Kavita Chawla, a resident of Kolhapur, Maharashtra, has become the first crorepati of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 14. Kavita, who aspired to be the winner of Kaun Banega Crorepati for 21 years, says that this time I had decided that I wanted to become a millionaire. I had full faith in my preparation and the blessings of elders. Head of a conversation with Urmila Kori Part-
Can you tell me about yourself?
I am from Kolhapur. I am a housewife. I have studied till 12th class. Today people may think that I have studied less, but since that time, I am. I think at that time, so much study was enough. Well, I never learned Left. My husband has a clothes shop in Kolhapur itself. There is a son. Who has completed BCA recently? My son and my father came with me to motivate me in KBC.
Since when have you been trying your luck in KBC?
I have been trying since 2000. I got the first call in 2020. I had reached the audition. In 2021, I got a call again. In that, I had reached the fastest finger round. Couldn’t reach the hot seat. I started crying in despair. Mr Amitabh Bachchan Ji spoke two words. He encouraged me and said that do not to be discouraged… Try again. I tied the knot with him and tried again, and this time my dream came true. Well, I had come this time thinking that I had to come back as a millionaire.
When your 21-year-old dream came true, how special was that moment?
Amitabh Bachchan Ji should have shouted for me after getting up from the chair, and when it happened, it became the happiest moment of my life. I will make a big picture of it and put it in my house.
Was there ever a weak moment while playing when I felt that I would not be able to move forward?
Yes, a couple of questions came in the middle that I was a bit confused about, but Amitabh Bachchan Ji made me comfortable and said that think, understand and then answer. Bachchan Ji is amazing.
How life is about to change?
A lot will change. You can understand how big it is for a housewife. Very few people have reached this stage. It is not just about money. The prestige that is attached to it. It is very special. I am the first woman winner of Kaun Banega Crorepati from Kolhapur.
What was your preparation for KBC, and how much support was there from the family?
There has been complete support from the family. My mother-in-law used to support me in household chores. Due to this, a little time was saved, and I used to study in it. Housewife means 24 hours work, so many times the time was not available in the day, but the topic which I had fixed to study. I used to study it. If not in me, then by waking up in the night. I have taught my son from KG to VIII. I also used to study to teach him.
What are you going to do with the winning amount of one crore?
I will invest in my son’s higher education. He has to be sent abroad for further studies. After that, what will be left? I will buy a house with that, and I have to travel to India too. Every corner of India.
What will you do first when you reach home?
(laughs) I will sleep. Some days were very hectic.
What were your earliest memories of Big B?
I wanted to speak this thing to him too, but I could not speak when there was the era of Doordarshan on TV. Hindi films used to come only on Sunday. I was young. Didn’t know anything but kept hearing the name of Amitabh Bachchan. To see who it is. I used to camp at the neighbour’s house and sit. I was very young. I could not understand what was going on on the screen. When I understood, I first saw his film Yaarana. That film is my all-time favourite. Only after watching that film, I became his fan.