Shehzad Poonawalla wins Sehwag's 'Rise & Fall 2'
What's the story
Political commentator Shehzad Poonawalla has emerged as the winner of Rise & Fall Season 2. The show, hosted by Virender Sehwag, featured contestants from diverse backgrounds competing for survival and power. Priyanka Chahar Choudhary was the first runner-up, while Gautam Gulati, Swara Bhasker, and Karan Patel finished third to fifth, respectively.
Victory path
Poonawalla's journey to victory
Poonawalla's journey to victory was marked by a physical altercation with Siwet Tomar, frequent arguments with Bhasker, and heated exchanges with Chahar Choudhary and Gulati.
He also made unexpected alliances and solidified his position through strategic moves.
He won a cash prize of ₹35L, which he pledged to donate to the Chief Minister's funds for flood-affected states, including Bihar and Assam.
Winner's statement
'A feeling I can't put into words'
Speaking about his victory, Poonawalla said, "Winning Rise and Fall Season 2 is a feeling I can't put into words."
"This journey wasn't easy, from the highs of the Tower to the uncertainty of the Basement, I had to constantly adapt and push through, even when things weren't going my way."
"I'm proud of every decision I made and the person I remained through the highs and lows."
Controversies and strategy
Controversies during Poonawalla's game
The season was not without its controversies, with one of the biggest being a physical altercation between Poonawalla and Tomar.
Despite the incident, Poonawalla later revealed he had requested the makers not to evict Tomar.
His relationship with Bhasker also went through several changes, from ideological disagreements to friendship and back again to animosity.
One of their major fallouts happened when he chose to save Gulati over Bhasker in a crucial game decision.
Relationship dynamics
His relationships with other contestants
Poonawalla's relationship with Chahar Choudhary was another recurring topic of discussion. Their disagreements often became part of the show's wider power struggles.
His comments about her drew attention outside the game, with Sehwag once questioning him for calling her a "vamp." He defended his remarks.
His relationship with Gulati was also complicated, sharing moments of understanding but not always having a straightforward equation.
Final moves
Other highlights from his game
Poonawalla's friendship with Tej Pratap Yadav showed a different side of his time on the show.
His biggest strategic breakthrough came when he won the Ticket to Finale challenge with Rishabh Jaiswal, defeating Patel and Jashwanth Bopanna.
This win made him the first finalist and helped him reclaim the Ultimate Ruler title for the second time.
The finale episode is streaming on Prime Video.