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Siddhartha Basu

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Siddhartha “Babu” Basu (born 1954), widely regarded as a pioneer and "father of Indian television quizzing”[1] is an Indian television producer-director and quiz show host.

Siddhartha Basu
Born (1954-12-28) December 28, 1954 (age 70)
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesBabu
Alma materSt. Stephen's College, Delhi, University of Delhi
Occupation(s)Television producer-director, quiz host
Years active1985–
Notable workQuiz Time, Mastermind India, Kaun Banega Crorepati
TelevisionQuiz Time, Mastermind India, Kaun Banega Crorepati
SpouseAnita Kaul Basu (married 1983–present)
Children2
Websitetoknowledge.com

Over his career he has been a theatre and film actor, a documentary filmmaker, and a quiz show host (notably Quiz Time, Mastermind India, University Challenge India and Quizzer of the Year), but he is best known for creating and producing popular knowledge-based formats on Indian TV.[2] As one profile observes, Basu is “a man of many parts”, a legend of the quizzing world whose work spans education, entertainment and media.[3]

He has produced and directed a number of Indian television shows including Kaun Banega Crorepati, Dus Ka Dum, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, and India's Got Talent.[2]

Basu hosts The Quizzitok Podcast on YouTube and Spotify.[4][5]

Early life and education

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Born in Kolkata (then Calcutta) into a Bengali Hindu family, Basu spent his childhood moving between Bombay, Delhi and Madras. He attended various schools in each city, including Besant Montessori and The Cathedral and John Connon School in Bombay, and Frank Anthony Public School in Delhi, before completing his schooling at the Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIT Madras.[3]

He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, followed by an M.A. in English Literature from the Arts Faculty, University of Delhi as a student at Hindu College.[3]

Theatre

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At St. Stephen’s College in the 1970s, Basu developed his passion for theatre. In 1973 he became a founding member of Barry John’s Theatre Action Group (TAG) in Delhi.[6][7][8] Known as “Babu” among his peers, he acted in numerous stage plays – most memorably in the title role of Oedipus (Ted Hughes’ adaptation of Seneca's play)[9], Polonius in Hamlet[10], and as Mozart in Amadeus[10]. He also directed A Macbeth (for Red Curtain)and Equus ( for Ninth Facet- Anamika Kala Sangam) in Kolkata in 1975 & 1976 respectively.[10]

TAG included several future stars (notably Shah Rukh Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Mira Nair, Lillete Dubey, and a number of others),[8][7] and in its first phase Basu was noted as “one of its brightest lights”.[11] Basu returned to the stage decades later in Mahesh Dattani’s Dance Like a Man, playing dual roles of Jayaraj and Amritlal in Prime Time's landmark production.[12]

Television career

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Through his college days and after, Basu was active on All India Radio as a voice over artist, announcer and feature producer on its Yuva Vani and General Overseas Services programmes.[13] Shortly after completing his master’s degree, Basu also worked as a documentary filmmaker for TV News Features (TVNF) starting in 1977, for about 8 years, directing numerous short features and popular science films such as Life Before Birth, Avalanches, Frozen in Silver, Moving Images, and Reading Rhesus Macaques. [14][15]

He briefly worked as a 'cultural attache' for the Taj Group of Hotels from 1982-84. In 1985, he first hosted the inaugural "Quiz Time" programme on Doordarshan. It was a national inter-college quiz show, well remembered for the quality of quizzing and contestants (the show featured Rajdeep Sardesai, Raghuram Rajan, Jayant Sinha, and others)[16]. It quickly became a Sunday evening favourite on Doordarshan’s national network, then the only nationwide channel in the country (which was terrestrial) and was credited with popularizing quizzing across the country.

Along with his wife, former India Today journalist Anita Kaul Basu, he formed the media company Synergy Communications Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi in 1988[17], which in due course became Synergy Adlabs, then BIG Synergy - after its tie-up with Reliance Mediaworks. Promoted by Siddhartha, Anita Kaul Basu, and Karun Prabhakaran, BIG Synergy built its reputation as a leader in the field of factual entertainment, starting off as one of the country's first independent television production houses.

