Nov 06, 2026 6:17pm IST
‘Rise And Fall’ Season 2 Winner Shehzad Poonawalla: ‘I Did Not Back Down From My Principles’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Shehzad Poonawalla has won the second season of “Rise And Fall.” This was his debut reality show as a contestant. He believes it was the goodwill of the audience and his mother’s blessings that helped him clinch the trophy. He tells Variety India, “I did not back down from my principles and kept my composure all through.” Commenting on Tej Pratap Yadav’s statement on how Poonawalla’s victory was an undeserving one, he says, “No one in his family or political circles takes him seriously. In politics, there is the lion, king and the joker. Now, one one pays attention to the joker. The process of choosing the winner of ‘Rise And Fall’ was a pretty transparent one. I would say that grapes are sour.”
Sharing if he would take up more reality shows in the future, he says, “I was working in the media before I ventured into politics. This show was a great platform as we needed to use our brains and analytical skills. This show was beyond gossiping or common reality show drama. If I get such shows I will surely take it up.”
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Swara Bhasker and his constant fights added a lot of drama to the show. The two were involved in social media brawls even before they came on the show. He says, “It is true that we had issues. Even Karan Patel and I share a different ideology but I made alliances with him. The show is like life. At times, you make allies with the most unexpected people and navigate matters. If it is a good cause then even the Government ropes in the opposition.”
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He shares how this is the first time he has lived away from his family. Poonawalla is open to hosting shows but reveals he is more inclined towards infotainment than purely entertainment programmes. “Anything that is intellectually stimulating or deals with India might intrigue me,” he signs off.
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