{
  "id": 7792231,
  "title": "KBC 18: Sangli businessman with Rs 14 lakh loan wins Rs 25 lakh, quits at Bob Dylan question",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/kbc-18-sangli-businessman-with-rs-14-lakh-loan-wins-rs-25-lakh-quits",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-16T13:17:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/kbc-18-salim-mestry-rs-14-lakh-loan-wins-rs-25-lakh-bob-dylan-purna-das-baul-question-10880784/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday night, KBC 18 hosted a new contestant named Salim Mestry, a businessman from Sangli, Maharashtra. Salim, who runs a small business manufacturing chips, wafers and other snacks, surprised everyone by gifting a hamper to host Amitabh Bachchan before beginning the game. Salim, candidly shared his tragic personal story, including his wife's ongoing health issues due to a brain stroke, and his struggle to care for her. During the game, Salim won Rs 25 lakh but failed to answer the 14th question correctly. The question asked about the singer on the cover of Nobel laureate Bob Dylan's album 'John Wesley Harding'. The incorrect answer he gave was Mohammed Rafi while the correct answer was Purna Das Baul. Salim chose to quit the game and walked away with the winning amount. He was asked to guess and chose Mohammed Rafi, which was incorrect. The correct answer was Purna Das Baul. Bob Dylan and Purna Das Baul were managed by the same person, Albert Grossman, and were close friends. Dylan even referred to himself as the 'Baul of America'. In the 1990s, Dylan visited Kolkata, India, to attend the wedding of Purna's son, Dibyendu Das. Salim previously had a canteen where he made Rs 20,000, but he lost it after a fraud defrauded his family of Rs 7 lakh. This financial setback led to his wife's health complications, and the family had been unable to celebrate Eid for ten years. Salim is currently in debt of Rs 14 lakh with a monthly income of Rs 25,000, which barely covers his wife's medical expenses. Amitabh Bachchan wished him good luck as he exited the show with Rs 25 lakh, hoping it would help him pay off his loan.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Sangli businessman Salim Mestry joins KBC 18 as new contestant",
    "Salim wins Rs 25 lakh but fails 14th question about Bob Dylan",
    "Quits show, leaves with prize money to repay Rs 14 lakh loan"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}