Goan professor fulfils KBC dream, meets Amitabh Bachchan after decade-long wait

Joao Sousa M

Margao

After nearly a decade of trying, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Dhempe College of Arts and Science and a PhD research scholar at Goa University Sanket Revankar from Davorlim finally fulfilled his dream of sitting on the hot seat of reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati and meeting Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. His perseverance, which began with his first attempt at registration in 2015, paid off when his episode was telecast on August 25 on Sony TV.

Speaking to The Navhind Times, Revankar described the moment as surreal. “It was an experience of a lifetime to be there on the sets and soak up the entire atmosphere. Even though the experience was overwhelming, Amitabh Bachchan sir made me feel very comfortable and lavished a lot of praises. I am glad I was able to make my parents proud,” he said.

Revankar first attempted to register for the show in 2015, at the age of 18. “Every year since then I would participate in the registration process, which was mostly in May or June. Despite getting the answers right, I never made the final cut though I was shortlisted,” he said.

The repeated disappointment did not discourage him. Each year he returned to try again, determined to break through. This year, his persistence bore fruit. He was shortlisted and called for an open audition that included multiple-choice questions asked through an automated system. Clearing that round, he advanced to the main audition.

Preparing for the challenge was no easy task, as there was no set syllabus to follow. Revankar immersed himself in current affairs, sports, awards, and achievements, spending countless hours gaining knowledge across subjects.

On the set, he was one of 10 contestants invited to participate in the weekly episode. The selection hinged on the fastest finger first round, which he described as particularly nerve-wracking. “It was not smooth sailing, but I managed to answer within four seconds among three others who got the answer right, and that put me on the hot seat,” he said.

Revankar was accompanied by his parents, Shantaram and Sangeeta, who watched proudly from the audience. Despite Bachchan’s towering presence, Sanket found him approachable. “He is a down-to-earth person who made me feel comfortable and helped me handle my nerves,” he said.

KBC also gave him an unexpected platform to speak about his academic interest—his PhD research on the ethics of artificial intelligence. Though he has currently paused his studies to focus on publishing research papers, he said the visibility on such a large stage has encouraged him to pursue it further.

For Revankar, the biggest reward was making his parents proud. “That has brought me the utmost happiness,” he said. He hopes his journey inspires other Goans.