The craze for 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' is still alive and wide - over five million people participated in the first phase of auditions of "KBC 4".

The registration process was opened Sep 1 by megastar and host Amitabh Bachchan on Sony Entertainment Television.

Already, 1,233 registrations have been shortlisted from auditions held in six cities - Lucknow, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, said a Sony press statement.

The audition process is divided into two segments - classroom test followed by a personality test.

"'Kaun Banega Crorepati' is a show for the common man. A platform that gives each Indian the prospect of making it to the hot seat," Ajit Thakur, executive vice president and business head of Sony Entertainment Television, said.

"KBC audition is probably the biggest 'joint entrance exam' in India where successful registrants from across the country, from different socio-economic backgrounds will compete to get an opportunity of a lifetime - sit on the hot seat opposite India's iconic superstar, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and win a life changing amount," he added.

"KBC" is based on the British show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?".

The first season was launched on Star Plus in 2000 with Amitabh as the host. He returned with the second season in 2005, after which superstar Shah Rukh Khan took over the baton in 2007.

The fourth season is expected to go on air Oct 11, on Bachchan's birthday.