, analysing developments that happen within the ‘Bigg Boss’ house. The show features 14 handpicked strangers, locked in a house for close to 85 days – with 35 cameras following their every move every minute of the day.

Rajesh Kamat (pictured, right), CEO, Colors said, “We want to take Bigg Boss to an even higher level this year – in ratings, in novelty and in appeal. With Mr. Bachchan on board playing the ‘Pop Philosopher’, we believe that ‘Bigg Boss’ this year has all the ingredients to surpass last year’s popularity. It is our honour to have Mr. Bachchan on-board and we look forward to him providing his inimitable touch to one of our most popular format shows.”

Talking of his association with ‘Bigg Boss’, Bachchan commented, “This is one show that has intrigued me immensely as a viewer – its format, its contestants and the psychological battle within the house. That intrigue, coupled with the unique concept that Colors shared with me for this season, excited me to be a part of ‘Bigg Boss’ this year.”

The new season will offer viewers the chance to decide who they would like to see in the Bigg Boss house. Bachchan will urge the viewers to send in their entries and on that basis, the channel will try and get a few of those personalities into the Bigg Boss house.

Kamat added, “While last year Bigg Boss helped us sustain the momentum and inch closer to the category leaders, this year, Bigg Boss is a part of our effort to strengthen our leadership position and increase the gap with other players.”

Asiya Bakht from Campaign India’s sister title Media magazine interviewed Amitabh Bachchan in Singapore where the actor spoke about his association with the show and the impact that he hopes to make with it.

Excerpts from the interview:

How did Colors persuade you to be a part of the show?
I did not need persuasion. They were keen that I work on this show and came to me with this concept. I was interested in knowing what I could add to the show, and that’s what prompted to me to come on board. I thought there would be a barrage of human interest angles and it will be interesting to absorb it, understand it and share it not only with contestants but with the public at large.

I felt that some kind of moral and social values may come out of it. We are not trying to educate people or influence them with our philosophy, we will be responding to situations as they unfold in front of the camera. I will have the chance to assess the situation and answer a few questions. For instance, why did a gentleman behave in this manner, could he have behaved differently? And perhaps in the prcoess, change the thinking of this gentleman or the people who are watching the show. In the light of what I have been doing for the last few years, I thought there could be some kind of a moral dignity that could go along with this.

Are you daunted at the prospect?
Creative work is always daunting. Even now when I go in front of the camera there are butterflies in my stomach; apprehension as well as the desire to excel, to be able to do good. Obviously its challenging, but I will be representing a channel that has seen prominence and will be associated with a show that has witnessed a certain amount of popularity.

Are reality shows going too far?
Our country follows a certain code of conduct which is governed by the government and the constitution. We have a censor board which is the regulatory board. Discussion and debate is always good in any kind of democacracy.

What sort of an impact are you looking to make with this show?
I have never looked at myself as some sort of a messiah. I will hope to do the job as efficiently as it is briefed to me and hope that people will like it.

What was the clinching factor for you regarding the show?
Bigg Boss is a very popular format and Colors is a channel which has grown exponentially in a short span of time so obviously they are doing something extremely good. It is good to be associated with them.