Ishit Bhatt’s Bold KBC Appearance Sparks Debate; Chinmayi Defends Him

A 10-year-old contestant from Gujarat, Ishit Bhatt, has become the center of an online firestorm following his appearance on the latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 17, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. Ishit’s confident and, at times, cheeky demeanor on the hot seat has divided social media users. Upon taking the seat, Ishit immediately declared, “Mereko rules pata hain issiliye aap abhi mereko rules samjhane mat baithna” (“I already know the rules, so please don’t start explaining them to me”). He proceeded to answer the first four questions before Bachchan could even read out the options, displaying a level of confidence that some viewers found dismissive. At one point, Ishit interrupted Bachchan mid-sentence, saying, “Option ke bina bol raha hun, lock karo ‘dance’. Jo bhi option hai lock karo” (“I’m saying it without the options — lock ‘dance’. Whatever the option is, lock it”). On another occasion, he urged, “Sir, aap sawal toh poocho” (“Sir, just ask the question”). His parents, seated in the audience, were seen smiling as their son powered through the quiz.

Ishit’s streak ended when he reached the ₹25,000 question related to the Ramayan. This time, he asked for the options and, after hearing them, confidently told Bachchan: “Sir ek kya, uss mein chaar lock lagado — lekin lock karo” (“Not one, put four locks on it — but lock it”). Unfortunately, his answer was incorrect, and the young contestant had to leave the show without any winnings. Clips of the episode quickly went viral, sparking an intense debate online. Many viewers called his attitude “disrespectful,” with criticism extending to his parents for allegedly encouraging arrogance.

Amid the online outrage, singer Chinmayi Sripada stepped in to defend the child. Sharing her thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), she criticized the harsh tone of the attacks, saying, “An adult putting a tweet saying ‘most hated kid’? Adults here on Twitter have been some of the most foul-mouthed, abusive lot. None of these voices spoke when kids died due to a cough syrup.” Her post resonated with many who felt the internet had gone too far in targeting a child for being outspoken on television.