Delhi’s Moti Mahal isn’t just a restaurant to Amitabh Bachchan; it’s the backdrop to one of his most personal victories. On the opening night of KBC Season 17, which went live on August 12, the 82-year-old actor swerved away from the game-show format for a moment and slipped into storyteller mode.
Amitabh Bachchan Shares Heartfelt Story On KBC 17 Premiere Episode
It all happened during a conversation with Vijay Anand on the KBC 17 premiere episode. He is a contestant from Delhi whose father earns daily wages. Vijay’s dream is the kind of dream every common person can relate to: a bigger home for his parents, who have lived for years in a cramped one-room flat. When Amitabh Bachchan asked him for a moment that made his parents proud, Vijay recalled taking them out to dinner for the first time in 2024.
Bachchan’s face softened hearing this story; then came his own confession! Years ago, fresh out of college and clutching his first real earnings, he led his parents through the doors of Moti Mahal. For Delhiites especially, this restaurant is a landmark woven into the cultural and culinary history of independent India.
Founded in 1947 by Kundan Lal Gujral, Kundan Lal Jaggi, and Thakur Das Magu in Daryaganj, Delhi, it pioneered the global fame of dishes like tandoori chicken, butter chicken, and dal makhani. Its legend grew as luminaries such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Raj Kapoor became regular patrons, and state guests even had food from Moti Mahal flown to them during diplomatic summits.
Bachchan Took His Parents To A Restaurant For The First Time
When Bachchan went there with his family, it was an intimidating space for them, since Moti Mahal is one of the most revered and premium restaurant chains. He said that he wondered if people would stare and if their clothes were eligible for sitting in such a fancy place. “But I still remember the look on my parents’ faces.”
This showed raw footage of a man momentarily back in his twenties, feeling the weight of a bill he could finally pay. The studio audience stayed unusually quiet, letting the story breathe.
The rest of the episode unfolded with the usual quiz-show tension, but that small exchange anchored it in something warmer. KBC has always promised intellect, but this time Amitabh Bachchan opened with something heart-touching.
Also Read: THIS Is Amitabh Bachchan’s All-Time Fave Street Food In Mumbai!
Next, the show will lean into the patriotic spirit! On August 15, Colonel Sofiya, Wing Commander Vyomika, and Commander Prerna will share the stage with Bachchan for an Independence Day special episode.
Cover Image Courtesy: amitabhbachchan/Instagram
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