Bhubaneswar: Sunil Tandi, a District Welfare Officer from Sundergarh who has become a household name in Odisha overnight after winning Rs 50 lakh in the Amitabh Bachchan -hosted quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 9’ has attributed his success to 17 long years of persistent hard work.
“Although I am a district welfare officer I have been sincerely trying to get into the famous reality show ever since I was a student. I had also tried in the previous editions of the show but I have never been so lucky,” Tandi said during an exclusive interview to OTV.
Asked how he felt when it all started, Tandi said he was in seventh heaven. I was speechless when I received a call confirming that I have been selected to contest. When the show started I was extremely nervous but Bachchan Ji fully cooperated with me to calm down my nerves so that I could concentrate on my answers, Tandi said.
Speaking of his experience in playing alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Tandi said, interaction with the Big B on the hot seat was one of the most memorable experiences of his life. “I never expected that Bachchan Ji is so humble and down to earth,” he said.
Tandi further stated that he will use the jackpot amount to fulfil his wife’s longstanding wish to go on a vacation to a foreign country. “I have decided to take my wife on a foreign tour to Maldives, he said.
The government officer is the first person from Odisha to win Rs 50 lakh in this season of KBC which has been constantly topping TRP charts as the most watched television show in India.
Sunil completed as many as 14 rounds out of the total 16 rounds. However, left with no more lifelines, he decided to quit the game and proudly walked away with Rs 50 lakh.