Kumar Mangalam Birla on KBC 17: “Scared” to Face the Hot Seat

In a high-profile appearance for the finale week of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 17, billionaire industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Group, admitted to having a “hidden fear” about appearing on the show.

The episode, set to air on December 29, 2025, features a rare candid side of the business tycoon as he engages with host Amitabh Bachchan.

The Reason for His Hesitation

During the promo, Amitabh Bachchan asked Birla why it took him so long to grace the hot seat. The businessman’s lighthearted response left the audience and host chuckling:

“I’ve been wanting to come for a long time. But I was scared—what would you think of me if I couldn’t give even a single correct answer?” — Kumar Mangalam Birla

Finale Week Highlights

As KBC 17 approaches its conclusion on January 2, 2026, the finale week is packed with star-studded appearances and special guests:

• Family Special (Dec 26): Amitabh’s own family, including daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda, and grandchildren Navya Naveli and Agastya Nanda, appeared to promote the film Ikkis.
• Billionaire on the Hot Seat (Dec 29): Kumar Mangalam Birla will play for charity, with his family cheering from the audience.
• Celebrity Roll Call: This season has already featured names like Diljit Dosanjh (who won ₹50.6 lakh), Rishab Shetty, Manoj Bajpayee, and Kartik Aaryan.

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KBC Season 17 Recap (2025)

Milestone	Details
Season Premiere	August 11, 2025
Top Prize	₹7 Crore
First Crorepati	Aditya Kumar (Uttarakhand), who won ₹1 Crore in August.
Highest Celebrity Winner	Diljit Dosanjh (₹50,60,000)
Season Finale	January 2, 2026

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About the Guest

Kumar Mangalam Birla took over the Aditya Birla Group at the age of 28. Under his leadership, the group’s turnover has grown from $2 billion to over $65 billion. His appearance on KBC is a rare television outing for the industrialist, who is known for keeping a low public profile.