SMALL SCREEN TURNS BIG!

Several big stars made an impact on the television with their respective shows.

SMALL IS BIG: (Clockwise)

Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra,

Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Amitabh Bachchan.

TELEVISION was ‘big this year. It got its’ touch of glamour and oomph with the reigning stars of Bollywood hosting various shows on the small screen. While Priyanka Chopra as the host of Khatron ke Khiladi brought in the glam quotient, Salman Khan as the host of Bigg Boss Season 4 was hot property. Amitabh Bachchan’s charm on the other side of the hot seat of Kaun Banega Crorepati was a class apart, while Akshay Kumar as the master chef of Master Chef India wooed food lovers with his expert advice. The year ended on a glamourous note with the entry of Madhuri Dixit as the judge for the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. 

The rush of Bollywood biggies has received a tremendous welcome. Although Big B’s hot seat garnered the highest TRPs, Salman Khan was loved for his unique style. Television anchor and actor Ronit Roy confesses that he might have missed watching Bigg Boss from Monday to Thursday. But, he made it a point to watch the Friday and Saturday episodes that has Salman Khan as the host. He says, “No one can come closer to Mr Bachchan apart from him. Big B is obviously nothing short of a phenomenon. But Salman has managed to do what others couldn’t. It is because of his trademark style that he has been loved on the television screen.” Agreeing with Ronit Roy is television actor Aamir Ali, “Both of them were wonderful in their respective shows. I am happy Big B was back on KBC. I didn’t like him as the host of Bigg Boss as it didn’t go with his persona and style. A m i t ab h Bachchan and Salman Khan got the kind of shows that they could completely justify. Salman wooed all with his charm and style and Amitabh Bachchan with his class.”

Salman, in particular, seems to have floored all the girls with his signature dance style and humour. Television actress Urvashi Dholakia explains, “People can relate to his style. His frank nature, and also the fact that he is a natural, work in his favour. It didn’t seem like he was reading out of a tele-prompter. It felt real.” Television host Mini Mathur says, “Hosting is not about being smart and cute. I think Mr Bachchan truly justified his role as the host of KBC. Others seemed to be just eyeball grabbers.”

But television host Manish Paul feels that each actor brought in his own individual style to the small screen. He says, “All were good. Akshay as a host of the cookery show is great as he has his own experiences. Big B with his personal touch and connect was superb. But I think Madhuri Dixit on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa beats them all. I got a chance to dance with her as a host once and, trust me, I was smiling all day.” Ask him who was the better host amongst Priyanka and Akshay for Khatron ke Khiladi and he is quick to reply, “Akshay is the original Khiladi. No one can replace him.” The influx of Bollywood biggies on the small screen has been a super hit. While some might have just missed making a big mark, nobody is complaining!