KBC's first crorepati Harshvardhan Nawathe went to UK after winning Rs 1 crore, reveals how he spent the money

Kaun Banega Crorepati’s first Rs 1 crore winner Harshvardhan Nawathe became a household name overnight, but the quiz show changed much more than his public identity. Years after his landmark win, Harshvardhan revealed in a chat with The Times Of India how his mother pushed him to audition, how the prize money gave him the freedom to study abroad and how Amitabh Bachchan made his winning moment even more memorable.

Harshvardhan Nawathe was still preparing for his civil services exams when he won Rs 1 crore on Kaun Banega Crorepati. The win changed his plans and gave him the financial freedom to explore options he may not otherwise have considered. “It gave me a platform as I was a student back then, I was preparing for my civil services and life changed drastically. I couldn’t pursue for my civil services because my interest was lost. I had to be in Mumbai because there were some PR contacts. I was involved in many things at that point of time.”

He said the money gave him the freedom to take risks with his career. “I would say the platform that KBC gave me was like a net and then I could experiment with life. I went to UK, I did not have to take huge amount of loan. I did my MBA. I came back and started with my professional career. It was a net, it allowed me to experiment a little more than I would have. That is what changed in my life.”

Amitabh Bachchan’s Special Gesture After The Rs 1 Crore Win

Harshvardhan also remembered a special moment involving Amitabh Bachchan immediately after he answered the Rs 1 crore question correctly. He said the cameras went off for a commercial break, but he already knew that he had won the jackpot. “I remember this moment very clearly, and I’m sharing it for the first time. After I answered the Rs 1 crore question, Mr Bachchan announced a commercial break, saying, ‘Ab hum lete hain chhota sa break,’ and we went off air. During the actual shoot, these breaks are usually very short, around 30 seconds, before the cameras start rolling again. By that point, I already knew that I had answered the final question correctly.”