AB to make kids crorepatis now!

An 'enthusiastic' Amitabh Bachchan will play crorepati with children from May 6, but the winners of Kaun Banega Crorepati Junior will have to wait for several years before they get to see the money.

The winner's purse for the programme for children aged between 10 and 18 years will be deposited in a Special Children's Fund and released only when the winner becomes an adult, according to KBC producer Siddhartha Basu.

According to Basu, megastar Bachchan is raring to go. ''He is very good with kids. We are sure they will like him,'' he said after receiving the 'Limca Book of Records-People of the Year Award' in New Delhi on April 20.

The recording of the one-hour serial, which will be telecast every Sunday at 1000 hours, begins from April 23.

Basu dismissed fears that the 'heavy' prize will make the children go on a spending-spree, which in turn, will affect their studies. ''When they get the money they will be mature enough to do what they want to do.''

According to Basu, several countries have such television serials for children. KBC is a licensed version of British television serial Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Basu is also set to revive his interest in theatre by producing a television play New Market Diaries, set in the Calcutta market. Directed by Jayant Kripalani, it will be microcosm of a certain time and a certain place.

UNI