Kaun Banega Crorepati, fondly known as KBC, has been a staple in Indian households for over two decades.

The show, hosted by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, has seen contestants from all walks of life step into the hot seat, hoping to change their fortunes. The 15th season of KBC has already witnessed two contestants making their way to the coveted Crorepati Club. As we celebrate their triumphs, let's take a thrilling journey down memory lane and revisit 12 of the most challenging questions that were asked for prize money of Rs 1 crore and above:

KBC 1 – Rs 1 crore

The journey of crorepatis began with Harshvardhan Nawathe, who won Rs 1 crore in the first season. His million-dollar question was: “Among whom of the following does the Indian Constitution permit to take part in the proceedings of Parliament?

1. Solicitor General
2. Attorney General
3. Cabinet Secretary
4. Chief Justice”

The correct answer was B. Attorney General.

KBC 4 – Rs 5 crore

Season 4 introduced the tantalizing jackpot question worth Rs 5 crore. Prashant Batar, a contestant from Meerut, became the first crorepati of the season but stumbled at the bonus question. His Rs 5 crore question was:

“Who, in 1978, became the first person to be born in the continent of Antarctica?

1. Emilio Palma
2. James Weddell
3. Nathaniel Palmer
4. Charles Wilkes”

The correct answer was A. Emilio Palma.

KBC 5 – Rs 5 crore

In Season 5, Sushil Kumar from Bihar etched his name in KBC history by answering this question correctly:

“Which colonial power ended its involvement in India by selling the rights of the Nicobar Islands to the British on October 18, 1868?

1. Belgium
2. Italy
3. Denmark
4. France”

Sushil Kumar's correct answer was C. Denmark.

KBC 6 – Rs 5 crore

Season 6 introduced us to Sunmeet Kaur Sawhney from Punjab, the first woman to win Rs 5 crore on KBC. Her question was:

“Who is the first woman to successfully climb K2, the world’s second-highest mountain peak?

1. Junko Tabei
2. Wanda Rutkiewicz
3. Tamae Watanabe
4. Chantal Mauduit”

The correct answer was B. Wanda Rutkiewicz.

KBC 11 – Rs 1 crore

Babita Tade from Amravati won Rs 1 crore in Season 11 by correctly answering the question:

“Which poet in the court of Mughal Ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar wrote the ‘Dastan-e-Ghadar’, a personal account of the 1857 revolt?

1. Mir Taqi Mir
2. Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq
3. Zahir Dehlvi
4. Abul-Qasim Ferdowsi”

The correct answer was C. Zahir Dehlvi.

KBC 12 – Rs 7 crore

Season 12 brought us Dr. Neha Shah from Mumbai, who reached the Rs 1 crore question. However, she chose to quit the game when faced with the daunting Rs 7 crore question:

“The historic Indo-Pak talks of 1972 between Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were held at which place in Shimla?

1. Viceregal Lodge
2. Gorton Castle
3. Barnes Court
4. Cecil Hotel”

The correct answer was C. Barnes Court.

KBC 12 Rs 7 crore

Another contestant in Season 12, Nazia Nasim from Jharkhand, also reached the Rs 7 crore question but chose to quit and took home Rs 1 crore. Her question was:

“Where in Singapore did Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose make the first proclamation of an Azad Hind government?

1. Cathay Cinema Hall
2. Fort Canning Park
3. National University of Singapore
4. National Gallery of Singapore”

The correct answer was A. Cathay Cinema Hall.

KBC 12 Rs 1 crore

Mangalam Kumar from Greater Noida faced a tough question worth Rs 1 crore but decided to quit the game. His question was:

“Milinda-Panha is a dialogue between King Menander or Milinda and which Buddhist monk?

1. Asanga
2. Nagasena
3. Mahadharmarakshita
4. Dharmaraksita”

The correct answer was B. Nagasena.

KBC 13 – Rs 7 crore

Season 13 saw Himani Bundela from Agra become the first crorepati of the season. She chose to quit when faced with the Rs 7 crore question:

“What was the title of the thesis that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar submitted to the London School of Economics for which he was awarded his doctorate in 1923?

1. The Want and Means of India
2. The Problem of the Rupee
3. National Dividend of India
4. The Law and Lawyers”

The correct answer was B. The Problem of the Rupee.

KBC 14 – Rs 1 crore

In the 14th season, Ayush Garg, an IIT graduate, won Rs 75 lakh but chose not to risk it on the Rs 1 crore question:

“Which was the first mountain peak above 8,000 meters in height to be summited by humans?

1. Annapurna
2. Lhotse
3. Kanchenjunga
4. Makalu”

The correct answer was A. Annapurna.

KBC 15 – Rs 7 crore

In the ongoing Season 15, Jaskaran Singh from Khalra in Punjab became the first crorepati. However, he decided to quit when faced with the Rs 7 crore question:

“According to the Padma Purana, which king had to live as a tiger for a hundred years due to a deer's curse?

1. Kshemadhurti
2. Dharmadatta
3. Mitadhvaja
4. Prabhanjana”

The correct answer was D. Prabhanjana.

KBC 15 – Rs 7 crore

Jasnil Kumar from Uttar Pradesh recently became the second contestant to win Rs 1 crore on KBC 15. When faced with the Rs 7 crore question, he initially chose to quit but then decided to guess. “Leena Gade, a person of Indian origin, is the first female race engineer to win which of the following races?

1. Indianapolis 500
2. 24 Hours of Le Mans
3. 12 Hours of Sebring
4. Monaco Grand Prix”

Jasnil Kumar's guess turned out to be correct, with the answer being B. 24 Hours of Le Mans.

As we celebrate the triumphs and knowledge of these brave contestants, KBC continues to inspire and entertain millions, reminding us that dreams can come true with a mix of courage, knowledge, and a bit of luck.