KBC 17: The hot seat turned cold for rollover contestant Asha Dhiryan on the latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 17, as a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tree-planting diplomacy proved to be her Rs 7,50,000 stumbling block.
Dhiryan had sailed through to the half-million mark in the previous episode, returning with confidence to tackle the game’s trickier territories. However, even Amitabh Bachchan’s reassuring presence couldn’t save her from a botanical blunder that sent her packing.
The Million-Rupee Mix-Up on KBC 17
Big B posed the fateful question: “In July 2025, as a part of India’s Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, PM Shri Narendra Modi planted saplings of which tree in the Maldives?” The options presented were coconut, jackfruit, mango, and banyan.
Dhiryan confidently selected banyan, perhaps thinking of India’s majestic national tree. Unfortunately, the correct answer was mango—a choice that would have reflected both cultural symbolism and India’s beloved national fruit.
Unused Ammunition
What made the moment particularly poignant was Dhiryan’s strategic oversight. She still possessed two unused lifelines—50-50 and Audience Poll—that could have potentially saved her quiz show dreams. Bachchan, ever the gracious host, gently pointed out this missed opportunity, suggesting she could have played it safer.
The Campaign’s Significance
The question highlighted the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, launched in 2024 to encourage Indians to plant trees honouring their mothers. This environmental movement gained momentum across schools, communities, and state governments before expanding internationally.
Modi’s July 2025 gesture of planting mango saplings in the Maldives represented more than environmental consciousness—it symbolized cultural diplomacy, with the mango tree serving as an ambassador of Indian heritage and ecological awareness on foreign soil.
All about KBC 17:
KBC 17 continues its tradition of blending knowledge with human stories, premiering August 11 and airing Monday through Friday at 9 PM on Sony Entertainment Television. The show remains a testament to how quiz formats can transform ordinary people into temporary celebrities while testing both their knowledge and nerve.
Dhiryan’s journey, though cut short, exemplifies the show’s enduring appeal—where preparation meets pressure, and sometimes even the sweetest answers can turn sour.
