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Abhijeet Sawant Recalls Being Stranded in Mumbai at 15 with Just Re 1
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News18•25-09-2026, 20:54
Abhijeet Sawant Recalls Being Stranded in Mumbai at 15 with Just Re 1
- •Abhijeet Sawant, before his Indian Idol fame, struggled financially, performing at small shows for as little as Rs 100.
- •At 15, he was stranded in Mumbai with only Re 1 after a bus broke down, unable to go forward or return home.
- •He used his last rupee to call show organizers, informing them he couldn't make it, and found himself alone in Chembur.
- •A kind shopkeeper noticed his distress and drove him home to Mahul Gaon, refusing any payment.
- •Years later, Abhijeet won the first season of Indian Idol, taking home Rs 1 crore in prize money, which resolved his family's financial struggles.
Key Questions Answered
Abhijeet borrowed Rs 10 from his mother for a bus ticket to a performance, leaving him with just Re 1. His BEST bus broke down due to a technical issue midway, leaving him stranded in Chembur without enough money to continue or return home.
Abhijeet Sawant won Rs 1 crore as prize money for winning the inaugural season of Indian Idol in 2005.
A local shopkeeper noticed 15-year-old Abhijeet crying at a phone booth and kindly drove him for half an hour to drop him safely at Mahul Gaon without charging any money.
