'Metro Devi' Nikita makes it to KBC, wins hearts

NOIDA: Nikita Vaid, one of Noida Metro's young women locomotive pilots, reached the hotseat of popular TV game show KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) and won a prize money of Rs 3,20,000, in an episode that was telecast on Diwali. Four generations of Nikita's family has served the railways, albeit this time, it's a metro train she will be operating.

At the show, host Amitabh Bachchan referred to an article, 'Women to be driving force behind Aqua line', published in TOI in August, while introducing 23-year-old Nikita to the public. The station controller and train operator (SCTO) for the Noida-Greater Noida Metro's Aqua line said she was thrilled to be called "Metro Devi" by Big B at the show.

After initial screenings, Nikita got through till the fastest-fingers-first round at the KBC, which is the entry for only one contestant to the hotseat.

Talking about her experience, Nikita said the experience of playing the game and watching it on TV "is totally different". "When we watch the game, we feel it's easy. However, when you reach there, you feel the pressure and tension. Answering fast till the timer is there, also makes it tough," she said.

Though she managed to win only Rs 3,20,000, Nikita described her experience as "a lifetime, memorable one". "I could not take some decisions due to the pressure I was feeling while on the hotseat," she said.

Asked the best thing she liked about the show, Nikita had an obvious answer, "AB" (Amitabh Bachchan).

"He spoke to us after the show when we were clicking pictures. He called me 'Metro Devi' and told me that he too had shot for a movie in the metro (Paa). I told him that Piku and Paa were my favourites and he recited the best 'No means no' dialogue from Piku," she said.