Mumbai: A clip from ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 17‘s Junior Week,’ which aired on October 12, has taken over the internet, igniting a nationwide debate. The footage features a 10-year-old contestant, Ishit Bhatt from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, whose on-screen behavior towards host Amitabh Bachchan and subsequent loss of all prize money has gone viral.
Garnering millions of views in hours and thousands of posts on X (formerly Twitter), the incident has left one loud question echoing across India: Is this just overconfidence, or pure disrespect?
A Recap of the Viral Episode
The episode saw the bright fifth-grader take the hot seat. As Amitabh Bachchan began his warm welcome and started explaining the rules, Ishit abruptly cut him off, stating, “Mujhe rules pata hai, isliye aap mujhe samjhana mat bethna” (I know the rules, so you don’t need to explain them to me). The comment was met with a polite smile from Bachchan and awkward murmurs from the audience.
For the first few questions, Ishit displayed remarkable speed, answering without waiting for the options to be completed. On a question about breakfast, he blurted, “bina option bata raha hoon….!!Breakfast!! Lock karo!” (I’m answering without options… Breakfast! Lock it!). He did the same for a question on dance forms.
While initially perceived as the fun antics of a quick-witted kid, the tone shifted as the game progressed. On a question about the number of kings in a chess game, he interrupted again, saying, “Ye bhi koi puchne ka sawaal he… Do hee raja hote he” (Is this even a question worth asking… There are only two kings). He then instructed Bachchan, “B pe lock lagaya jaay” (Lock option B), in a manner that sounded more like an order.
The energy changed by the fifth question: “What is the name of the first Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana?” After his previous displays, Ishit hesitated and asked for options. Mr. Bachchan looked at him and retorted, “aap hee nahi hein hoshiyar.. Ye bhi he” (You aren’t the only smart one… These [the options] are too). When Ishit insisted, “Options daalo” (Give the options), Bachchan calmly obliged.
Ishit then confidently locked option B, ‘Ayodhya Kanda’, telling the host to “Acche se lock kro” (Lock it properly). The answer was wrong. The correct answer was ‘Bala Kanda’, and he lost all his winnings, walking away with zero rupees.
Internet Explodes with Reactions
Following the loss, Amitabh Bachchan, calm as ever, softly remarked, “Kabhi kabhi bachhe overconfidence mein galti kar dete hain” (Sometimes kids make mistakes in overconfidence).
This moment triggered a massive online reaction. The hashtags #KBC17 and #IshitBhatt began trending. Social media was flooded with posts, memes, and clashing opinions, with many calling the incident a “Parenting fail!” and an act of “Disrespecting Big B.”
Commentators have noted that the episode has become a “mirror reflecting how this generation.. ‘Gen Alpha’.. is being shaped.” The irony was not lost on viewers that the contestant lost on a question about the Ramayana’s ‘Bala Kanda’—the very chapter that teaches childhood values of respect and discipline.
Throughout the interaction, the 83-year-old host’s composed and dignified demeanor stood in stark contrast. His quiet poise, as many pointed out, “spoke louder than any scolding could.” The event has now become a talking point on the fine line between confidence and arrogance, prompting a larger conversation about the values being instilled in today’s youth.