Following three seasons of Quiz Time (1985, 1986 and 1988), Basu both hosted, produced, and directed a number of shows, namely The India Quiz - The New Age (1989) on Doordarshan, India Quiz Series on Freedom at 50 (1990) on Doordarshan, Alpha Plus (1987) on Doordarshan, Spectrum - A 7-Nation SAARC Quiz (1987), Kissa Kursi Ka (1995), Akshar Mela (1995) on Doordarshan, The Beanstalk Quiz Summit (1997) on Doordarshan, Aao Guess Kare (1997) and, Jaane Kya Toone Kahi (1997) on Home TV, A Question of Answers (1998) on Star World, 3... 2... 1... (1999), Eureka (1999) on Star Plus, Mastermind India (1998-2002) on BBC World, Bluffmaster (2003) on Star One, Kamzor Kadii Kaun (2003) on Star TV, University Challenge India (2003-05) on BBC World, India's Child Genius (2004) on Star World, Howzzat (2004) on Tara Bangla,[18] Heartbeat – Dil Thhaam Ke Khelo (2005) on Star One, Bollywood Ka Boss (2008) on Sahara Filmy, Dus Ka Dum (2008) on Sony Entertainment Television, Aap Ki Kachehri (2008–11) on Star Plus, Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? (2008) on Star Plus, Sach Ka Saamna (2009–12) on Star Plus, Khelo Jeeto Jiyo (2009) on Star TV, Big Money (2010) on Imagine TV, Sports Ka Superstar (2010) on Doordarshan, Jawab Kinte Chai (2012) on Sananda TV, Tech Grandmasters (2012–13) on NDTV, Spell Bee India (2014–15) on Discovery Channel India, India Poochega Sabse Shaana Kaun? (2015) on &TV, News Wiz (2016-19) on India Today, The Big Picture (2021) on Colors TV, and Quizzer of the Year (2024) on SonyLIV, apart from the eight Indian regional adaptations of Kaun Banega Crorepati through the years. [19][20][21][22]

Basu's biggest television success came in the form of Kaun Banega Crorepati, first produced for STAR Plus in 2000. KBC, as the show is also known, is the licensed Indian version of the globally successful format Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as its host. The second edition of the show began airing in August 2005 and notched up the highest-ever opening in the history of Indian television[23], going on to sustain its position among the most-watched programmes in the country. The third series of Kaun Banega Crorepati was hosted by Shah Rukh Khan[24] in 2007. BIG Synergy produced the show till 2014, whereas Basu continued as a creative consultant on the show till 2021. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

The first two seasons of Sony's hit show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the Indian version of BBC's celebrity dance show, Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing with the Stars, was produced by BIG Synergy, as were the first two seasons of India's Got Talent, on Colors TV. Big Synergy has also produced other landmark shows such as Aap Ki Kachehri - Kiran Ke Saath (hosted by Kiran Bedi), Sacch Ka Saamna and Dus Ka Dum, with Salman Khan as host, on Sony Entertainment Television.[32]

For two decades, Basu worked mainly behind the camera as Big Synergy’s CMD & creative head, but in 2024 he returned to hosting as the quizmaster of Quizzer of The Year (QOTY) on Sony LIV[33], India’s first all-digital national quiz contest aimed at students in grades IX–XII. As Basu explained in an interview, the contest allowed anyone to play daily via a mobile app, adding points to a leaderboard, and eventually leading to a virtual faceoff. The contest aimed to “buttress a factual culture” among youth[1]. He remarked that, after not hosting since 2005, the producers invited him to return for the finals, which brought him back in front of the camera. [34]

Beyond television, Basu and Anita have also launched Tree of Knowledge Pvt. Ltd[35]. (TOK),[36] an edutainment venture focused on quizzes, e-learning and publishing. Basu, through TOK has produced News Wiz [37], The Indiannica Quiz League on YouTube, Quizzer of the Year, and The Quizzitok Podcast on YouTube. [38][39]

Publications

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Basu has authored and edited several books on quizzing and general knowledge. Early in his career, he co-compiled Inquizitive – The India Quiz Book (1989). He published multiple volumes of Mastermind India (1999–2004) – tie-in books for the quiz show, and in 2010 he co-wrote Kaun Banega Crorepati: The Official Book. Other titles include The Complete Mastermind India, Vol.1 (2002)[40], Indian Century (for DK, 2018)[41][42][43] and the Know for Sure and Knowledge Bee (for Encyclopaedia Britannica India, which later was acquired by Indiannica Learning) general knowledge book series for school students. These publications reflect Basu’s commitment to promoting knowledge and quizzing as educational tools.

