Kaun Banega Crorepati's latest season to air tonight; know how KBC 2015 winner Sushil Kumar went from riches to rags and called winning Rs 5 crore 'the worst phase of his life'

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, August 7

Kaun Banega Crorepati is one of the most popular TV reality shows. The major charm to it is that Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan hosts it.

The show offers an opportunity for the common man to be a millionaire or even a billionaire by testing knowledge from various fields.

The new season of KBC is set to air on Sony Entertainment Television on Sunday at 9 pm.

While KBC has given many crorepatis and lakhpatis in the past, the name of Sushil Kumar always springs up when talking about a small town man who made it big with his intelligence.

However, Kumar winning the cash prize of Rs 5 crore turned out to be the worst phase of his life, as he claims.

According to a news report by TOI, Kumar instead of making better choices for himself, Kumar fell into deep depression after winning the sum.

He posted about his ordeal on his Facebook page with the caption, 'The Worst Period of My Life.'

Sushil began his report by writing “2015-2016 was the most challenging time of my life. I didn't know what to do. I was a local celebrity in Bihar. I was drifting away from studies. And because I was a local celebrity, I took the media very seriously during those days.”

He further wrote about being fooled after KBC by offering donations to fake accounts. He said “After KBC, I became a philanthropist. I was addicted to 'secret donations' and would donate about Rs 50,000 in a month. Due to this, a lot of times, people cheated on me, which I came to know only later after the donations were made.”

Sushil had stated back then that “I came in contact with a few boys studying media in Jamia Millia, those studying at the IIMC, and also a few others who were studying research in JNU. I also got introduced to some theatre artists. However, when these students and artists would talk about a subject, I would feel intimidated and realised that I didn't know much about other topics or subjects. Slowly, I got addicted to alcohol and smoking, in addition to other things.”

Sushil had said that his life story started imitating that of a movie. He wrote “And how did I become bankrupt? You will find the story a little 'filmy'. The other night, while I was watching the film 'Pyasa', my wife started shouting that I’ll go mad watching the same film over and over again. She asked me to leave the room. I shut my laptop and went out for a stroll. I was sad because we hadn't spoken for over a month. And while I was walking, a journalist from an English newspaper called. While everything was going fine, suddenly he asked me something which left me irritated. So, I randomly told him that all my money was exhausted and I had two cows and was surviving by selling milk and earning some money off it. And after that, all of you must be aware of the impact of that news. Soon after, all those who I was surrounded by, cornered themselves. I wasn't invited to events anymore and that's when I got some time to think about what I should do next. I was a big cinema fan; I had watched almost all national award-winning and Oscar-winning films. I started dreaming of becoming a film director.”

He also penned down how his marriage was getting affected. "Meanwhile, my wife and I had a huge spat after which, she left for her maternal home and asked for a divorce. It was then that I realised, if I have to save my marriage. I had to become a film director and earn myself a fresh identity. I spoke to a producer friend. Soon after, I started working at a big production house. But I felt restless."

He revealed how he had plans of making it big in Mumbai and how they went downhill instead. He stated, “I had come to Mumbai with the dream of becoming a film director, but then I left one day and started staying with one of my lyricist friends. I would lay in bed all day, watch films or read books. This continued for about six months and I became a chain smoker. Since I was staying all by myself, I got an opportunity to look at myself objectively. And I realised a lot of things. I realised I was an escaper who was running away from the truth.”

After leaving Mumbai, Sushil went back home and began a new life. “Later, I left Mumbai and returned home. I prepared to become a teacher. I sailed through. I involved myself in various environmental awareness projects that brought me peace. I have been better since March 2016 and quit smoking in 2019. At present, there is always a sense of enthusiasm in life, and I pray that I get several opportunities to work in enhancing the environment. I want to only earn for my survival now,” he had said.

While we have heard many stories of people going from rags to riches, this riches to rag one that eventually saw an improved balance is our motivation as well.

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