Rairangpur to the Hot Seat: Odisha Girl Wins Hearts and a Lunch Date with Big B

Karishma Sharma, from Rairangpur, Odisha, hometown of President Droupadi Murmu, has captured the heart of Amitabh Bachchan by her impressive performance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 16. Her success on the challenging 'Super Sandook' segment has not only won her Rs 12,50,000 but also an invitation for lunch with the Big B himself.

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Despite initial nervousness, Karishma bravely tackled the questions, fulfilling her father's dream of seeing her on the show. She used a lifeline on the very first question, a simple query about car wipers, before regaining her composure and answering correctly. Bachchan, noticing her unease, offered Karishma water, and words of encouragement, even briefly leaving his seat to gently hold her hand and guide her through some calming breaths exercises. His warm and supportive helped Karishma relax and focus on the game.

Following tradition, Bachchan extended a lunch invitation to Karishma and her large joint family, consisting of 25-30 members, after she correctly answered all 10 'Super Sandook' questions. Remembering her earlier request for a video call with her family, Bachchan playfully acknowledged the logistical challenge of hosting such a large group. Till now big B has already hosted eight families.

For the Rs 12,50,000 question, Karishma used the 'Video Call A Friend' lifeline and then 'Double Dip' to correctly identify the term used by the British for Indian surveyors and explorers who mapped the Himalayas and Central Asia. She eventually decided to quit the show after being unable to answer a question about the 2024 Olympics and an Egyptian athlete.

Karishma described her KBC experience as a dream come true. "The first 10-15 minutes felt surreal," she shared with a local channel. "Sitting opposite Amitabh Bachchan was incredible. Of course, I'm thrilled about winning Rs 12.5 lakh, but the highlight was definitely the lunch invitation for my entire family."

It took Karishma three attempts to register for the show. Preparing for UPSC exams, she felt well-equipped for the quiz. Her friends and family celebrated her success by organizing watch parties with large LED screens to view the episodes, broadcast on January 23rd and 27th. Karishma's journey from a small town in Odisha to the KBC hot seat, and now a lunch date with Big B, is a heartwarming story of talent, and fulfillment of a father's dream.