Basu has also engaged in digital and live quizzing. He continues to host or promote live quizzes across India (including for students, corporates, even inmates in Tihar jail[44]) and to run online quiz leagues. His work is often described as building a “knowledge community and promoting factual culture” – connecting people of all ages through informed questioning. In podcasts and interviews he emphasizes quizzing’s breadth, rejecting the idea of it as mere “trivia” and aiming instead to foster curiosity about culture, history and science. In 2025, Basu appeared on Amit Varma’s Seen and the Unseen podcast[3], where he was introduced as a “legend of the quizzing world” reflecting on life and the art of asking questions.

App development

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Basu and the TOK team have developed a quizzing application, a greenfield initiative aimed at providing edutainment and sustained factual engagement 24x7 throughout the year for users across all age groups. The platform was licensed as 'QOTY' to SonyLIV for the 'Quizzer of the Year' contest, running successfully for one year as a tried-and-tested digital quiz property. The application is designed as a scalable and flexible knowledge-based platform with feature-rich, interactive games suitable for multiple cohorts. Key features include instant leaderboards for benchmarking progress, multilingual support in English, Hindi, and other languages, detailed analysis and game reports for review, multimedia integration with audio, video, and images, batch registrations, and instant digital certificates and prizes. It also incorporates 'InfoQ' (Information Quotient) to track users’ knowledge growth and engagement[45]

Podcasting

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Siddhartha Basu is the host of The Quizzitok Podcast, streaming on YouTube and Spotify.[5][4]

Episode Guest(s) Note Link
1 Joy Bhattacharjya Joy Bhattacharjya discusses his journey in Indian sports, quizzing, and storytelling. Topics include Shahrukh Khan's leadership in the IPL, the growth of volleyball in India, and the enduring importance of general knowledge Video on YouTube
2 Rajiv Makhni Rajiv Makhni, India’s best-known tech presenter, talks about his journey from a tech-obsessed childhood to becoming the country’s “Tech Guru.” He shares why he calls himself an “Un-Influencer,” reflects on digital overload, and stresses the need for mindful tech detox. Video on YouTube
3 Archana G. Gupta, K.E. Priyamvada, Dayita B. Datta Three powerhouse quizzers—Archana Garodia Gupta, Priyamvada K.E., and Dayita Bira Datta—come together to share what it takes to win Mastermind India. They take us inside the rigors of the Mind Sport, from late-night reading marathons to razor-sharp recall under pressure. Each shares her personal journey of mastering the format and making a lasting mark on the quizzing world. Video on YouTube
4 Vikas Swarup Vikas Swarup delves into the making of 'Slumdog Millionaire,' his experiences with Somali pirates, and the life lessons he's learned along the way. Video on YouTube
5 Col. Vembu Shankar Colonel Vembu Shankar, a decorated Indian Army veteran and Shaurya Chakra awardee, joins Siddhartha Basu to explore themes of courage, curiosity, and service. He shares his transition from military life to quizzing and how he founded Project Sambandh, a non-profit rooted in community empowerment—revealing the deeper purpose behind his journey Video on YouTube
6 Derek O'Brien Derek O’Brien shares insights into his family's legacy in quizzing, the evolution of TV quiz shows, and how quizzing has transformed from a parlor game to a national movement. Video on YouTube
7 Devdutt Pattanaik Devdutt Pattanaik explores the concept of Ahimsa, the role of mythology in modern life, and how ancient stories can provide insights into contemporary issues. Video on YouTube
8 Rajdeep Sardesai Veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai reflects on his cricket heritage stemming from his legendary father Dilip Sardesai, and discusses how sports impacted his worldview. The episode also dives into his experiences covering major elections, highlighting the rising tide of misinformation and the evolving landscape of Indian democracy. Video on YouTube
9 Shashi Tharoor Dr. Shashi Tharoor engages in a delightful conversation about language, literature, and global issues, sharing his perspectives as a diplomat, author, and politician. Video on YouTube
10 Vir Sanghvi Vir Sanghvi discusses his journey in journalism and food writing, sharing stories from his illustrious career and insights into the art of storytelling. Video on YouTube
11 Ramachandra Guha Historian and author Dr. Ramachandra Guha brings his deeply reflective insight to a conversation that spans his fascination with Gandhi, the significance of cricket in Indian culture, and the intellectual path that shaped his career. The episode weaves together personal anecdotes and historical perspective, painting a rich portrait of modern Indian history Video on YouTube
12 Soha Ali Khan Soha Ali Khan offers a candid conversation about her journey from Oxford to Bollywood, discussing her experiences beyond the glitz of the film industry and the weight of royal heritage. Video on YouTube
13 Arun Kapur Arun Kapur shares his experiences in education, discussing his work at Vasant Valley School, his insights into the educational system in Bhutan, and his vision for the future of education. Video on YouTube

