New Delhi: Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 was surrounded by controversy after Amitabh Bachchan and the makers of the quiz show confused Maharaja Hanwant Singh’s wife Zubeida Begum with late actress Zubeida Dhanragir. Zubeida Begum’s son-writer, Khalid Mohammed, slammed the makers for the big goof-up.
Varun Dhawan and directors of Citadel: Honey Bunny, Raj and DK graced Amitabh Bachchan-hosted show, Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 where the question on Zubeida was posed in front of the three. Let’s explore what happened!
What was the goof-up on KBC 18?
The question to Varun Dhawan and others was, “Which actress tragically passed away in a plane crash along with her husband, Maharaja Hanwant Singh of Jodhpur?” The options were Mumtaz, Zubaida, Nadira, and Sulochana. After much contemplating and exhausting two lifelines, they finally answered Zubaida, which was the correct answer.
After that, Amitabh Bachchan explained that Maharaja Hanwant Singh of Jodhpur died when he was campaigning for the first elections after Independence and Zubeida was the actress who worked in the first-ever Indian Talkie film, Alam Ara. He further said that later a film titled Zubeidaa starring Karisma Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee was inspired by her life.
kaunbanegacrorepati…. Whoever calls the shots may I request for a clarification on KBC. Zubeida (Dhanragir) was renowned actress who featured in Alam Ara. Not my maa Zubeida, did wish to act, wasn’t permitted by her strict father. How cld your research team make such a gaffe?
— khalid mohamed (@Jhajhajha) November 1, 2024
But, Maharaja Hanwant Singh’s wife Zubaida is different from Alam Ara actress Zubeida. Along with several netizens, the son of Zubeida Khalid Mohamed also slammed the makers for the major goof-up.
Demanding an apology, he wrote on his X account, “KBC, Amitabh Bachchan. This is my late mother Zubeida Begum. She wasn’t born when Alam Ara was made. An apology on the program for a gaffe would be the least you could do. But know something? I don’t expect it.”
He further requested a clarification on the gaffe. He further explained that actress Zubeida was a renowned actress, who married Maharaj of Hyderabad and lived up to the late 80s. On the other hand, his mother Zubeida wanted to act but wasn’t permitted by her “strict father”. He added, “How could your research team make such a gaffe?”