Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan honoured the extraordinary journey of Dr. Prachi Rathod, a transgender medical professional, on the latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 18, airing on Sony Entertainment Television. Rathod's candid account of gender transition, family estrangement, and professional discrimination moved both the host and viewers.

Prachi's Journey: From Rejection to the Doctor's Chair

During the episode, Dr. Prachi Rathod recounted how her family initially stood by her but ultimately struggled to accept her transition. 'Sir, obviously, ever since childhood, until I told my family that I wanted to undergo this transformation, my parents, siblings and the entire family were there for me. But somewhere, they refused to accept me,' she said.

Rathod found an alternative support network within Hyderabad's transgender community, which is organised into six havelis (community households). She identified herself as the daughter of the largest among them. 'This community accepted me, and that encouraged me,' she said.

Employment Barriers After Transition

Despite completing her medical degree, Dr. Rathod described facing persistent discrimination in the job market. 'I applied with my resume, went for interviews and made every effort, but somewhere, because of my gender, people refused to accept me,' she told Bachchan on the show. The community elders, she noted, urged her to persevere: 'They told me to continue my education, move forward in life and fulfil the dreams my father had for me.'

Bachchan's Tribute on National Television

Visibly moved, Amitabh Bachchan offered a heartfelt tribute in Hindi: 'Prachiji hum samaj sakte hain aapke jeevan mein bohot saari kathinaaye aayi lekin yeh dekh karke ki aap jijaak nahi rahi hain aur saari duniya bata rahi hain ki aapke sath kya hua aur aapne har kisam ke badlav toh aapne swikaar kiya hain aur aage badi hain aur ek aur baat acchi lagi ki aapne aapki padhai puri ki aur aaj aap doctor ban gayi hain joh logo ka ilaaj karti hain toh iss baat keliye aapko bohot badhai' — meaning, in essence, that he deeply admired her courage in speaking openly, her acceptance of change, and above all, her achievement of becoming a practising doctor.

Significance and Broader Context

Rathod's appearance on one of Indian television's highest-rated prime-time shows brings rare mainstream visibility to the professional struggles faced by transgender individuals in India. Notably, despite the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, employment discrimination against the transgender community remains widely documented. KBC Season 18 is also available for streaming on Sony LIV.