Amitabh Bachchan’s Kaun Banega Crorepati first aired on TV in 2002.
Harshwardhan Nawathe
Amitabh Bachchan’s popular quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, first aired on our television sets in 2000. It has been 25 years since the show has been dominating Indian television. Twenty-five years ago, Harshvardhan Nawathe became the first crorepati on the show. He is now a successful businessman and a CEO.
According to a report by HR Today, last year, Harshvardhan Nawathe became the CEO of JSW Foundation, the social development wing of the JSW Group. Before this, he worked for the company as their Chief Operating Officer. He has also previously worked for companies like NatWest Group, Welspun Group and Mahindra Group.
Nawathe recently returned to the show to mark its 25 years and said, “Ghar wapasi ki jo feeling hoti hai, voh hai. Pacchis (25) saal bohot bada period hota hai… yahan aake mujhe bohot zyada khushi ho rahi hai. KBC ne mujhe bohot recognition diya. Paisa toh khair mila hi par bohot adulation mila. Bohot logo ka pyaar mila.”
“Maine kabhi socha nahi tha apne jeevan main ki ek show jeetne ke baad aapko log itne saal tak yaad rakhte hain. Itna pyaar milta hai, marine kabhi apne jeevan main nahi socha tha. Lekin yeh sach hai. Aaj bhi mujhe log milte hain aur mera naam sunte hain toh KBC zaroor unke zubaan pe aata hai,” he said.
In 2021, Nawathe spoke to the Hindustan Times about how the show changed his life. He said, “Post the show, I got recognition and financial security. Obviously, popularity changes the way people look at you. Meeting people and being recognised at various platforms has been wonderful.”
Nawathe added, “One has to be clear about the direction you want to take in life to be successful in life. During the initial few months, I lived the life of a rock star. There would be people waiting for autographs in my building complex. One couldn’t move around easily and needed some security. So for a long time, I got police protection.” However, he also noted that the fame would be fleeting and life would go back to normal.
