Madhuri Dixit returns as TV host after 24 years for Marathi KBC

Actor Madhuri Dixit is set to host Sony Marathi's Kon Honar Crorepati, marking her return to television hosting after Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai in 2022.

In Short

• Madhuri Dixit to host Aata Khel Badalnar
• Dixit said the show celebrates curiosity, aspiration, hope and perseverance
• She first hosted the 2002 reality show Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai

Actor Madhuri Dixit will be returning to television as a host after 24 years. The actor has been confirmed as the new face of Kon Honar Crorepati, the Marathi adaptation of the popular Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati) format.

Talking about her new role, the 59-year-old actor shared, "I am truly honoured to be part of a show that inspires people through the power of knowledge and determination. For me, Kon Honar Crorepati is much more than a quiz show. It celebrates curiosity, aspiration, hope and the courage to dream. As a proud Maharashtrian, I am excited to meet contestants, hear their extraordinary stories and witness their dreams unfold on the iconic hot seat. I look forward to sharing this incredible journey with audiences while celebrating the true spirit of knowledge and perseverance."

The show comes with the theme ‘Aata Khel Badalnar’ (Now the game will change), signalling a new chapter for the popular quiz format. For Madhuri, however, this is not her first time behind the television host’s desk. In fact, her association with television goes back more than two decades.

In 2002, the Maa Behen actor hosted Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai on Sony Entertainment Television, a reality show centred around arranged marriages. The actor played matchmaker as prospective brides and grooms met on the show, long before matrimonial reality television became the phenomenon it is today. She later became a familiar face on reality television as a judge on dance shows, most notably Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Dance Deewane.

Kon Honar Crorepati is based on the international Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? format, which became a television phenomenon in India with Kaun Banega Crorepati. Amitabh Bachchan has been synonymous with KBC for more than two decades, having hosted almost every season since the show premiered in 2000, barring the third season, when Shah Rukh Khan took over.

Big B's KBC stint also changed the perception of what a quiz show could be on Indian television. It was never just about answering questions. The contestants’ stories, their nerves and their emotional reactions became as important as the money at stake.

Kon Honar Crorepati has had its own share of popular hosts over the years, including Sachin Khedekar, Swapnil Joshi and Nagraj Manjule. Madhuri now takes over the hot seat with the challenge of bringing her own personality to a format that audiences are already familiar with. She is also the second woman, after Radhikaa Sarathkumar (Tamil), to host this show in India.

Kon Honar Crorepati is set to premiere soon on Sony Marathi and Sony LIV.

- Ends