Film acting

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Although known primarily for television, Basu has done a few character roles in Indian films. He made his on-screen acting debut as R&AW Chief Robin Dutt (code-named “RD”) in Shoojit Sircar’s thriller Madras Cafe[46] [47] (2013). He later played a barrister/mayor (Romi Mehta) in Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet[48] (2015), and even portrayed the President of India in the Malayalam film How Old Are You? (2014) – a role that was reprised in the Tamil remake 36 Vayadhinile (2015). Basu also appeared in the role of India’s External Affairs Minister in the 2017 blockbuster Tiger Zinda Hai.[49]

In 2025, he made a cameo appearance in Boman Irani’s directorial debut The Mehta Boys.[50]

He is a creative consultant with Applause Entertainment on an epic web series about Mahatma Gandhi, directed by Hansal Mehta. [51][52]

Overall, his filmography underscores his multimedia versatility – even as a quizmaster he has crossed into acting, often bringing a familiar intellectual presence to political or strategic characters in movies.[53]

Personal life

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Siddhartha Basu is married to Anita Kaul (now Anita Kaul Basu). Anita was a journalist with India Today (1983–88) before co-founding Synergy with Basu in 1988. The couple has two children: a son, Aditya, who works in the Hindi film industry; and a daughter, Medha, who has been working with international organizations in public policy and programmes. Basu often credits Anita for handling the business and logistics at Synergy, enabling him to focus on creative work. [11]

After decades leading BIG Synergy, Basu gradually stepped back from day-to-day management. In 2016, he officially relinquished his positions as Director, becoming a consultant and mentor, before signing off completely in 2018. Today, he is based in Delhi and remains active through Tree of Knowledge, DigiTOK and his quiz ventures. He is widely respected for his integrity and dedication: colleagues describe him as a “strict umpire” who insists on high standards, and media profiles emphasize his role in transforming quizzing from a niche pursuit into mainstream entertainment. [54]

Awards & recognition

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In 2010, BIG Synergy was named "Production House of the Year" at the Indian Television Awards.

In 2011, the BIG Synergy team won the "Indian of the Year – Entertainment" award of CNN-IBN.

Legacy and impact

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Over four decades, Siddhartha Basu has had a formative impact on Indian quizzing and television. He is often called the "Father of Indian TV quizzing" [55] for his role in creating, hosting and producing the country’s most beloved quiz programmes. Under his guidance quizzing became a popular “family entertainment” rather than a fringe academic activity. Shows he created or hosted not only tested knowledge but celebrated it, inspiring generations of students and viewers.

