It has been eighteen years since the show Kaun Banega Crorepati first aired on television. It is based on the UK game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. But what’s amazing about Amitabh Bachchan’s game show is the number of lives which have changed because of the show. It was a new concept for the Indian audience and raised the hopes of the Indian middle class who felt thrilled each time the contestants took the prize money home!
Harshwardhan Nawathe, 1st Season, 1 Cr.
Life definitely changed for 27-year-old Harshwardhan Nawathe when he became the first contestant to win ₹ 1 crore in the first season itself. He was preparing for Indian Civil Services when he got a call for KBC, and after winning the show, he became a mini-celebrity. Nawathe presently works with Mahindra & Mahindra.
Rahat Taslim, 4th Season, 1 Cr.
Rahat Taslim was denied the right to education by her father who did not want to waste money on her education. So while she was preparing for her medical entrance examination, she was married off. She won ₹1 crore and opened a garment showroom in a mall in Giridh and became the first woman to win a sum of Rs 1 crore on the show.
Sushil Kumar, 5th Season, 5 Cr.
Not just the winner but the audience and the masses rejoiced at the phenomenal success of Sushil Kumar, a computer operator from Motihari in Bihar, who went on to win ₹ 5 crore on the hot seat. He became the first contestant in the show’s history to win such a huge sum.
Sunmeet Kaur, 6th Season, 5 Cr.
Sunmeet Kaur’s story is that of hard work and hope. Despite a degree in fashion designing, she was not allowed to pursue a career in designing by her in-laws. But she did not give up on her dreams and started a tiffin service centre.
Achin Narula and Sarthak Narula, 8th Season, 7 Cr.
Achin Narula and Sarthak Narula won the sum of Rs 7 crore. Marriage proposals started to pour in immediately after the Delhi brothers jointly won a whopping sum of ₹ 7 crore. It was after 10 years of continuous effort to reach the hot seat that the duo got a chance to participate. The brothers used the money for their mother’s cancer treatment and open a business of their own.
Anamika Majumdar, 9th Season, 1 Cr.
Anamika Majumdar who is a housewife and NGO worker from Jharkhand. She became the first crorepati of the season and used the money towards uplifting women in Jharkand.
Also read: Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 10: Amitabh Bachchan’s most iconic moments of all time