Real-life Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle's last film, 127 Hours, took as its inspiration the real-life events of a trapped canyoneer, but the tables have turned, with his fictional Slumdog Millionaire being played out in reality as a poor Indian clerk won the top prize on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

The first person ever to win the $1m top prize in India, 26 year old Sushil Kumar echoed the tale of the 2008 Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, where a poverty-striken man played by Dev Patel scooped a fortune on the show (first picture below).

He correctly answered every question and wept as he was handed a cheque for 50 million rupees. Kumar was too poor to own a TV and had previously watched the show at a neighbour's house, where he was encouraged to apply after regularly choosing the right answers.

Before he went on the show, he was earning $120 a month as an government office clerk. Now, with his new-found wealth, he has promised to pay off family debts, buy a home for his wife of five months and help his brothers start businesses.

In addition, he plans build a library for the children of his village, Motihari and take a prep course for India’s prestigious civil service exam. If he passes, he could gain a more secure and better-paid lifetime job.

Now let's just hope that Sunshine doesn't come true, else we're all screwed...

Images: AP/Allstar