As journalist Udita Jhunjhunwala wrote in Mint[2], Basu is “most famous for championing formats that test general knowledge,” whether on TV or online. His work has been credited with encouraging a “factual culture” among Indian youth. Critics and fans alike, note that Basu treated quizzes not as trivial games but as theatrical events – complete with music, lights, and audience engagement – raising the bar for how knowledge could be presented on screen.

Today, Basu’s name is synonymous with quizzing excellence. Even outside India he is recognized (for example, as host of Mastermind India  and University Challenge India, both BBC programmes) for his style and scholarship. He has won multiple awards and honours in the TV industry, and younger quizmasters often cite him as an inspiration.

In 2024, Amitabh Bachchan noted Basu’s calm rigour behind the camera and how the show “changed our lives”[56].

For all these reasons, Siddhartha Basu remains a towering figure in Indian media: a quizmaster, producer and educator who turned questions into entertainment and learning into a national pastime.

Television credits

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Year(s) Title Language Season(s) Host Producer Host (if others) Broadcaster Notes
1985–86, 1988 Quiz Time English 1–3 Yes Yes - Doordarshan
1989 The India Quiz - The New Age English 1 Yes Yes - Doordarshan
1990 India Quiz Series on Freedom at 50 English 1 Yes Yes - Doordarshan
1993 Alpha Plus 1 No Yes Bhaskar Bhattacharya Doordarshan
1994 Spectrum - A 7-Nation SAARC Quiz English 1 Yes Yes - Doordarshan
1995 Akshar Mela Hindi 1 - 2 No Yes Joy Sengupta, Divya Seth Doordarshan
1995 Manch Masala Hindi 1 No Yes Ravi Baswani Doordarshan Metro
1997 The Beanstalk Quiz Summit English 1 Yes Yes - Doordarshan
1997 Aao Guess Kare Hindi 1 No Yes Divya Seth Home TV
1997 Jaane Kya Toone Kahi Hindi 1 No Yes Vandana Kilam, Ranganathan Home TV
1998 Kissa Kursi Ka Hindi 1 No Yes Annu Kapoor Zee TV
1998 A Question of Answers English 1 No Yes Vir Sanghvi Star World
1998–2002 Mastermind India English 1–5 Yes Yes - BBC World
1999 3... 2... 1... 1 yes Yes Star Plus
1999 Eureka 1 No Yes Partha Ghosh Star Plus
2000–2021 Kaun Banega Crorepati Hindi 1–13 No Yes Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan Star Plus / Sony TV
2003 Bluffmaster Hindi 1 No Yes Vinod Sharawat Star One
2003 Kamzor Kadii Kaun Hindi 1 No Yes Neena Gupta Star Plus
2003–2004 University Challenge India English 1–2 Yes Yes - BBC World
2004 India's Child Genius English 1 Yes Yes - Star World
2004 Howzzat Bengali 1 No Yes June Malia, Neel Mukherjee Tara Bangla
2005 Heartbeat – Dil Thhaam Ke Khelo Hindi 1 No Yes Mohan Kapur Star One
2005 Style Today English Yes Malvika Tiwari DD Metro
2006-07 Jhalak Dikhla Jaa Hindi 2 Yes Archana Puran Singh, Parmeet Sethi, Mona Singh, Rohit Roy Sony Entertainment Television
2006-07 Mum Tum Aur Hum Hindi 2 Yes Shruti Seth Star Plus
2006 Savithri Hindi Yes
2008 Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain Hindi Yes Shernaz Patel Imagine TV
2008 Bollywood Ka Boss Hindi 1 No Yes Boman Irani Sahara Filmy
2008 Jiya Jale Yes Sriti Jha, Saurabh Tiwari 9X
2008 Champs Yes Bindaas TV
2008-09 10 Ka Dum Hindi 2 No Yes Salman Khan Sony TV
2008–2011 Aap Ki Kachehri Hindi 1–3 No Yes Kiran Bedi Star Plus
2008 Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? Hindi 1 No Yes Shah Rukh Khan Star Plus
2009–12 Sacch Ka Saamna Hindi 1–2 -3 No Yes Rajeev Khandelwal Star Plus
2009-10 India's Got Talent Hindi Yes Ayushmann Khurana, Nikhil Chinappa Colors TV
2009 Khelo Jeeto Jiyo Hindi 1 No Yes Soha Ali Khan Star TV
2010 Game Aadi Life Change Maadi Kannada Yes Bhavana Ramanna
2010 Big Money Hindi 1 No Yes R. Madhavan Imagine TV [57]
2010 Vaazhvai Maatralam Vanga Tamil Yes Vijayalakshmi
2010 Dream Home Aadandi Life Marchukondi Yes
2010 Sports Ka Superstar Hindi 1 No Yes Mini Mathur Doordarshan
2011 Simi Selects India's Most Desirable English Simi Garewal Star World
2012 Foodistan English Yes Ira Dubey, Alyy Khan NDTV Good Times
2012 Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti Bengali Yes Saurav Ganguly Mahua Bangla
2012 Jawab Kinte Chai Bengali 1 No Yes Mir Afsar Ali Sananda TV
2012 Ke Bani Crorepati Bhojpuri Yes Shatrughan Sinha Mahua Bhojpuri
2012 Hindustan ke Hunarbaaz Hindi Yes Paras Tomar Life OK
2012 Laakhon Mein Ek Hindi Yes Star Plus
2012–13 Tech Grand Masters English 1–2 No Yes Rajiv Makhni NDTV
2014 Connexions Tamil Yes Jagan Star Vijay
2014 Connexions Telugu Yes Maa TV
2014 Evaru Meelo Koteeswarulu Telugu Yes Nagarjuna, Chiranjeevi Maa TV
Kannadada Kotyadhipati Kannada Yes Puneeth Rajkumar, Ramesh Arvind Star Suvarna
2012-13, 2015, 2017 Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran Malayalam 1-4 Yes Suresh Gopi Asianet
2012-13, 16 Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi Tamil 1-3 Yes Suriya, Prakash Raj, Arvind Swamy Star Vijay
2014–15 Spell Bee India English 1–3 No Yes Soha Ali Khan Discovery Channel
2013-23 Kon Honar Crorepati Marathi 1 Yes Sachin Khedekar Colors Marathi, Sony Marathi
2015 India Poochega Sabse Shaana Kaun? Hindi 1 No Yes Shah Rukh Khan &TV
2015-16 Sell Me The Answer Malayalam 2 No Yes Mukesh, Suraj Venjaramoodu Asianet
2015 Fastest Family First - Adi Mone Buzzer Malayalam 1 No Yes Govind Padmasoorya Asianet [58]
2016–19 News Wiz English 1–4 No Yes Rajdeep Sardesai India Today TV
2019 Kus Bani Koshur Karorpaet Kashmiri 1 No Yes Rayees Mohiuddin Doordarshan Kashir
2019 The Lallantop Quiz Hindi 1 No Yes Saurabh Dwivedi
2021 The Big Picture Hindi 1 No Yes Ranveer Singh Colors TV
2024 Quizzer of the Year (QOTY) English 1 Yes Yes - SonyLIV

