Kaun Banega Crorepati Faces Backlash Over Historical Error on Actress Zubeida; Veteran Journalist Khalid Mohamed Seeks Clarification

Ziya Khan November 4, 2024Last Updated: November 4, 2024

On a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, actor Varun Dhawan joined directors Raj and DK to promote their upcoming web series Citadel: Honey Bunny. During the show, host Amitabh Bachchan posed a question regarding a notable historical figure, which led to some confusion and sparked significant online discussion.

Confusion Over Actress Zubeida’s Identity

Bachchan asked, “Which actress tragically passed away in a plane crash along with her husband, Maharaja Hanwant Singh of Jodhpur?” The options were Sulochana, Mumtaz, Nadira, and Zubeida. Varun Dhawan and the directors, unsure of the correct answer, used two lifelines before ultimately selecting Zubeida. Bachchan then elaborated, mentioning that Zubeida starred in Alam Ara, India’s first talkie film, and that her life inspired the Bollywood film Zubeidaa, featuring Karisma Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee.However, after the episode aired, viewers quickly pointed out a significant error in the question’s context. They noted that there are two Zubeidas: one is the actress from Alam Ara, while the other is Maharaja Hanwant Singh’s wife. This discrepancy raised questions about the accuracy of the show’s research.

Khalid Mohammed’s Call for Clarification

The situation escalated when Khalid Mohammed, son of the actress Zubeida and a veteran journalist, publicly addressed the mix-up. He took to social media to request clarification, stating, “kaunbanegacrorepati… Whoever calls the shots, may I request for a clarification on KBC. Zubeida (Dhanragir) was a renowned actress who featured in Alam Ara. Not my maa Zubeida, who wished to act but wasn’t permitted by her strict father. How could your research team make such a gaffe?”Khalid’s comments sparked further discussion online, with many users supporting his viewpoint. One user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, “So #KaunBanegaKarodPati goofed up today with the question on Maharaja Hanwant Singh and his wife Zubeida Begum, who both died in a plane crash in 1952. #KBC.” Another viewer clarified that the Zubeida who starred in Alam Ara was married to the Maharaja of Hyderabad and lived until the late 1980s, contrasting with the details provided on the show. As of now, the channel has not issued any clarification regarding the matter.