What happened to child sensations Prince and Budhia after 20 years?

Sensation in 2006 to Silence in 2026

• Prince Kashyap and Budhia Singh rose to fame as children in 2006.
• Both now lead quiet lives, far from the spotlight and media attention.
• Stories reveal fleeting fame and lasting human resilience.

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Two decades ago, their names gripped the nation. One, a toddler trapped in the terrifying darkness of a borewell; the other, a four-year-old boy running an astonishing marathon. Prince Kashyap and Budhia Singh became unforgettable symbols of resilience and spectacle. But as the television cameras moved on and the headlines faded, their real journeys began. Today, they navigate lives far removed from the glare of the spotlight, each story a quiet reflection on the fleeting nature of fame and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Prince Kashyap

In July 2006, the village of Haldaheri in Haryana became the centre of a national vigil. For nearly 50 hours, the country held its breath as four-year-old Prince Kashyap was trapped 60 feet underground in a borewell. His eventual rescue was celebrated as a miracle, a testament to a nation’s collective will. The aftermath brought a flurry of attention: village infrastructure was improved, and his family received financial aid. A significant official assurance was given—a promise that Prince would be considered for a position in the Indian Army when he came of age.

For Prince, that promise became a guiding star. He grew up clinging to the dream of wearing the uniform, structuring his teenage years around physical training and kabaddi in hopeful preparation. However, when recruitment processes reopened after pandemic delays, he was reportedly deemed ineligible on physical grounds. The rejection was a devastating blow, leaving him to grieve the future he had envisioned.

Picking up the pieces, Prince turned to practical skills. Learning plumbing from his cousin, he later enrolled in an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) course. Now in his early twenties, he is interning at a government polytechnic in Ambala, earning a modest income while gaining experience for a permanent position. The memories of his ordeal now bring anxiety rather than fame. He speaks of that time reluctantly, focused instead on supporting his family in a quiet, dignified struggle away from public view.

Budhia Singh

Meanwhile, in Bhubaneswar, 2006 witnessed a different kind of marvel. Four-year-old Budhia Singh ran 65 kilometres from Bhubaneswar to Puri, earning instant fame as India’s “marathon boy.” Hailed as a prodigy and the next Milkha Singh, his life story—from being allegedly sold by his impoverished mother for a few hundred rupees to being trained by a controversial coach—became national news. He was featured in record books, received awards and even had a biographical film made about his life.

Yet, the trajectory of a child sensation is often precarious. Today, in his twenties, Budhia Singh leads a life of quiet anonymity. Residing with his mother and sisters in Bhubaneswar, he has stepped away from professional running. While he spent years in a state sports hostel, he eventually left and despite interest from renowned international coaches, opportunities failed to materialize due to logistical and financial constraints.

Reports indicate he has since prioritized his education, pursuing graduation studies. The relentless drive that once propelled him across highways now seems redirected toward building a stable, ordinary life.

The stories of Prince and Budhia reveal a common thread: the profound gap between sensationalized media narratives and long-term reality. For Prince, national attention brought promises that ultimately remained unfulfilled, leading him to a path of quiet manual skill. For Budhia, early celebrity gave way to the challenges of sustaining athletic ambition without a robust support system.

Their lives today are not of fallen stars, but of young men navigating adulthood with the weight of an extraordinary past. They remind us that behind every fleeting news cycle sensation is a human being who must continue their journey long after the spotlight fades.