Amitabh Bachchan watches late-night matches with headphones to spare Jaya
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan revealed on 17 August that he and son Abhishek Bachchan have developed an elaborate workaround to watch late-night sports without waking up Jaya Bachchan — a separate television set, strategic bedtime nudges, and headphones to muffle their celebrations. The candid disclosure came during a taping of the quiz reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati, where Big B has been hosting.
The Bachchan Household's Sports Strategy
The moment unfolded when a contestant mentioned that his own wife objects to late-night match-watching — a situation Amitabh confirmed he knows all too well. 'Bilkul aisa hi hota hain, Sir,' the actor said with a laugh, before describing the household arrangement he and Abhishek have quietly put in place.
According to Amitabh, the two persuade Jaya to retire for the night by telling her it is getting very late, after which they settle in to watch matches until the early hours. 'Toh woh jaake sojate hain, aur humlog idhar dekhte hain raat bhar,' he said — roughly translating to: 'She goes off to sleep and we watch here all night.'
Headphones and Low Volume: The Sound Management Plan
Amitabh explained that the bigger challenge is keeping the audio from travelling to other parts of the house. 'Aur kyunki awaaz joh hain wo neeche na jaaye, taaki unko disturbance ho, kabhi-kabhi headphones lagakey sunte hain, dekhte hain ya phir volume kam rakhtein hain,' he said — meaning the duo either plug in headphones or dial the volume down to avoid disturbing anyone sleeping below.
The precaution, he noted, is a deliberate one born of experience — a rare glimpse into the domestic rhythms of one of Bollywood's most celebrated families.
When the Team Wins, Silence Goes Out the Window
The most relatable part of the anecdote came when Amitabh admitted that all the careful planning collapses the moment their team scores. 'Jab humari team jeet jaati hai toh… YEAHHHHHH… aise karkey chillate hain,' he said, mimicking the involuntary shout of celebration.
The outburst, he said, inevitably wakes the rest of the household, who rush out fearing something has gone wrong. Amitabh then has to explain — sheepishly — that the noise was because their team scored a goal or hit a six. The anecdote drew laughter from the KBC set and has since resonated widely with sports fans who share the same domestic predicament.
A Rare Personal Moment on KBC
Amitabh Bachchan has hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati across multiple seasons and is known for weaving personal anecdotes into conversations with contestants. This particular exchange stood out for its warmth and specificity — not a rehearsed story but a spontaneous moment of connection with a contestant describing his own household situation.
The episode is a reminder that even at the highest levels of celebrity, the negotiations of domestic life — who controls the remote, how loud the TV can be, and what happens when your team wins at midnight — are thoroughly universal.