Ishit Bhatt, a 10-year-old Class 5 student from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, became the center of a social media storm after his appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 17 on October 13, 2025. During the episode, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, Ishit’s overconfidence—interrupting the host and dismissing rules—led to widespread criticism, with netizens labeling him “rude” and “arrogant.” Within hours, discussions escalated into comparisons with previous child contestants like Arunoday Sharma from Season 16, who was hailed as the “ideal child.” The episode, aired on Sony Entertainment Television, drew 8.5 million viewers and trended on X with #KBCKidIshit, highlighting generational clashes on manners, parenting, and the pressure on young participants amid India’s 467 million social media users in the ₹101 billion entertainment industry.
The Episode: From Quick Wit to Quick Backlash
Ishit, a bright fifth-grader, entered the hot seat with poise, answering the first four questions without needing options and confidently telling Bachchan, “Mereko rules pata hain, isliye aap mereko abhi rules samjhane mat baithna” (I know the rules, so don’t explain them to me now). His assertiveness charmed initially, but interruptions like “Sir, just ask” and “Mereko options daalo” (Give me the options) during later questions shifted perceptions. The fifth question on Valmiki Ramayana stumped him, ending his run with ₹25,000. Social media erupted: Comments like “Rude kid—poor parenting” flooded under clips, with one X user stating, “Ishit Bhatt ke rude behaviour ke baad yaha aaya hu” (I came here after Ishit Bhatt’s rude behavior), referencing Sharma’s episode. The backlash targeted Ishit’s parents, sparking a “leaderboard of manners” debate.
The ‘Ideal Child’ War: Arunoday Sharma vs. Ishit Bhatt
Netizens quickly pivoted to canonizing Arunoday Sharma, a Season 16 contestant praised for his calm, respectful demeanor. “Ishit vs. Arunoday: Rude kid vs. polite one,” became a viral narrative, with old Sharma clips resurfacing as the “adars balak” (ideal boy). Comments like “Arunoday was calm and enlightened—look at this kid!” fueled the “Sharma ji ka beta” trope, comparing the boys’ behaviors as if on a leaderboard. Ishit was dubbed the “most hated kid on the Internet,” while Sharma was idealized. This “war of ideal children” extended to Rudra Chitte, another recent contestant, but the Ishit-Arunoday binary dominated, with 1.5 million X mentions in 24 hours.
The Deeper Debate: Parenting, Pressure, and Six-Pocket Syndrome
The controversy ignited broader discussions on parenting and child behavior. Many blamed Ishit’s “overconfidence” on a lax upbringing, with a Chandigarh teacher, Shekhar Dutt, tweeting, “This is the Six-Pocket Syndrome—kids with everything handed to them lack humility.” Others defended Ishit, attributing it to nervousness: “He’s 10—excited, not rude.” Child psychologist Dr. Seema Hingorani said, “Overconfidence stems from high expectations; parents should foster empathy over achievement.” The episode’s timing, amid declining KBC TRPs (down 5% from Season 16), amplified scrutiny, with viewers petitioning for “polite kids” segments.
Lessons in Grace Under Spotlight
Ishit’s episode, while controversial, highlights pressures on child prodigies—KBC has featured 20 kids since 2000, but few spark such discourse. Arunoday, now a “benchmark,” faces unintended canonization, while Ishit’s family endured trolls. In India’s diverse 780-language landscape, the “ideal child” hunt reflects societal values: achievement vs. humility. Bachchan, 83, handled it gracefully, later praising Ishit’s intelligence. As discussions rage, it asks: Can comparisons crush curiosity? Ishit’s story, from hot seat to hot topic, proves yes—but also sparks growth.
A Hot Seat of Humility
Ishit Bhatt’s KBC episode isn’t a failure—it’s a mirror to our judgments. Pitted against Arunoday Sharma, it reveals: In the quest for ‘ideal,’ do we idealize perfection? His overconfidence, though critiqued, underscores a truth: Childhood thrives in grace, not grades.
-By Manoj H