The lights dimmed. The studio audience sat in hushed anticipation. The iconic, heart-thumping music of Kaun Banega Crorepati filled the air, resonating in the chest of every person in the room.
The spotlight hit the center of the stage.
Amitabh Bachchan walked out.
He stopped in the middle of the 'Hot Seat' arena, arms spread wide.
"Namaskar! Adaab! Sat Sri Akal! Main hoon Amitabh Bachchan, aur aap dekh rahe hain, Kaun Banega Crorepati!"
The audience applauded. Bachchan waited for it to die down. His face turned serious, his voice dropping to a register that commanded absolute attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is special. Tonight, we do not have a common man fighting for his dreams. Tonight, we have a man who has already fulfilled the dreams of a billion people."
"We have a young warrior," Bachchan narrated, his voice rising with the music. "A man who hits the ball to all 360 degrees of the compass. A man who has bowled the fastest ball recorded in international cricket—162.4 kilometers per hour."
The screen behind him flashed images. Deva hitting a six. Deva bowling. Deva lifting the World Cup.
A gasp went through the audience.
"He holds the record for the Fastest Century in ODIs. The Fastest Century in T20 Internationals. He was the quickest to reach 1000, 2000, and 3000 runs. He holds the Highest Individual Score in T20s with 188 runs, and in ODIs with 263 runs."
Bachchan turned to the camera.
"He was the Man of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup. He is the Winning Captain of the Deccan Chargers. They call him the Nawab. They call him the Phenomenon. But the world knows him as... The Devil of Cricket."
"Please welcome... SIDDANTH DEVA!"
The entrance doors slid open. Smoke billowed out. The music reached a crescendo.
Deva walked out.
He walked with the same confident stride he used when walking out to bat at the Wankhede. He smiled, waving to the audience who were on their feet, screaming his name.
He walked straight to Bachchan. He shook the legend's hand firmly.
"Welcome, Siddanth," Bachchan said, shaking hands.
"Thank you, sir," Deva replied, bowing his head slightly to the crowd. "Thank you, everyone."
Bachchan kept his hand on Deva's shoulder, turning him towards the audience. "Look at him. 20 years old. The nation stands tall because you stood tall, Siddanth. We are proud of you."
"I just did my duty, Sir," Deva said humbly.
"Duty," Bachchan repeated. "A heavy word for young shoulders. Tell me, who has come to support you today?"
Deva smiled, pointing to the front row. "My strength. My parents. My father, Vikram Deva, and my mother, Sesikala."
The spotlight swung to the front row. Vikram and Sesikala were illuminated. Vikram waved awkwardly, beaming with pride. Sesikala folded her hands in a namaste.
"Vikram ji, Sesikala ji," Bachchan bowed to them from the stage. "Thank you. Thank you for gifting India and Indian Cricket such a gem of a talent. Your sacrifice is the nation's gain."
Vikram wiped a tear from his eye. It was the proudest moment of his life.
"So, Siddanth," Bachchan asked, his eyes twinkling. "Are you ready to play?"
"I am ready, Sir."
"Then let's not wait. Come. Please take the Hot Seat."
Deva walked to the high chair in the center. He sat down. It was comfortable, but the lights were bright. Bachchan sat opposite him, adjusting his tablet.
"Siddanth," Bachchan started formally. "Today, you are playing for a cause. Which charity have you chosen?"
"I am playing for St. Jude India ChildCare Centres," Deva said clearly. "They provide free accommodation and care to children undergoing cancer treatment. I visited them recently... fighting cancer is hard enough, no child should have to fight poverty at the same time."
The audience applauded the choice.
"A noble cause," Bachchan nodded. "I know you know the rules, but for the sake of protocol, I must explain them as fast as possible. 15 Questions. 4 Lifelines—Audience Poll, Phone-A-Friend, 50:50, and Expert Advice. You can quit at any time. Are we ready?"
"Ready," Deva said. The crowd noise faded. It was just him and the screen.
"Computer ji," Bachchan commanded. "First question. For 5,000 rupees."
Q1: In the game of Cricket, how many stumps are there at one end of the pitch?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
Deva couldn't help but laugh. The audience laughed with him.
"Sir," Deva grinned. "I think I've broken enough of them to know the answer. It's B) Three."
Bachchan chuckled. "Computer ji, lock Option B."
Correct Answer.
"Absolutely correct. 5,000 rupees."
