Big B bars family from `KBC`

After Ash, it`s Abhishek who has stayed away from `Kaun Banega Crorepati`.

Mumbai: After Aishwarya Rai, it`s Abhishek Bachchan who has stayed away from Sony TV`s reality show `Kaun Banega Crorepati` (KBC), which is hosted by his father Amitabh Bachchan.

This week director Ashutosh Gowariker and his leading lady Deepika Padukone of `Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey` recorded an episode of `KBC`, but Abhishek opted out. It is Big B who has thwarted the plans of getting his family on the show by throwing the rule-book at the channel. "As per the rules and regulations of the company that owns the original rights of `KBC`, relatives of the anchor are not permitted to participate in the show. There`s a signed contract in this regard," said Amitabh. In fact, the channel`s plans to bring the entire Bachchan family for the grand finale on Dec 9 also have fallen through. They finally had to make the final episode a "Sholay" special, featuring Dharmendra. Says Sony Entertainment`s CEO Ajit Thakur: "We were indeed in advanced talks with the Bachchan family to come on the show. However, it finally didn`t work out. Even Abhishek is missing in the episode featuring his colleagues for the promotion of their film." However, the channel`s personnel argue that the contract rules don`t apply to special episodes of `KBC`. IANS