KBC’s only Rs 7 cr winners Achin-Sarthak Narula on how ‘humble’ Amitabh Bachchan helped, what they did with the money, SRK’s compliment

Maha Crorepatis of #KBC Season 8 Achin Narula and Sarthak Narula recount their setback to comeback journey. #KBC12 starts tomorrow at 9 pm only on Sony. @SrBachchan @SPNStudioNEXT pic.twitter.com/edhlXum39c

— sonytv (@SonyTV) September 27, 2020

“It is one of the high points of our lives,” Achin told indianexpress.com in an exclusive interview, reflecting on their historic win. For Sarthak, who was preparing for a government job then, it was the most surreal day of his life. “Such moments can never be erased. They never fade away,” he said. “When we headed to the show, winning Rs 7 crores was beyond our imagination—we thought we would be able to manage Rs 25 lakh, at the most. But once we got the call, we began preparing more aggressively.”

Recalled the nerves they felt as the game began, sitting before Mr Bachchan for the first time, Sarthak said, “You have to enjoy the moment while keeping track of the clock. After the first two-three questions, you start to get comfortable, but it’s crucial to use the lifelines wisely and maintain your composure, keeping your mannerisms correct, so you don’t make a fool of yourself.”

Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan salutes KBC big winners’ determination, intelligence

Sharing their experience sitting opposite a megastar like Amitabh Bachchan, they said, “We are all in awe of him–he is a very humble person, and puts you at ease. The team also briefs you not to get carried away, as that’s where mistakes are bound to happen.”

Sarthak and Achin Narula on KBC 8 with Amitabh Bachchan (Photo: Achin Narula)

As a show that can change your fate overnight, lakhs of people dream of being in the hot seat. “It took me 10 years to reach that hot seat,” said Achin. “The process is lengthy, tedious, and transparent. I qualified for the auditions five times, and on my fifth attempt, I made it to the Fastest Finger First round. From there, I finally reached the hot seat. I had been trying since 2004.” Sarthak said, “Before I won the show, I had started preparing for government jobs, and that preparation helped me during KBC too. It was also why my brother chose me as his partner. Fortunately, we participated in the Jodi round together. He used to take our father, but when this opportunity came, he saw that I was better prepared.”

Being the only “maha-crorepatis” in KBC’s history, we asked the brothers how life changed after the win. “It changed people’s perception of us and boosted our confidence,” Achin said. Sarthak said, “We gained recognition quickly, and with it came the confidence to pursue other career paths. I was very young when I won the show, and that confidence helped me face other challenges in life. It’s been a blessing, but fame comes with a lot of responsibility too. Sometimes, people ask uncomfortable questions, and you have to stay calm. They seek your advice, expecting your intelligence to benefit them as well. People started to discuss things a lot more than they used to.”

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KBC 8 winners Sarthak and Achin Narula with their mom (Photo: Achin Narula)

Achin said he bought himself his first iPhone after becoming maha-crorepatis. “It was an iPhone 6, and I still have it with me,” he said. Sarthak revealed that he treated himself to a trip abroad. Having experienced the world of KBC firsthand, the brothers vouched for the fact that the show is not scripted. “It is not scripted. It has become a bit more melodramatic in the recent seasons, especially since moving to a different channel, where the focus is more on the contestant’s story. But, there’s never a script involved,” said Achin. “They do record a few reactions in the last five minutes, but otherwise, the essence and soul of the show are real,” said Sarthak.

Also Read: KBC gets its first 7 crore winner in two brothers

A particularly special moment for the Narula brothers was receiving a compliment from Shah Rukh Khan. Sharing more about it, Achin said, “We met Shah Rukh Khan when he was promoting Happy New Year with his team, and he told us he had watched our episode on TV. That was a huge compliment. He congratulated us and praised how well we played. When someone you’ve grown up watching suddenly acknowledges your achievement, it means a lot.”

Achin and Sarthak Narula with Happy New Year team on KBC (Photo: Achin Narula)

As they reminisced on the day everything changed, we asked the Narula brothers for a tip they would give to participants in the latest season. Sarthak said that while knowledge is key, being calm is equally important. Achin said, “The game has become tougher over the years, with each season introducing new lifelines and strategy changes. My strategy was to save the lifelines for the more difficult questions. Also, one should focus on the question—many people get distracted by showcasing other talents and lose sight of the question. I used the technique of eliminating wrong choices because the questions are often very twisted. Over time, they’ve become even more twisted, so you need to carefully evaluate every answer.”

“I used to participate in quiz competitions as a child, but never won. I would often feel frustrated because I used to know the answers. But, during the most important quiz of my life, I got all the answers right,” said Achin.

Achin, with Sarthak, achieved his 20-year-old dream 10 years ago. Today, they run their own business successfully–a chain of Tea Cafes in the corporate sector.