Q2: Which of these is a traditional Hyderabadi dessert made from bread?
A) Rasgulla
B) Double ka Meetha
C) Mysore Pak
D) Sandesh
Deva smiled. He remembered the feast at Nayab. "My mother makes the best one in the world, Sir. It's B) Double ka Meetha."
"Lock B," Bachchan said. "Correct. 10,000 rupees."
Q3: Who played the role of 'Circuit' in the Munna Bhai movie series?
A) Arshad Warsi
B) Riteish Deshmukh
C) Sharman Joshi
D) Aamir Khan
"I watch a lot of movies, Sir," Deva said confidently. "It's A) Arshad Warsi."
"Computer ji, lock A."
Correct Answer.
"You have won 20,000 rupees!" Bachchan announced. "Well played. Now, let us move to the next stage. The questions will get tougher. But I have a feeling... the Devil is just warming up."
The questions flowed. Deva answered Q4 (Politics) and Q5 (Geography) with ease, reaching the first safe haven.
"You have won 3,20,000 rupees," Bachchan announced. "The check is signed. The money is yours for the children. Now, Siddanth, before we proceed to the next question, I have to ask you something."
Bachchan leaned forward, his demeanor shifting from quizmaster to curious fan. The studio lights dimmed, creating an intimate atmosphere.
"The World Cup Final. Wankhede. India vs Sri Lanka. We were 0 for 1. Virender Sehwag, the most destructive batsman, was out second ball. The silence in the stadium... I was there, Siddanth. It was terrifying."
Bachchan paused. "You walked out to bat. You crossed paths with Viru. You met Sachin in the middle. What was going through your mind at that exact moment? Were you scared?"
Deva took a sip of water. He looked at the audience, then back at Bachchan.
"Sir," Deva said, his voice thoughtful. "When Viru bhai got out, for a split second, I felt the panic. I think the whole country felt it. But as I walked to the pitch, I saw Sachin Paaji. He walked down to meet me."
"What did he say?"
"He told me not to look at the scoreboard," Deva recalled. "He said, 'Sid, don't take any risky shots. The ball is swinging. Malinga is dangerous. Just focus on the next ball. Stay with me. Everything will be alright.' It was like... he took the pressure off my shoulders and put it on his own."
"And you listened?" Bachchan asked.
"I had to," Deva smiled. "When God tells you to play safe, you play safe. So I defended. I played the safe game until the 20th over. Only when I knew the game was in balance, and the ball stopped swinging... that's when I decided to play my natural game. I started playing my natural game."
The audience burst into applause. Bachchan nodded slowly, impressed.
"Maturity," Bachchan said. "That is the word. At 20 years of age, to curb your instinct for the sake of the team... that is leadership. Computer ji, next question."
Q6: Which Indian state is known as the 'Land of Five Rivers'?
A) Gujarat B) Punjab C) Kerala D) Uttar Pradesh
"Panj-ab," Deva dissected aloud. "Panj means five. Ab means water. It's B) Punjab."
Correct Answer.
Q7: Which element has the chemical symbol 'Au'?
A) Silver B) Copper C) Gold D) Aluminum
Deva paused. He wasn't a science student. He dug into his memory banks. He visualized the Periodic Table chart from his 10th-grade classroom.
He saw the chart. Row 6. Column 11. Gold - Au.
"Aurum," Deva said.
"Latin for Gold. It is C) Gold."
"Are you sure?" Bachchan teased.
"100%, Sir."
Correct Answer.
Q8: The 'Gandhian Plan' was formulated by whom?
A) Mahatma Gandhi B) Shriman Narayan Agarwal C) Jawaharlal Nehru D) Vinoba Bhave
Deva stared at the screen. This wasn't in his recent Cost Accounting books. He didn't know this one directly.
"Sir," Deva said, rubbing his chin. "I am not sure about this one. I don't want to guess."
"You have four lifelines," Bachchan reminded him.
Deva looked at the options. "Gandhi ji wouldn't formulate a plan named after himself like that. Nehru ji had the Five Year Plans. So it's between B and D."
"Thinking out loud is good," Bachchan encouraged.
"I think I will take the Audience Poll," Deva decided. "The crowd here looks smart."
"Audience!" Bachchan shouted. "The Champion needs your help! Pick up your keypads. A, B, C, or D... Vote now!"
The graph rose on the screen.
