India, May 11 -- For an Indian expat living in the UAE, winning the $1 million jackpot in Dubai Duty Free's (DDF) Millennium Millionaire draw has come as a huge blessing. Venugopal Mullacheri, 52, says the winnings will help him pay off his huge debts. "The win marks the end of a difficult chapter and the beginning of a new one filled with hope and happiness," Mullacheri told Khaleej Times.

Mullacheri, a 52-year-old father of two from Kerala, had been trying his luck at the lottery for over 15 years before he finally won the big prize, which will make him richer by $1 million ( Rs.8.3 crore approximately).

"When they announced my name, I was shocked," said Mullacheri, who works as an IT-support specialist in the UAE. "It felt like a mas...