When they celebrate their 20th marriage anniversary next week, Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar will not quite feel like an old couple - they have won a TV dance contest beating other pairs who were all younger!

Among 10 contesting couples on the celebrity dance competition "Nach Baliye", they performed scintillatingly and walked away with the prize money of Rs.5 million.

"I am feeling the youngest and India has also proved it," Sachin, in his late 40s, told on phone from Mumbai. His wife is also in her mid-40s.

Both husband and wife - who have been associated with films and TV for many years - are basking in the glory of this newfound success and say the news is yet to sink in.

"I haven't come out of that mode and once I do, I would be able to think about the future," said Sachin.

This success will be followed by their 20th wedding anniversary Dec 21. Obviously they are in a festive mood and want to celebrate it with élan.

The final round of the show, which was aired Thursday night, began with a combined performance - the two finalist couples, Sachin and Supriya, and Manish and Poonam Goel, danced together for 12 minutes.

The episode ran continuously for three and a half hours and the eight eliminated couples performed too in the grand finale.

It was certainly gruelling for the 40 something stars but Sachin and Supriya proved that age was no bar. The audience showered love on them by voting for them through every round of the contest as also the final episode.

And Sachin is grateful. "I thank them all and I love them for voting for us," Sachin said.

Of course, their choreographers Al and Mel did a splendid job. The second season of the show has already been announced and will start in 2006.