Amitabh Bachchan begins KBC 18 shoot: 'The test starts now'
Synopsis
Amitabh Bachchan has signalled that KBC 18 is no longer in prep — it's in production. With shoot beginning 1 August and a premiere set for 10 August, the 'Sochna Padega' tagline hints at a harder-than-usual season. At 81, Big B's return as host for an 18th run is itself the story.
Key Takeaways
Amitabh Bachchan announced the end of KBC 18 pre-production via his personal blog on 30 July .
Shoot begins on 1 August ; the season premieres on 10 August on Sony Entertainment Television .
The season's promo tagline is 'Sochna Padega' , signalling increased question difficulty.
Bachchan has hosted KBC for all seasons except Season 3 , when Shah Rukh Khan filled in.
KBC is the official Hindi adaptation of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? franchise.
Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has wrapped pre-production on the 18th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) and is set to begin shooting from 1 August, with the season premiere scheduled for 10 August on Sony Entertainment Television. The 81-year-old actor announced the milestone through his personal blog, signalling that the quiz show's preparation phase is firmly behind him.
Big B's Blog Announcement
Sharing a series of photographs from the sets, Bachchan wrote that the final mock rounds had concluded and that production was now taking over. 'The test starts now,' he declared, adding in Hindi: 'Aur is baar jaisa ki hum apne promo mein kehte hain, jara sochna padega!!' — loosely translated as, 'And this time, as we say in our promos, you'll have to think a little harder.'
The blog post also touched on Guru Purnima, with Bachchan acknowledging the flood of messages from fans. He wrote: 'To all that have, through their extreme generosity, expressed their greeting on the auspicious Guru Purnima, I reciprocate them with gratitude and love.' He humorously sought forgiveness for being unable to reply individually, noting that the volume of messages left him torn between responding and working.
About KBC Season 18
Kaun Banega Crorepati is the official Hindi adaptation of the globally recognised Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? franchise. Contestants face multiple-choice questions of escalating difficulty, supported by lifelines when they are unsure of an answer. Bachchan has hosted the show for virtually its entire run — the sole exception being Season 3, when Shah Rukh Khan stepped in as host.
This season's promo tagline, 'Sochna Padega' (You'll have to think), suggests a deliberate uptick in question difficulty, a signal the makers appear to be leaning into as a marketing hook.
Why This Season Matters
KBC remains one of Indian television's most enduring prime-time properties, with Bachchan's presence considered central to its identity. His return for an 18th consecutive hosting stint (barring Season 3) underlines both the show's institutional status and the actor's continued commercial pull well into his eighties. Notably, this announcement comes ahead of the traditional festive-season television window, when viewership and advertiser interest peak.
What to Watch
The season premieres on 10 August on Sony Entertainment Television. Audiences and advertisers alike will be watching whether the harder question format translates into stronger engagement numbers — and whether the 'Sochna Padega' promise holds up on screen.
Point of View
The show pre-empts fatigue criticism and resets audience expectations ahead of a competitive festive-season slot. What mainstream coverage underplays is that this is Bachchan's 17th hosting stint at an age when most contemporaries have stepped back entirely — that longevity is itself a programming asset Sony is banking on.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does KBC Season 18 premiere?
KBC Season 18 is set to premiere on 10 August on Sony Entertainment Television. Amitabh Bachchan begins shooting for the season from 1 August.
What is the theme or tagline of KBC 18?
The season's promotional tagline is 'Sochna Padega', meaning 'You'll have to think harder.' It suggests the makers are raising the difficulty level of questions compared to previous seasons.
Has Amitabh Bachchan always hosted KBC?
Bachchan has hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati for virtually its entire run. The only exception was Season 3, during which Shah Rukh Khan served as host.
What is Kaun Banega Crorepati?
Kaun Banega Crorepati is the official Hindi adaptation of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? franchise. Contestants answer multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty and can use lifelines when uncertain of an answer.
What did Amitabh Bachchan say about KBC 18 on his blog?
Bachchan shared photographs from the sets and wrote that the final mock rounds had concluded and that 'the test starts now.' He also acknowledged Guru Purnima greetings from fans and humorously apologised for not being able to reply to all messages.
