How would you describe your winning moment?
I have no words to describe the winning moment. He was numb and didn’t understand if it was really happening. I still get goose bumps remembering it. I remember the first thing I said to Amitabh Bachchan sir was if he could take a few sips of water. I was excited and had an adrenaline rush. I had come up with the Rs 7 crore question after answering the Rs 1 crore question and it was the next step. But I got confused and didn’t try and decided to quit the show.
Mohita on how they celebrated their victory.
We celebrated the occasion at his home in Jammu, where we both stayed. Our parents are in Delhi and Mohali so we couldn’t meet them. We had a little celebration and danced.
Do you regret not knowing the Rs 7 crore question?
Without regrets. I wasn’t there for the prize money. There were very different reasons why I went there. It was my husband’s dream to be on the show. He tried to be on the show for the past 20 years. He was just living his dream by sitting in the hot seat. He was happy to get there and fulfill his dream. Secondly, I wanted to play a good game because in the end I wanted to be satisfied with my performance. These were my only goals. I had this thought in my mind that I had put my service on the line and because of my performance there should not be a blemish on the service I represent. I wanted to play a good game. When I won Rs 1 crore more than the money, I was satisfied and happy with the way I played the game.
On Mohita coming to the bench and winning the show?
Mohita’s husband, Rushal Garg: I was very happy when Mohita was selected for the show. I was very happy that someone from the family is going and thanks to Mohita I will be able to see the set and meet Mr. Bachchan. I was very excited. The moment I walked on set and saw it, I was fascinated. It was a great feeling and when Mohita sat in the hot seat and played the game without using her only lifeline and moved on in the game, I was very proud. He was very sure that he would win a good amount. He was over the moon when she sat on the hot seat. I kept praying and chanting a mantra that she does well on the show. He was calm and collected and at the same time very happy.
You’ve been trying to be on the show for 20 years. How does it feel that she lived your dreams?
Mohita’s husband, Rushal Garg: When KBC Junior was released in 2001, I remember that the contestants who participated in the show got computers and I was in the fifth level. There were too many regulations on watching TV and KBC was the only show we got to watch. So what really fascinated me was that every time a kid participated in the program, they got their personal computer. I was very interested. I even cleared a few rounds but never made it to the show. I kept reading books and trying the program every year when it came. But this year Mohita was with me and I thought maybe luck can do some magic and I asked her to try it with her number and she was selected. God was very kind that they chose her. She became a means to fulfill my dreams.
Have the reactions of the people around you changed after you won the show?
Mohita: The day the promotion aired, I started receiving calls and messages. My in-laws, my parents and my husband started receiving calls. People with whom we had lost contact even started calling. Also, now every time I search for my name on the internet there are headlines from different publications, all these things make me feel amazing. My colleagues, seniors, staff, all take pride and say that I have made them, my zilla, my service, and my fellow service members famous and proud.
Did host Amitabh Bachchan do anything special to make you feel comfortable?
I was very nervous when I was playing Fastest Finger First because I had not passed my first FFF. Then I calmed down. Then when I cleared my FFF round and got to the hot seat, I was a little relaxed. When Amitabh Bachchan sir started talking and the way he interacts, it made me feel comfortable. He kept talking and wondering about my family, my job, my service and I didn’t feel like I was playing a quiz show. I felt like I was sitting across from him and chatting regularly.
Does Mohita talk about the challenges she faced growing up?
The biggest challenge I faced growing up was when I was in the seventh class, my father retired from his job and we had to go through many financial challenges. But one thing my father always told me is to study all you want and we will never stop you. He always supported me even during my civil service. I passed my civil service exams on the fifth try, and in between, every time I was demotivated, he became my pillar of strength. In fact, both my father and my mother. He always pushed me to make it happen and I watched them fight every day for this to propel me to achieve my goals.
Mohita Sharma credits her husband for her success
And now, I would give my husband all the credit. He was the one who pushed me to participate in the program, signed me up, and motivated me to study while I was at work. When we were in quarantine before going on set, he would check in with me and ask me random questions, all of this helped a lot. We watched old KBC videos and he was asking me questions and supporting me all this time.
Mohita at the time of biting her nails
Yes, there was a nail biting moment when I answered the question for Rs 25,00000 and had no idea of the answer. But I used a life preserver, I took a life preserver and I did intelligence work. I went ahead on that question and after using 50-50 made the decision. It was a purely smart guess.
The best compliment you received after winning the show?
The moment my family, like my in-laws, my parents and my husband, told me that they were proud of me, these compliments touched my heart. Also, people come and tell me that the hard work that I have done in my life, I showed them in a couple of hours by being at KBC and earning Rs 1 crore.
How do you plan to spend the winning amount?
I have not thought about how we will use the money. But yes, once we get the amount, all members of the family will decide what we want to do.
Mohita’s husband, Rushal Garg: We are planning to purchase our private vehicle. We have our official vehicles, but now we will buy our own car.
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