Rahul was crowned the 2018 Bake Off champion after a nail-biting final which saw his icing explode, his pitta breads burn and his Showstopper thrown into jeopardy over broken glass.
The bemused baker, who got good at baking to make friends after moving to the UK, was left on the verge of tears after Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig announced he had beaten Ruby and Kim Joy.
"This is probably the first time I got something like this like a trophy," he said. "I talk so much loads of the time but I don't know what to say now. I don't know whether to laugh or cry."
Prue Leith said: "He came in unconfident but he kept going. He always tried to do a bit more than everyone else and it paid off."
Paul Hollywood praised his "magic" saying: "He's one of those characters you'll miss when you're not with him. I don't think he realises how good he is still and that's magic."
The final saw Rahul given an extra 15 minutes to complete his royal garden Showstopper after he smashed a glass, sending the production team rushing in to hoover up the mess around him.
Leith and Hollywood agreed to grant him additional time to make it a fair competition.
Kim Joy, who impressed with her doughnuts in the Signature Challenge and came first in the Technical Challenge, which saw the contestants bake on an open fire outside of the tent, said she was happy for Rahul.
"I'm so pleased for Rahul," she said. "And I made it to the final."
Ruby, who served up "boring" doughnuts said: "It has hands down been the best experience of my life and I wouldn't change it."
