When Harshvardhan Nawathe sat across from Amitabh Bachchan on the first season of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000, he was preparing for the civil services examination.
Then came the Rs. 1 crore question.
Nawathe answered it correctly and became the first person to win Rs. 1 crore on the Indian version of the show.
It was a television moment that became part of Indian pop culture. But what happened to Nawathe after the cameras stopped rolling?
Quite a lot.
From IAS Aspirant To MBA Student
Before KBC, Nawathe had been preparing to become an IAS officer.
His sudden fame and the money he won on the show changed those plans. He later moved to the UK to pursue an MBA.
The attention did not disappear after his win, either. Nawathe has spoken about the overwhelming response he received after becoming the show's first crorepati, including an incident in which he said his palm was cut with a blade while he was being mobbed by fans.
Instead of building a career in television, however, Nawathe chose the corporate route.
What Does Harshvardhan Nawathe Do Now?
Over the years, Nawathe worked in the corporate sector, including with the Mahindra Group.
He later moved into the social-impact space at JSW Foundation, the social development arm of the JSW Group.
In December 2024, he was appointed CEO of JSW Foundation. Before that, he had served as the organisation's COO from May 2023.
So, more than two decades after his KBC appearance, Nawathe's professional life looks very different from what viewers might have expected after his television win.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
Harshvardhan Nawathe became the first Rs. 1 crore winner on Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000.
He was preparing for the civil services examination when he appeared on the show.
His KBC win changed his career plans and he later pursued an MBA in the UK.
His prize money was also involved in a long-running income tax dispute.
The Income Tax Department challenged an ITAT ruling before the Bombay High Court.
The department withdrew that appeal in 2017.
Nawathe later moved into the corporate and social-impact sector.
He became CEO of JSW Foundation in December 2024.
What Was The Tax Dispute Involving His KBC Winnings?
Nawathe's Rs. 1 crore prize also became the subject of an income tax dispute.
The dispute related to the treatment of his KBC winnings for the relevant assessment year.
The Income Tax Department argued that the winnings should be subject to the special tax provisions applicable to certain types of winnings. Nawathe had taken a different position on the tax treatment.
The matter eventually reached the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, or ITAT, which ruled in Nawathe's favour.
The Income Tax Department then challenged the tribunal's decision before the Bombay High Court.
Was Harshvardhan Nawathe Still Involved In The Case?
No current legal battle should be implied from the old tax dispute.
The Income Tax Department's appeal before the Bombay High Court was withdrawn in 2017. Reports at the time said the withdrawal followed the department's policy of reducing litigation in cases where the tax effect fell below the applicable monetary threshold.
That distinction matters.
The case should not be described as a recent court victory for Nawathe, nor as an ongoing legal case against him.
Where Is Harshvardhan Nawathe Today?
Nawathe's life after KBC has largely played out away from television.
The Rs. 1 crore win made him one of the most recognisable faces of Indian television in 2000. But instead of remaining in the entertainment industry, he went on to build a career in business and social development.
Today, he is associated with JSW Foundation as its CEO.
For viewers who remember the first season of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Nawathe's name is still closely linked to that historic Rs. 1 crore win.
But more than 25 years later, the bigger part of his story is what came after it.
