After over 300 episodes on air, nearly 3000 contestants, over 500 people on the hotseat, a more than 60,000 studio audience, over 90 million phone calls, and more than Rs 260 million given away as prize money, Kaun Banega Crorepati, the show that resurrected a channel and a fading Bollywood superstar, signed off today. With a promise that it would be back.

KBC, the show that Star licenced from Celador's Who wants To be a Millionaire and launched in June 2000, not only raised Star to the No. 1 position but also gave actor Amitabh Bachchan a fresh lease on superstardom.

Said Sameer Nair, executive V-P, content & communication, Star Network: "We've enjoyed every moment of the show, shooting with Amitabh Bachchan, guests stars, interacting with audiences, and basking in the unprecedented success of the show. Every, such show needs a small break and now it's time for Kaun Banega Crorepati too. Come, July-August, and watch out we'll be back with Amitabh Bachchan and a big, brighter and bigger show." 

Whether Bachchan will be back in the hot seat if and when the show returns only time will tell; but the Big B did, during the course of the show, leave that particular issue open ended.

And as the guest on the grand finale show, Star Plus brought back Harshvardhan Nawathe, KBC's first 'crorepati' (10 millionaire?).

From next week (16 January), Cinevista's Sanjivani, a hospital drama with actor Mohnish Behl in the lead, goes on air. And Star's rivals can get set for a channel stakes battle with a far more level playing field - without the Big B's shadow hanging over the proceedings.