Books

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  • Inquizitive -The India Quiz Book. Seagull Books Pvt. Ltd., 1989. ISBN 81-7046-067-0
  • Mastermind India with Siddhartha Basu. Teksons Bookshop in association with BBC Worldwide Ltd, 1999. ISBN 0-563-55197-6.
  • Mastermind India 2. Penguin Books India in association with BBC Worldwide, 2000. ISBN 0-141-00462-2.
  • Mastermind India 3. Penguin Books India in association with BBC Worldwide, 2001. ISBN 0-14-302768-9.
  • The Complete Mastermind India, Vol. 1. Penguin Books India, 2002. ISBN 0-67-004948-4.
  • Mastermind India 4. Penguin Books India and BBC Worldwide, 2003. ISBN 014302940-1.
  • Mastermind India 5. Penguin Books India and BBC Worldwide, 2004. ISBN 0-14-303051-5.
  • Kaun Banega Crorepati - The Official Book. Rupa, 2010. ISBN 978-81-291-1686-4
  • Know for Sure (Volume 1-8). Encyclopædia Britannica South Asia. ISBN 81-8131-262-7.
  • Indian Century. Dorling Kindersley Publishing Pvt. Ltd., 2018 ISBN 978-0-2413-1747-1.
  • Knowledge Bee (Volume 1-8). Indiannica Learning Pvt. Ltd., 2024. ISBN 978-81-962974-3-5

