It's the KBC time of the year again

'There is the greatest pride in the achieving of the contestant... And the happiness that the few hours at the hot seat brings for them.'

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has started shooting for the 10th season of his hit game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

In a new blog post, Bachchan, who will turn 76 in six weeks' time, reminisced about the early days of his hit show that started its journey back in 2000.

'The first day of shoot for KBC... and the apprehensions and nervous energy eating up the intestines... It's been 18 years of KBC in India and the 10th season... A majority of which have been associated with me... Seems strange but there it is...' Bachchan remembered.

'The location the crew the stage the meetings the references and the briefings .. all form such a vast variety of creative input that it is difficult to ignore even the smallest of suggestions...' he added.

Though shooting for the show has been a 'daunting' and 'most arduous' task, Bachchan believes that the continued support from the audiences 'is enough reason to be there even after 18 years of its existence'.

'To know and meet the people of my land, from distant destinations... To hear their stories of struggle and condition is heart breaking at times... Yet when you witness their achievements and the liberation of all their woes, it is the most satisfying moment...'

'A life changes and in some small way when KBC is able to achieve that then the association with the game show is all the more worthy,' Bachchan asserted.

'There is a sense of pride in what we conduct for the benefit of others, but there is the greatest pride in the achieving of the contestant... And the happiness that the few hours at the hot seat brings for them,' he added.

Amitabh released Siddhartha Basu's book Indian Century on the show.

Basu, the first quizmaster on Indian television, is KBC's producer.

'Dear friend and colleague Siddhartha Basu aka 'Babu' "Indian Century" .. a delight to release it and to possess its valuable contents..' Bachchan noted.

Amitabh browses through Indian Centure as Siddhartha Basu looks on.

Photographs: Kind courtesy Amitabh Bachchan/Twitter