Indian expatriate wins $1 million Dubai Duty Free jackpot just days after his 79th birthday | World News

For Emirati businessman and Bollywood producer Rajan Lall, the number 79 will always be synonymous with luck. Lal celebrated his 79th birthday on February 8, and just six days later, Lal received a life-changing phone call. He was announced as the winner of US$1 million (approximately AED 3.67 million) in the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Millennium Millionaire draw.The draw is being held at Dubai International Airport during the celebrations of Chinese New Year (Year of the Fire Horse). Lall won the lottery number 3099 in series 535, which he bought online on January 30 when he went to Mumbai to meet an old friend. Interestingly, Lal was in Saudi Arabia when the news broke, which made the surprise even more surreal. He described the victory as “the best 79th birthday present ever” and attributed the luck to divine timing.

Who is $1 million winner Rajan Lall?

Rajan Lall is no stranger to the spotlight. Known by the industry as the “King of Indian Dubbing”, he has been a pivotal figure in Bollywood for decades. In 1971, he moved to the United Arab Emirates with only 90 dirhams in his pocket but a strong desire to rebuild his life. Over the years, he balanced a successful clothing trading business with his passion for films, producing and dubbing films that bridged the gap between South Indian cinema and Hindi audiences.His circle of friends reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Bollywood and includes legends like Anupam Kher, Shatrughan Sinhaand Shashi Ranjan. Although he has a business empire worth millions of dirhams and owns a sea-facing mansion on Palm Jumeirah, Lal remains deeply connected to his roots and the community that supported him during his early days eating Maggi noodles and hitchhiking to work.

Victory years in the making

Lal told Gulf News that the victory felt like “Sai Baba’s best 79th birthday present ever,” referring to the spiritual blessings he believes shaped his luck.Despite living in a mansion on Palm Jumeirah, the multi-millionaire joked that winning such a large prize was still a big deal and that he had yet to decide what to do with the money. He is looking forward to watching the next cricket match between India and Pakistan.What makes this win remarkable is that Lal has a long history with lottery draws: He bought a ticket every year for 25 years before finally winning the jackpot.

Beyond the jackpot

While Rajan Lall’s story stole the show, he wasn’t the only one celebrating. The draw also honored Oliver, an Austrian living in Portugal, who won his own $1 million prize in Series 534. Additionally, the Best Surprise Raffle also awarded luxury vehicles to a few lucky participants:

What does victory mean?

The Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw is one of the most popular promotions in the UAE, regularly offering jackpots of US$1 million.Over the years, winners such as Lal and other Indian expatriates have highlighted the sweepstakes’ broad appeal among residents and visitors. Previous winners include groups who bought tickets en masse, as well as repeat participants who worked hard for years to finally win.Dubai Duty Free’s draws, held at Dubai International Airport, often coincide with major celebrations, Lal’s example being the “Year of the Fire Horse” Chinese New Year celebrations, adding to the excitement and publicity of the event.