The latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 began with host Amitabh Bachchan conducting the Fastest Finger First round. Nitisha Patankar from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, secured her spot on the hot seat. She is currently pursuing a Postgraduate degree in Liberal Studies and Management at IIM Kozhikode. Describing her program as unique, she explained that only 53 students from across India get selected. The goal of this program, she shared, is not just profit-making but contributing to society. Nitisha chose this path because she wanted to create a meaningful impact.
Amitabh Bachchan was impressed by her perspective. In his signature humorous style, he recalled that when he was her age, his concerns were quite different, like figuring out how to tie his shoelaces and pajamas. His witty remark had everyone in the studio laughing.
A special video about Nitisha’s life played on-screen, offering glimpses of her journey at IIM Kozhikode. It also highlighted her passion for writing. She revealed that she had been composing poetry since she was six years old and had even published a book. She credited her parents and grandmother for encouraging her to follow her dreams. Nitisha expressed her wish to use the prize money from KBC 16 to launch a startup focused on women’s empowerment. Bachchan was visibly impressed upon learning she was a published author. She then presented him with a copy of her book as a gift.
During the game, a question about the Bhagavad Gita led Nitisha to share how much it had influenced her. She recalled that during the pandemic, she watched reruns of Ramayan and Mahabharat, which sparked her curiosity. Reading the Bhagavad Gita deeply impacted her, and she viewed it as a profound guide to life.
When discussing poetry, Nitisha named Robert Frost as one of her favorite English poets. In Hindi literature, she admired Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s work. She requested Amitabh Bachchan to recite a few lines from one of his father’s poems. The veteran actor gladly obliged.
Sharing a lesser-known story about Madhushala, Bachchan revealed that his father faced significant opposition when he wrote it. Critics believed the poem encouraged young people to drink alcohol. The controversy even reached Mahatma Gandhi, with concerns raised about its impact on the younger generation. Bachchan recalled an incident where his father and Gandhiji were at the same place. Gandhiji asked Harivansh Rai Bachchan what he had written. After listening to Madhushala, Gandhiji found nothing wrong with it, which put an end to the controversy.
Amitabh Bachchan also shared an interesting fact about his father. Despite writing extensively about alcohol in Madhushala, Harivansh Rai Bachchan had never consumed it. People often asked how he managed to write so vividly about something he had never experienced. He attempted to explain it many times. Eventually, he even addressed this curiosity within Madhushala, acknowledging that many had questioned how he could write about drinking without ever having done it.
Nitisha walked away with ₹6,40,000, along with a bonus amount of ₹80,000.