Siddharth Basu challenges parents

Coming to the choice of Shah Rukh Khan as a host, what made you zero in upon him? Who were the other options you were looking at?

There was only one option and that was SRK! There truly was no other option. I'm being asked whether did I not think of Aamir Khan or Hrithik Roshan who have made hit films with kids. But the fact remains that my first and last choice was SRK… For one, because he was in a contract with Star but more so because he fitted the bill absolutely perfectly! He's witty, charming, can think on his feet, is all for sporty things, and appeals to people across the length and breadth of the country. He’s all that we wanted in a host of Paanchvi Pass!

FIRST LOOK: SRK in Kya Aap Paachvi Pass Se Tez Hain?

But it indeed was a brave decision to take on Shah Rukh after the mixed reactions he had garnered during KBC 3, for not being able to replace Amitabh Bachchan…

I agree but I feel that the negative reactions stemmed out of a failure on the part of a section of the populace to realise that Bachchan's shoe-size is too big to be replaced! What Shah Rukh brought to the show was in itself a whiff of fresh air and for the record; Bachchan himself felt that SRK took KBC to another level altogether. But it’s unfair to expect him to fill up Bachchan's shoes.

For KBC, Shah Rukh underwent a bevy of preparations. Is it the same with Paanchvi Pass?

Yes. Preparations are going on in full swing with Shah Rukh taking workshops, rehearsing, and brainstorming with the team. He's so deeply involved in every aspect of the programme that at times it's overwhelming to see such a big and busy star take such deep interest in the show which is just another of his innumerable professional commitments in a way!

NEXT PAGE: Will SRK come back in KBC 3?