The latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 features IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey. Manoj says that this seems like a dream. He says, “No one ever thought that a show like this based on general knowledge would happen. This show began in 2000 and I was preparing for UPSC back then. We used to stand at the pan shop or roadside eateries, waiting for 9 PM to prepare for the UPSC through the show. There were times when we felt like our preparation was complete. But as soon as you started asking questions, we realized our preparation was far from enough.”
He talks more about his childhood days in Chambal and what prompted him to become IPS officer. He says, “Since Chambal is infamously known for dacoits, we wouldn’t get house after saying we are from Chambal. The biggest challenge was able to study. Usually, there used to be open exams and after 12th everyone would land up with a job. During my exam, there was one teacher, who didn’t allow cheating. I got to know then that there are exams, which if you clear, one could land up with a powerful position. So that’s how I wanted to clear these exams.”
He currently holds IG (Inspector General) position.
Big B also praises Vikrant’s acting in 12th Fail, where he played the role of IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma. He says, “I have spent 12 years in films and also 8-9 years in TV and it has been almost 20 years in the industry and this is the first time I am getting to meet you in person.”
Amitabh Bachchan warmly responded, saying, "It feels like we’ve met many times before. Watching your performances, it feels like you’re one of us, like family."
As Vikrant got to play the role of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, the actor shared, “I can never be like him. The reason I chose to do this film was because a lot of things were similar to my life. After meeting him, if I work hard a lot, only then I would be able to justify his role. I realised Manoj Sir jaise log main jeevan me bahut kam hi dekha hai."
The game begins with question for Rs 1000.
Big B asks how he decided to do this film. Vikrant says, “I didn’t know a book titled 12th Fail existed. The producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra told me to read the book first and then he would give me the script if I liked the book. It was at around 3am, when I kept the book aside and I started crying. That’s when I realised that this story is God send. In the film, it is shown that Manoj’s father comes to meet him for the first time at atta-chakki. There a son becomes the father and the father becomes a son. I am 37 now, I started working from 20-21 yrs old. When I was 17, and I saw my father in a little bit of distressed state, I thought of taking responsibility. That was the only time, my father and I had heart-to-heart talk. I needed some money – Rs 10,000. I had never seen his office. He called me to his office. He didn’t even have a proper desk. There was just a patic chair. There was an ashtray and it was totally full. That day he came home and I asked him everything is fine. We used to stay in 1RK. Dad told me to come downstairs. We had this conversation and I realised that I have to take up the responsibility. So that’s where I connected to Manoj Sir’s story.”
Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 16, hosted by the iconic Amitabh Bachchan, continues to captivate audiences with its engaging quiz format. Contestants from diverse backgrounds get a chance to win life-changing sums of money by answering general knowledge questions across multiple levels.