Cinema VinesOn November 6, former cricketer Virender Sehwag’s Amazon Prime Video reality series “Rise & Fall” crowned political commentator Shehzad Poonawalla as the champion of its second season. Poonawalla lifted the trophy after out‑ranking fellow contestants Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and Gautam Gulati, and walked away with a cash prize of ₹35 lakh, which he pledged to donate to flood‑relief efforts across India.
The season’s format pits “Rulers” against “Workers,” with contestants vying for power, strategy and performance in a series of tasks that determine their standing inside the house. Though she entered the competition as a non‑entertainment participant, Poonawalla quickly became a focal point of the show, earning multiple stints as the Ultimate Ruler and securing the Ticket to Finale that sealed his place in the final showdown.
Poonawalla’s journey was not without drama. A physical confrontation with contestant Siwet Tomar culminated in Tomar’s ejection from the house, and he faced repeated clashes with Swara Bhasker and others. Despite these controversies, his strategic play and resilience kept him in the lead, ultimately earning him the title.
Before his reality‑TV breakthrough, Poonawalla had a long political career. He served as secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 2008 to 2017, later criticizing the 2017 Congress presidential election as “rigged” in favour of Rahul Gandhi. He then joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, acting as a national spokesperson and managing Delhi’s IT and social‑media operations. In August 2026, he resigned from the BJP citing financial and personal reasons, while continuing to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.
His brother, Tehseen Poonawalla, also appeared on the show as a panelist, adding a family dimension to the already competitive environment. The victory not only marks a significant shift in Poonawalla’s public persona—from political commentator to reality‑TV winner—but also highlights his commitment to social causes, as evidenced by his pledge to channel the ₹35 lakh prize into flood relief initiatives.
