Following six intense weeks packed with strategic maneuvers, heated confrontations, and unexpected alliances, the reality competition ‘Rise & Fall Season 2’ reached its dramatic culmination. Shehzad Poonawalla outpaced the remaining competitors to secure the winner’s trophy, while Priyanka Chahar Choudhary ended her journey as the first runner-up. Popular actor Gautam Gulati claimed the spot of second runner-up, finishing third overall. Alongside the trophy, Poonawalla was awarded a cash prize of Rs 35 lakh. However, the victory was quickly overshadowed by political ripples outside the set, as former contestant and political figure Tej Pratap Yadav publicly contested the authenticity of the outcome.
Tej Pratap Yadav Alleges Rigged Voting and Political Favoritism
Taking to social media platform X, Tej Pratap Yadav expressed intense dissatisfaction with the final results, explicitly alleging that public votes had been manipulated to engineer the victory. He argued that Gautam Gulati was the most deserving contender of the season, pointing to the substantial audience backing the actor had gathered throughout the run.
In a direct post, Tej Pratap stated that Gautam Gulati appeared destined to secure the championship given the public affection he commanded, lamenting that reality television platforms are no longer impartial. He further directed criticism toward the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming the political outfit intervened to reward a loyal figure. He termed the final verdict an outright betrayal of the public mandate and viewer sentiments.
Public Reaction and Online Counterarguments
Tej Pratap Yadav’s claims quickly triggered substantial pushback on social media channels, where numerous commentators scrutinized his timing. Critics observed that rather than pointing fingers at external political dynamics after the event, he should have focused on his own gameplay while inside the competition. Other users highlighted past camaraderie between the two during the broadcast, mocking the sudden hostility that emerged once the champion was crowned.
Donation of Entire Rs 35 Lakh Prize Money
Addressing his monetary reward, Shehzad Poonawalla revealed an intention to redirect the entire Rs 35 lakh prize sum toward charitable relief efforts. The full amount has been committed to assist communities affected by devastating floods across Bihar and Assam. This philanthropic decision quickly drew widespread attention and positive reactions across media platforms.
Poonawalla Reflects on the Grueling Six-Week Experience
Reflecting on his journey, Shehzad Poonawalla remarked that describing the emotional weight of the victory was challenging. He characterized his trajectory as an arduous test of endurance, moving between the relative privileges of the Tower and the severe privations of the Basement. Describing moments where the momentum turned against him, he credited patience, consistent hard work, and refusal to yield under pressure for his ultimate success. Poonawalla formally expressed gratitude to the production team, Amazon MX Player, and Banijay Asia, adding that the relationships and memories formed during the competition would remain enduring.
Inside the Grand Finale Eliminations
The grand finale opened with celebratory stage routines featuring all six finalists. Show host Virender Sehwag subsequently introduced surprise elements and specialized challenges to narrow the roster down to the top five. Niharika Tiwari became the first of the finalists to be eliminated after receiving deciding votes from Swara Bhasker, Shehzad Poonawalla, Gautam Gulati, and Karan Patel.
Tension escalated rapidly as the Tower lights shifted red, signaling the vote-based elimination of Karan Patel and Swara Bhasker. That set the stage for a three-way final face-off between Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, Gautam Gulati, and Shehzad Poonawalla. As the tallies were finalized, Gulati locked in third place, Choudhary claimed the runner-up title, and Poonawalla lifted the Season 2 championship trophy.