A: 12%
B: 65%
C: 15%
D: 8%
"The audience is going with B) Shriman Narayan Agarwal," Bachchan said. "65% is a strong majority."
Deva nodded. "I trust them. I will go with B."
"Computer ji, lock B."
The music built up. The green light flashed.
"Correct Answer! You have won 6,40,000 rupees!"
Deva exhaled. "Thank you, audience."
Bachchan smiled. "You used logic to eliminate, and the lifeline to confirm. That is how you play the game. Siddanth Deva is marching towards the Crorepati mark!"
Bachchan paused, leaning forward. "Siddanth, before the next question, our audience has been dying to ask you a few things. Is it okay if we take a small break from the game for some cricket talk?"
"Of course, Sir."
"Tell me," Bachchan asked, "Who is the most difficult batsman you have ever bowled to?"
Deva didn't hesitate. "For me, it is Sachin Paaji. I have tried to bowl him out a lot of times in the nets. I have tried yorkers, good length, inswing, outswing, and slower balls. But he has an answer for everything. I am still waiting for the day I take his wicket, even in practice."
The audience cheered.
"And the most difficult bowler?" Bachchan followed up.
Deva leaned back. "Honestly, Sir? None until now."
The crowd gasped, then chuckled.
"There are dangerous bowlers," Deva clarified. "Muralitharan is a wizard. Malinga is deadly. Brett Lee and Steyn have pace. I respect them all. But on my day? I back myself to take on anyone. If I see the ball, I hit the ball."
Bachchan laughed, clapping his hands. "Wah! 'On my day, I take on anyone.' That is the confidence of a World Champion! And we have seen it! You have scored a century against every top international team you have faced. You have dismantled the opposition."
"Thank you, Sir."
"One more thing," Bachchan said, his voice softening. "What is the most memorable moment of your career so far? Was it lifting the Cup?"
Deva shook his head. "No, Sir. It was about fifteen to twenty minutes before that. We needed 20 runs. The game was won. And the whole crowd at Wankhede started singing Vande Mataram."
Deva touched his chest. "I was standing in the middle. And I felt it here. Butterflies in my stomach. It wasn't fear. It was... pride. It was a different feeling altogether. I will never forget that sound."
Bachchan nodded slowly. "I was in that crowd, Siddanth. I was singing too. And yes... it was my most memorable moment as well."
The game resumed.
Q6-Q9: Deva used logic and his [Eidetic Memory] to navigate through questions on History and Literature. He used the Audience Poll for a tricky question about Indian politics.
He reached 12,50,000 rupees.
Q10: For 25,00,000 rupees.
"Who was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress?"
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Annie Besant
C) Nellie Sengupta
D) Indira Gandhi
Deva frowned. "I know Annie Besant was the first woman... but was she Indian? No, she was British. Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman. But the question is tricky."
"It is 25 lakhs," Bachchan reminded him.
"I will take the 50:50," Deva said.
The computer removed two wrong options. B and C vanished.
Remaining: A) Sarojini Naidu and D) Indira Gandhi.
"It's Sarojini Naidu," Deva said confidently. "Lock A."
Correct Answer.
Q11: For 50,00,000 rupees.
"Who holds the record for the most wickets taken in a single Test series?"
A) Jim Laker
B) Sydney Barnes
C) Clarrie Grimmett
D) Muttiah Muralitharan
Deva stared at the screen. "Sports question," Bachchan noted. "Should be easy for you."
"Not this one, Sir," Deva said, scratching his head. "I know Jim Laker took 19 in a match. Murali has 800. But a single series? That is old history."
Deva thought. He tried to access the archives of his memory, but he hadn't read much pre-war cricket history.
"I need help," Deva admitted. "I want to use Phone-A-Friend."
"Who do you want to call?"
"The Captain," Deva grinned. "Mahendra Singh Dhoni."
Bachchan laughed delightedly. "Oh! Captain Cool! Computer ji, please connect the call to MS Dhoni."
The phone rang. It rang three times.
"Hello?" The voice was unmistakable.
"Mahendra Singh Dhoni," Bachchan said. "Namaskar. Main Amitabh Bachchan bol raha hoon from KBC."
"Namaste Sir!" Dhoni sounded surprised but calm. "How is our boy doing?"
"He is doing well, but he is stuck. He needs your help for 50 lakhs. Are you ready?"
"Always ready, Sir."
"Okay, Siddanth, you have 30 seconds. Go."
