What began as an ignored phone call during a routine workday ended with a life-changing announcement for Shanthanu Shettigar, a 33-year-old Indian expatriate living in Muscat.
Shettigar has won Dh20 million in Big Ticket Series 283, a moment he admits he never saw coming.
“I never imagined my name would be announced,” he said.
A Call That Almost Went Unanswered
The winning moment nearly passed him by.
Busy at work and accustomed to receiving frequent spam calls, Shettigar ignored the first few attempts from Big Ticket show hosts Richard and Bouchra. It was only on the third call that he finally answered.
“Like most people, I receive a lot of spam calls,” he said. “I was fully absorbed in my work. I knew the live draw was happening, but I honestly never thought it would be me.”
When the confirmation finally registered, he was left stunned.
“When I realised it was real, I was speechless. It still hasn’t fully sunk in, but I am extremely happy.”
A Modest Beginning in the Gulf
Originally from Karnataka, Shettigar has been living in Oman for the past eight years, working as a shop in charge. His family has recently returned to India, leaving him managing life in the Gulf on his own.
His journey with Big Ticket began five years ago, shortly after moving to Muscat.
“When I first arrived, many colleagues were buying tickets. That encouraged me to try,” he said. “At first, I bought tickets on my own. Later, I started sharing tickets with a close friend.”
The Dh20 million winning ticket was one such shared purchase.Sharing the Win, As Promised
Despite the size of the prize, Shettigar says his next steps will be careful and considered.
He plans to split the winnings equally with his friend, honouring the agreement they made when buying tickets together.
“I will definitely split the prize with my friend. That was always the understanding,” he said. “As for my share, this win was completely unexpected. I want to take some time before deciding what to do next.”
A Message Rooted in Experience
Looking back, Shettigar says the win reinforced his belief in shared participation and patience.
“My Big Ticket journey has been about consistency and sharing,” he said. “I would encourage others to participate with family or friends. You never know when your moment might come.”
For now, the shop in charge of Muscat is still processing the reality of a missed call that changed everything.
