Ishit Bhatt, the 10-year-old from Gandhinagar, did not just arrive on the Kaun Banega Crorepati hot seat; he took command of it. The fifth-grade student went viral before his episode even aired for his audacious instruction to host Amitabh Bachchan: “Mere ko rules pata hai isliye aap mereko abhi rules samjhane mat baithna.”
This tone, a blend of sharp intellect and undeniable brashness, set the stage for one of the most polarizing contestant runs of the season, culminating in an eventual defeat that left the internet overwhelmingly satisfied.
Bhatt started his game with a streak of correct answers, often demanding the host skip options and lock his response immediately. His confidence was visible in his quick, often curt interactions, where he challenged the format and the customary deference shown to the iconic host. This approach earned him quick success but also drew early criticism for perceived rudeness and a profound lack of humility.
However, the game of knowledge, which requires patience and pause, turned on him at the relatively low Rs 25,000 mark. The question revolved around Hindu scripture: “What is the name of the first Kanda (section/book) of the Valmiki Ramayana?”
Facing a difficult question for the first time, Ishit finally waited for the options. After considering his choice, he selected his answer with characteristic bravado, instructing Bachchan, “Sir ek kya uss mein chaar lock lagado, lekin lock karo.” His selected answer, Ayodhya Kanda, proved tragically incorrect. The correct response was Bala Kanda.
The entire auditorium fell silent as Ishit’s public display of overconfidence deflated in real-time. Losing at this stage meant he failed to secure the base winning amount, forcing him to exit the show with zero prize money. Reflecting on the moment, Amitabh Bachchan offered a gentle, yet pointed critique: “Kabhi kabhi bachhe over confidence mein galti kar dete hai,” suggesting that haste, not a lack of knowledge, was the true culprit.
The reaction on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was immediate and brutal. Many users saw his exit as a perfect, karmic conclusion to his aggressive demeanour. The debate quickly pivoted from the child’s conduct to his upbringing, sparking a national conversation about modern parenting.
One popular user reaction captured the sentiment: “Very satisfying ending! Not saying this about the kid, but the parents. If you can’t teach your kids humility, patience, and manners, they turn out to be such rude overconfident lot.”
Another netizen stated simply, “Perfect ending. Arrogance got schooled.” The overwhelming verdict was that knowledge without respect is insufficient, and Ishit Bhatt’s zero-rupee exit served as a public lesson for both the contestant and the parents cheering him on from the sidelines. The episode is now widely cited as a cautionary tale of intellectual hubris on live television, and a lesson whose reminder will doubtlessly be repeated to Bhatt many times in the years to come.
