The excitement is buzzing today as the seventeenth season of the beloved TV quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, kicks off on August 11. This show, hosted by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, first graced our screens in 2000. For over two decades, it has captivated millions. People eagerly await each new season, hoping to see contestants turn their knowledge into life-changing fortunes. The show has truly minted many millionaires. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and celebrate the sharp minds and steady nerves who’ve conquered the hot seat.
Kaun Banega Crorepati isn’t just a game; it’s a testament to dreams. Contestants show amazing intelligence and patience. Over the years, many brilliant individuals have sat across from Mr. Bachchan. They’ve faced tough questions and walked away with incredible prize money.
Early Victories and Big Breaks
The very first season of KBC began on July 3, 2000. It quickly became a phenomenon. Harshvardhan Nawathe from Mumbai became the show’s first millionaire, taking home one crore rupees. After a break, the second season arrived on August 5, 2005. Brijesh Dubey from Madhya Pradesh also won one crore rupees, proving the dream was alive.
In 2007, the third season aired with a different host, Shah Rukh Khan. Interestingly, this season didn’t crown any millionaires. Amitabh Bachchan returned for the fourth season, which started on August 2, 2010. Rahat Taslim from Jharkhand was the big winner, securing one crore rupees. The fifth season in 2011 was truly remarkable. Sushil Kumar from Bihar made history by winning five crore rupees. Another Bihari contestant, Anil Kumar Sinha, also won one crore in the same season.
The show continued its winning streak. The sixth season ran from September 2012 to January 2013. Sunmeet Kaur from Mumbai impressively won five crore rupees. The seventh season in September 2013 saw two winners, Firoz Fatima and Taj Mohammed Rangrez, each taking home one crore rupees. The eighth season in 2014 was a family affair. Brothers Achin and Sarthak Narula from Delhi won a massive seven crore rupees. The ninth season featured Anamika Majumdar from Jharkhand, who also achieved the one crore mark.
Recent Triumphs and Continued Success
In 2018, the tenth season crowned Bineeta Jain from Guwahati with one crore rupees. Season eleven was quite special, with four contestants winning one crore each. They were Sanoj Raj, Babita Tade, Ajit Kumar, and Gautam Kumar Jha. The twelfth season, which aired from September 2020 to January 2021, also had two one-crore winners: Nazia Nasim, an officer from Delhi, and Mohita Sharma, an IPS officer from Himachal Pradesh.
The thirteenth season, running from August to December 2021, celebrated two more millionaires: Himani Bundela and Sahil Aditya Ahirwar, both winning one crore rupees. The fourteenth season in 2023 saw Kavita Chawla achieve the one crore milestone. Jasneel Kumar was the winner of the fifteenth season, also taking home one crore rupees. Most recently, Chander Prakash from Kashmir became the winner of the sixteenth season, securing one crore rupees.
As the seventeenth season begins, we can only imagine what new stories of triumph and intelligence will unfold. KBC continues to be a beacon of hope and a thrilling showcase of human knowledge.