'KBC's' First Winner Harshvardhan Nawathe: From Dreaming Of Being IAS Officer, To Signing Autographs

Amitabh Bachchan hosted quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati has been a hit since 2000. When the first season aired 25 years ago, Harshvardhan Nawathe was famous overnight as the first crorepati on the show. KBC is all set to celebrate 25 years of making contestants' dreams a reality with the Gyan Ka Rajat Mahotsav segment. Now, the show witnessed Harshvardhan, who relived his iconic experience of being KBC's first crorepati. Now the big question is who is Harshvardhan whose tables turned overnight in 2000?

Harshvardhan Nawathe does a corporate job

According to a Navbharat Times report, Harshvardhan resides in Mumbai and reportedly works for a multinational company. He has been the head of Corporate Social Responsibility at the prestigious Mahindra Group since early 2019. He has gained top fame in the corporate industry and is blessed with two sons. Harshvardhan's wife is Sarika who is very active on Instagram. Earlier in an interview with BBC, he claimed that people's attitude towards him changed after he became a crorepati. After gaining the whopping amount, he went abroad, reportedly to complete his education and invest the money wisely.

After becoming famous, Harshvardhan also received many offers in the acting and modelling sector. He was also called the chief guest for many school and college events.

Harshvardhan Nawathe was preparing for Civil Service exams when he took part in KBC

Harshvardhan, earlier in an interview with ETimes, shared that he wanted to become an IAS officer, but his dream remained unfulfilled as he had participated in KBC. He spoke of preparing for the IAS exam, but his focus was diverted, and he could not clear the exam. However, Harshvardhan became a star and noted:

"It gave me a platform and 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 and I had to be in Mumbai because there were some PR contacts. I was involved in many things at that point of time. 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."

Harshvardhan's mother motivated him to take part in KBC

Harshvardhan, going ahead in the interview, shared he was in Delhi, preparing for IAS, when the show started, and he could see the posters of the show everywhere. He came to Mumbai on August 1, 2000, and KBC started in June. He used to watch the Amitabh-hosted show with his family and could answer most of the questions. He said:

"My mother who brought it to my notice that you are sitting and answering all the questions why don't you try. That's how I started trying. My mother is the one who pushed me to do this."

Harshvardhan Nawathe's work front

The man cracked all KBC questions in 21 minutes and was the first person to win Rs. 1 crore. When he came back to Mumbai in 2005, he joined  IL&FS, which is a finance-based company. It was in 2007 that he became the state director of Naandi Foundation, and in 2009, he became the COO of Naandi Community Water Services. He then worked for a Dutch-based recruitment company. 

It is interesting to note Amitabh's makeup man, Deepak Sawant was told by the veteran actor to do the touchup on Harshvardhan. He had by then cracked the Rs. 1 crore question and for Harshwardhan the feeling was special as Deepak was Amitabh's personal makeup man.

What do you think of Kaun Banega Crorepati's first winner, Harshvardhan Nawathe?

Also Read: Rekha Talked About Her On-Sided Love For Amitabh Bachchan, 'Rozana Hum Mar Mar Ke Jee Rahe Hain...'

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