ABU DHABI – It was a moment of suspense that went viral across the UAE, but the frantic search for the Big Ticket’s newest multimillionaire is finally over. Saravanan Venkatachalam, a 44-year-old engineer from Chennai residing in Abu Dhabi, has confirmed his staggering Dh25 million jackpot win after famously missing the life-changing phone call during the live draw.

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Venkatachalam’s winning entry, Ticket Number 463221 (Series 280), which he purchased on October 30, was drawn on November 3. However, when Big Ticket hosts Richard and Bouchra attempted to call the grand prize winner live on air, the line remained silent, with one attempt even going straight to a “switched off” message.

 

The Engineer Who Missed the $6.8 Million Call

 

Speaking to media outlets after confirming his identity and prize, Venkatachalam revealed the simple reason for the missed calls: he was at work with his phone set to ‘Do Not Disturb’.

“My phone was on silent, and I missed the calls completely,” he shared. “Later, I saw a lot of missed calls from an unknown number. I didn’t return them, thinking it might be a spam call or unsafe to answer.”

The news only began to sink in when his phone started ringing non-stop with calls from his wife and friends, all frantically congratulating him. “I was completely blank. All I can say is that I’m deeply grateful and overjoyed,” the new millionaire stated.

 

A Dream Forged in the Gulf

 

Originally from Chennai, the engineer moved to the UAE in 2019, having previously worked across the GCC (Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman). He admits the move was largely driven by financial pressures, debts, and a desire to secure his children’s future, particularly their education.

Venkatachalam had been trying his luck with Big Ticket for five years, inspired by a former colleague who had won a smaller prize in 2018.

• Winning Ticket Details: Saravanan bought the ticket alone, meaning he will not be splitting the mammoth prize.
• The Lucky Purchase: He revealed an unusual habit: he often used his credit card’s cash rebate points to buy the tickets, meaning the winning ticket was purchased without spending his own direct money.
• The Plan: After the initial shock, his first priority is clear: “I had secured the future of my children. The only thing on my mind is their education.” He plans to consult his family before making any large investments or decisions.