For most of India the crowning of Sunny Hindustani as the winner in Indian Idol did not come as a surprise. As a person who does not watch much TV – this program was on the top of my lists, and I was not surprised either.

Given the fact that Sunny Hindustani came from a poor back ground – there is NO WAY HOW he can manage Rs. 25L cash that he has got. Yes he will be overwhelmed by the money, adulation, car (I am sure he will need a driver), the frequent trips to Mumbai..but far more importantly he will not even realize that he needs a financial adviser. Iam not sure whether he has a bank account – and if he has – he becomes a “Platinum” customer fit for a Rs. 20L annual premium ULIP.

He should of course start with a Rs. 25L in a liquid mutual fund, and take some deep breaths before he starts investing. May be he should invest it only in April – allowing 45 days of deep breathing.

He will need to buy/ rent a house in his home town. I am sure he would be tempted to build the house – or shift to a rented house temporarilty at least. He has to decide where to move and stay in Mumbai. I am assuming that he will have enough work here to start with. He will need psychiatric support too – remember he has been fed on a diet of adulation, claps, and votes. All of this disappear from today. It’s history.

To be a FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL singer one need not be a great singer. Is one the Judge not proof enough for that? One has to manage one’s career very well. So Sunny will need a financial adviser, a career guide, a mentor, a manager, a marketing agency, …the list is HUGE. He has to do all this with the Rs. 25L that he has and a stream of cash flow (presumably) that will follow.

He may move to a rented flat in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai and that will cost him Rs. 5L in deposit and a rent of say Rs. 75000 per month. Staying on in Mumbai during lean periods is not going to be easy. Oops I forgot – about Rs 5L at least will be lost in tax itself. So the starting point is Rs. 20L, not Rs. 25L.

The runner up Rohit Raut is in a better shape financially, emotionally, and professionally even though he did not win. He is a successful singer in the Marathi film industry and must have seen success, failure, etc. He would have an infra in place – advisers, chartered accountant, manager – so for thim handling all this should be easier. Will Sunny Hindustani turn to Rohit? will he turn to the Judges like Neha Kakkar, Vishal  Dadlani, or will he turn to the organisers for help? We do not know.

Even in his hometown of Bathinda he is unlikely to have friends who can help him. Remember (for people who do not know his background) – he used to polish shoes – before he came to Indian Idol.

It is a rags to riches story for sure.

He is likely  to be overwhelmed. He will need all kinds of help. Will he find doctors and nurses depends on his LUCK (he has no hope of having the skills).

Remember people like Vinod Kambli did not get any help from the BCCI to handle such a situation. Neither will Sunny Hindustani.

He has to find an adviser. Or an adviser has to be smart enough to reach him and invest in that relationship.

If you are an adviser reading this post ask yourself: “Will it be me”. Then go about …..