Deva read the question fast. "Most wickets in a single Test series. Laker, Barnes, Grimmett, Murali."
Silence on the other end. 5 seconds. 10 seconds.
"It's Sydney Barnes," Dhoni said calmly. "49 wickets. Against South Africa. 1913-14 series."
"Are you sure?"
"100%. Lock it."
The timer ended.
Deva exhaled. "Sir, if Captain says it, it is the law. I will go with B) Sydney Barnes."
"Computer ji, lock B."
The tension built. The music peaked.
"Correct Answer! You have won 50,00,000 rupees!"
Before Bachchan could ask the next question, a loud HOOTER sounded through the studio.
Bachchan threw his hands up. "Oh! Samay samapti ki ghoshna! (Time up declaration!)."
The game was over.
"Siddanth," Bachchan said, standing up. "You played wonderfully. You have won 50 lakhs for the children. That is a huge amount."
Deva stood up. "Thank you, Sir. It was my privilege."
"Before you go," Bachchan held his hand. "I have one final request. A personal one. You said you are a fan. You said your father quotes my dialogues."
Bachchan stepped back, gesturing to the camera. "Can we hear one? From the Devil himself?"
Deva laughed, then he saw his father in the front row, looking at him with shining eyes.
Deva adjusted his blazer. He deepened his voice. He adopted the stance—hand on the waist, head tilted. He channeled the [Charisma] stat.
He looked into the camera.
"Vijay Deenanath Chauhan..."
The audience erupted.
"Poora naam. Baap ka naam... Deenanath Chauhan. Maa ka naam... Suhasini Chauhan. Gaon... Mandwa."
He delivered it with intensity, with the fire of the Angry Young Man.
Bachchan clapped slowly, a huge grin on his face. The audience was on its feet, cheering wildly. Vikram Deva was weeping tears of joy, clapping hardest of all.
"Fantastic!" Bachchan hugged him. "You are a true champion, on and off the field."
"Fantastic!" Bachchan hugged him. "You are a true champion, on and off the field."
The credits rolled. Deva waved to the crowd, the check in his hand, his parents beaming at him.
As the cameras cut and the studio lights dimmed, Bachchan held Deva back.
"Siddanth," Bachchan said warmly, "Would you and your parents do us the honor of joining my family for dinner tonight? At Jalsa?"
Deva looked at his parents. Vikram looked like he might pass out from happiness.
"We would be honored, Sir," Deva said.
That night, their car pulled into the gates of Jalsa, the iconic residence of the Bachchans in Juhu.
Jaya Bachchan welcomed them at the door with a gracious smile. Abhishek Bachchan was there too, wearing a Team India jersey, looking like a fanboy himself.
"Siddanth Deva!" Abhishek hugged him. "That IPL final over... I almost broke my TV!"
"Abhishek, let him breathe," Jaya scolded gently. "Come in, please."
The dinner was intimate and lavish. They sat at a long table. Aishwarya Rai was absent, resting due to her pregnancy, but her presence was felt in the warm hospitality.
Vikram found himself sitting next to Big B, talking about the golden era of cinema. Deva talked cricket with Abhishek. Sesikala and Jaya bonded over sarees and recipes.
"You know," Abhishek said, leaning in. "Dad rarely invites people home after a shoot. He really likes you."
"I like him too," Deva smiled, looking at his father laughing at something Bachchan said. "He made my dad's life today."
As the dinner concluded and they prepared to leave, Jaya Bachchan walked out with a beautifully wrapped package.
"Sesikala ji," Jaya said, handing it to Deva's mother. "A small gift. A Banarasi saree. Please accept it."
Sesikala was overwhelmed. "Oh, no, Jaya ji. Meeting you was gift enough."
"It is custom," Jaya insisted, placing it in her hands. "For the mother who gave us a hero."
They walked to the car. Bachchan escorted them out.
"Good luck in England, Siddanth," Bachchan said, shaking his hand one last time. "The conditions will be tough. Swing. Anderson. Broad."
"I'll handle them, Sir," Deva promised.
"I know you will," Bachchan smiled. "Vijay Deenanath Chauhan always handles it."
As the car drove away, Deva looked back at the house. He looked at his silent parents, lost in the magic of the evening.
The Off-Season was truly over. He had conquered the exams. He had conquered KBC. He had dined with royalty.
Now, only one thing remained.
Lord's.