MUMBAI, Aug 27 — “I have known James Packer for several years, we are good friends and have worked together in some projects. But there are no immediate plans for us to come together to work on a quiz show to be telecast over Doordarshan’s metro network. However, I do not rule out such a project in the future,” said Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

In an exclusive telephonic interview with this reporter, Bachchan termed media reports that he was considering hosting a quiz show on the lines of his present highly popular, “Kaun Banega Crorepati,” with James Packer, son of Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer of Channel I fame, as “highly premature”. Yes, he had met James Packer in Mumbai recently but they exchanged pleasantries and did not discuss any business.

According to reports the Packer-sponsored quiz programme titled, “Greed” will be telecast during prime time over the Metro channel of Doordarshan and carry prize money worth millions of dollars. This is much higher than the Rs 1 crore jackpot offered by the “Crorepati” show which is telecast four times a week by the Star Plus channel. So far, no one has won the jackpot, the highest winner had to be content with Rs 50 lakh.

Bachchan’s fees for hosting the “Crorepati” show, according to unconfirmed reports is in crores. This is due to his star quality and the simple fact that no other person can carry off the show as he can. Take away Amitabh, the show will be nothing, according to many viewers all over India.

Meanwhile, sources close to Star Plus channel, while acknowledging the reality of the Amitabh-James Packer meeting pointed out it would be difficult if not impossible for Bachchan to get out of the contract he had signed with them. According to the terms of the contract, Bachchan was to host nearly 300 more episodes of the “Crorepati” show and this may take another year and a half or more. The popularity of quiz shows was quite nebulous and who knows if they would retain their present popularity, the sources wondered.