One year after receiving the phone call that told him he had won AED 100 million with The UAE Lottery, Anilkumar Bolla sat down with cricket legend and The UAE Lottery’s Chief Celebrations Officer Brett Lee to look back on the moment that changed his year and everything that has happened since.
The conversation brought Anilkumar back to the night he first discovered his win.
“I was just counting the zeros,” Anilkumar told Lee, recalling how he repeatedly asked The UAE Lottery representative whether the AED 100 million win was real. He said it took him more than a month to fully process what had happened.
A year later, Anilkumar shared how he approached his win with a growing focus on family and long-term planning. He revealed that construction will soon begin on a farmhouse on the land he bought for his parents, giving his father an opportunity to pursue his interest in organic farming. His parents have also spent time with him in the UAE over the past year, although they prefer to remain based in India close to family and friends.
The conversation also explored how Anilkumar has approached his plans for the future. Alongside properties in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, he revealed that he has explored AI start-ups in Abu Dhabi and an education start-up in India.
“The best thing has been spending quality time with my family,” Anilkumar said. “This has been a great opportunity for me because it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to spend so much time with them.”
For Anilkumar, meeting Lee provided another unexpected moment in a memorable year. “I never thought I’d get to meet you in person,” he told the former Australian fast bowler. “I never dreamed that I would actually meet you face-to-face, so this is also a big thing for me.”
Brett Lee, who meets and celebrates winners as part of his role as The UAE Lottery’s Chief Celebrations Officer, praised Anilkumar’s emphasis on responsibility and the considered approach he has taken over the past year.
The meeting ended on a fittingly celebratory note, with Lee inviting Anilkumar to recreate his famous “chainsaw” celebration in honor of his AED 100 million win.
Tickets for upcoming Lucky Day Draws are available at www.theuaelottery.ae
