KBC 11 has finally found its first crorepati. MUSBA HASHMI speaks with SANOJ RAJ, a 25-year-old Civil Services aspirant from Bihar, about what it took to reach the hot seat

Sitting on the hot seat with Big B right in front is every Indian’s dream. While it come true for some, others merely enjoy Big-B’s aura on their TV screens. Kaun Banega Crorepati has turned eleven and after almost one month into the new season, the show has finally found its first crorepati. Yes, you read that right. A 25-year-old boy from Bihar’s Jehanabad district, Sanoj Raj, has become the first contestant to have won `1 crore. He went on attempting the koti ki choti prashan — `7 crore question, but decided to quit the game.

Raj, an engineer by profession, who lives in a joint family, is preparing for the Civil Services. It took Raj, hours of studying and months of preparations to crack the KBC code.

“I worked as an engineer for two-and-a-half years. I was paid well. But, I decided to give up on my job and concentrate on my Civil Services preparations. I used to study for hours and gather as much information as possible. I used to read a lot of books as well,” he says.

The adage, life is not a bed of roses, holds true to Raj, who was trying to enter the show for the last eight years, but failed.

“Not even for once did I think that I should quit. I knew I have to be on the hot seat, no matter how long it will take. I was confident that I will make it there one day. And that time came on Friday,” he says and tells you that it doesn’t took him any extra preparations for the show but what he studied for the Civil Services.

It was nothing short of a festivity in Raj’s family when they got to know about his selection. “My uncle got a call from the team that I was selected in KBC. He then went on to tell the news to my family and friends. I was out for some work then and I got to know about it from my friends. I was on cloud nine,” he says.

Meeting Amitabh Bachchan and sharing the stage with him gave Raj goosebumps .

“The moment I stepped on to the stage my heartbeat increased. I was nervous. It was a dream come true moment for me. Once you are on the hot seat, in the centrestage with so many people around it sent shivers down the spine. But, once Big B starts talking he makes sure that the other person gets comfortable,” he tells you.

Raj was confident that he will win `50 lakh but winning as much as `1 crore came as a surprise.

With the winning amount, Raj want to complete his Civil Services preparations, open a nursery for his father in his village and travel all through the Indian sub-continent.

“We are already exploiting our environment a lot. By opening up the nursery I want to contribute my bit towards Nature. I know it will not solve all the problems but it will definitely help fighting some. I love travelling and exploring places — North-east being my favourite. I will first travel to Meghalaya and then explore the other places with the remaining amount,” he says.

He recalls that when he won `1 crore he was about to burst into tears.

“It was a moment of extreme joy. I felt like all my hard work had paid off. It was hard to believe that in just an hour I have turned into a millionaire. My success mantra is to have patience and take one step at a time. Leaps and bounds would take you nowhere. Not only destiny but my family played its part too. They supported me through thick and thin. They had faith in all my decisions, they knew I will make it big some day. And I am proud to have proved them right,” he tells you.