MUMBAI: Hoooo Haaaa! The excitement is almost palpable amongst one and all as the ever energetic grand old man of the Indian film industry - Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone voice and affable presence is set to yet again fill up television screens across the country this weekend.

This time round, Bachchan will be seen hosting Star Plus’ new show Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi, which will launch at 8 pm on 18 October. 

The show, which aims to celebrate people across India making a difference in their communities, will see three personalities from the film industry as the first guests. Actors Alia Bhatt, Shilpa Shetty Kundra as well as singer Arijit Singh will be Bachchan’s first guests on the show. Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi is being directed by Ken Ghosh. Actor and host Hussain Kuwajerwala will be the show’s co-host alongside Bachchan.

After his stint on television started with Kaun Banega Croreapati (KBC) on Star Plus back in 2000, Bachchan has been hosting the same show on Sony Entertainment Television thereafter. Apart from the non-fiction show, his tryst with the television medium also saw him acting in the fiction series titled Yudh last year on Sony. While the audience has lapped up his avatar as anchor and host season after season ofKBC, his fiction fare didn’t find much favour from them.

Now as Bachchan is back in his real avatar as the friendly and charming host on television yet again, albeit on a different kind of non-fiction format show, it remains to be seen how Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi is received by the audience. That said, seeing the spring in his step and the zeal in his voice, Bachchan's enthusiasm is almost contagious