Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has returned to host the 16th season of the popular quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), which continues to captivate audiences with its gripping episodes. While the show has seen many winners, one story stands out for its dramatic twist of fate—Sushil Kumar, who won ₹5 crore in KBC 5 back in 2011, only to later lose it all and go bankrupt.
In 2020, Sushil Kumar took to Facebook to share his heartbreaking journey from a multimillionaire to a man struggling to make ends meet. He revealed that after winning ₹5 crore on KBC 5, he was soon swindled by numerous people. “After KBC, I became a philanthropist addicted to ‘secret donations’ and attended around 50,000 events a month. This led to me getting cheated many times, which I only found out later after the donations were received,” Sushil wrote. His involvement in charity work and the frequent deceptions strained his relationship with his wife, who often criticized him for being unable to distinguish between trustworthy and deceitful people.
As Sushil’s financial situation worsened, invitations to events dwindled, leaving him isolated and desperate. In his Facebook post, Sushil recounted a pivotal moment when he unknowingly sparked rumors of his bankruptcy during a casual conversation with a journalist. “One day, when I was out for a walk, a journalist from an English newspaper called me… I randomly told him that all my money had run out and I had two cows and was surviving by selling milk and earning some money from it. And after that, you all must know the impact of that news,” Sushil recalled. The fallout was swift—he found himself ostracized by those he once considered friends.
Sushil’s story took a darker turn as he recounted how he became addicted to alcohol and smoking. His interactions with students and artists in Delhi, whom he found intellectually intimidating, further fueled his insecurities. “Slowly, I became addicted to alcohol and smoking, in addition to other addictions. Whenever I was in Delhi for a week, I would drink and smoke in seven different groups. I found their conversations attractive,” he admitted.
Despite the hardships, Sushil Kumar is now on a path to recovery. He has refocused his life on his work as a teacher and an environmentalist. Although his attempts to break into Bollywood were unsuccessful, Sushil remains determined to rebuild his life. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of fame and fortune and the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.