Filmography

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Year Film Role Language
2013 Madras Cafe Robin Dutt (RD), R&AW Chief of Counter Intelligence Hindi
2014 How Old Are You? President of India Malayalam
2015 36 Vayadhinile Tamil
2015 Bombay Velvet Romi Mehta, Barrister & Mayor of Bombay Hindi
2017 Tiger Zinda Hai Indian Minister of External Affairs Hindi
2025 The Mehta Boys Saumik Sen, Amay's boss and head of Sen & Sons Hindi

References

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  1. ^ a b ANI (13 April 2024). "Siddhartha Basu, who created a buzz with his quiz shows, set to return as host after almost 20 years". ThePrint. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Jhunjhunwala, Udita (2 July 2023). "Siddhartha Basu on a life in quizzing". mint. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Episode 420: Siddhartha Basu Is in the Hot Seat". The Seen and the Unseen. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Quizzitok". YouTube. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b "The Quizzitok Podcast with Siddhartha Basu". Spotify. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  6. ^ "The drama of Barry John's life". The Times of India. 23 November 2002. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b "How UK-born Barry John turned generations of Indians into theatre professionals". The Indian Express. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Alumni Archive". Barry John Acting Studio. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  9. ^ ""At 22, I was madly in love with theatre, but there was no money in it," says Lillete Dubey". Hindustan Times. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Born in Kolkata: Siddhartha Basu". Daakbangla. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  12. ^ [1] Dance Like a Man: A Stage Play in Two Acts
  13. ^ "80 years of AIR: Legends and milestones". Hindustan Times. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
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  15. ^ "Pradip Krishen's journey from film to forest". caravanmagazine.in. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Siddhartha Basu says knowledge is a great leveller". The Hindu. 3 July 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  17. ^ "SYNERGY COMMUNICATIONS PVT LTD". ZaubaCorp. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  18. ^ "'Mastermind' Basu to host cricket quiz". The Times of India. 25 April 2003. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  19. ^ Basu, Judhajit (5 December 2012). "The riddler's next move". Fortune India. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  20. ^ https://plus.google.com/107324234873078450867 (21 August 2015). "In conversation with Anita Kaul Basu". admin.indiantelevision.com. Retrieved 22 August 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/t2-gets-some-answers-from-the-nbsp-ke-hobe-nbsp-banglar-kotipoti-men-mdash-prosenjit-and-siddhartha-basu/cid/1433096
  22. ^ Service, Express News (17 January 2024). "A pleasure to coach Bachchan, Ganguly, and Suresh Gopi: Siddhartha Basu". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  23. ^ Chopra, V. Shankar NayarAnupama (10 August 2025). "From the India Today archives (2000) | Kaun Banega Crorepati: Big B's small-screen gamble 25 years ago". India Today. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Throwback to the time when Shah Rukh Khan wanted to host Kaun Banega Crorepati till he was 60 like Amitabh Bachchan". The Times of India. 6 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Kaun Banega Crorepati | Indian television show | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Kaun Banega Crorepati: Throwback to when the Narula brothers won Rs 7 crore jackpot". The Times of India. 24 July 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  27. ^ "Kaun Banega Crorepati: Throwback to when the Narula brothers won Rs 7 crore jackpot". The Times of India. 24 July 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Amitabh Bachchan panics, feels the pressure when KBC contestants give wrong answers: Siddhartha Basu says over Rs 200 cr has been given as prize money on show". The Indian Express. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Amitabh Bachchan put one condition before he said yes to Kaun Banega Crorepati: Siddhartha Basu". The Indian Express. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  30. ^ Farzeen, Sana (3 July 2025). "KBC turns 25: Amitabh Bachchan-show was a media quake, says creator Siddhartha Basu". India Today. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
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