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Rise & Fall 2: Swara Bhasker, Karan Patel among first four to join Sehwag's show
Swara Bhasker, Karan Patel, Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and politician Shehzad Poonawalla are set to join Rise & Fall Season 2. The Virender Sehwag-hosted reality show will stream on MX Player from September 26.
Actors Swara Bhasker, Karan Patel, Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and politician Shehzad Poonawalla are set to join Rise & Fall Season 2. The Virender Sehwag-hosted reality show will stream on MX Player from September 26.
Actors Swara Bhasker, Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, Karan Patel and political commentator Shehzad Poonawalla have been confirmed as the first four contestants of Rise & Fall Season 2, hosted by former cricketer Virender Sehwag. The newly released promo introduces them as the first names from the 15-member line-up and sets up the opening contest in the reality show’s power game.
The promo shows the four taking potshots at each other in their own style as they play to their strengths. The show’s central format, built around shifting power and strategy, returns with contestants moving between positions of rulers and workers that shape the course of the game.
In the promo, Swara enters the show as an outspoken presence, while Poonawalla moves from the primetime spotlight to a different kind of competition. Priyanka, already familiar to viewers of reality television, returns to a format where strategy and timing are key. Karan Patel, a well-known television actor, joins the show for what is positioned as an unscripted contest for power.
Sharing her thoughts, Priyanka said, “I’ve experienced reality television in different forms, but Rise & Fall Season 2 brings a whole new dimension to the game. The idea of going from being a Ruler to a Worker and having your position shaped by the choices you make, makes this experience especially exciting for me."
She also said that her past experience with reality shows had taught her to trust her instincts and stay true to herself. However, she added that the power dynamics in Rise & Fall Season 2 would make the experience different, as she would have to adapt to whatever position she finds herself in and make the most of every moment.
Swara Bhasker added, “I’ve always been someone who wears her opinions on her sleeve, so entering a game like Rise & Fall Season 2 is going to be quite an experience. The show brings together personalities with very different perspectives, and when power and strategy come into play, I’m sure those differences will make for some fascinating dynamics. I’m excited to see how it all unfolds.”
Expressing his excitement about being part of the show, Karan Patel said, “People have seen me play different characters and tell stories through television all these years, but Rise & Fall Season 2 gives me the chance to enter a completely different arena as myself."
He added that the competitive nature of the show was what excited him the most. The actor also expressed that the game would require him to make bold moves, stand by his decisions and keep adapting as the dynamics changed, something he was ready to take on wholeheartedly.
Shehzad Poonawalla said the theme of “rise and fall” closely reflected his own life and journey, with one chapter ending as another begins with new challenges and opportunities. He described Rise & Fall Season 2 as an interesting new innings and said he enjoys spaces where people can express strong points of view. He noted that the show brings together contestants with different perspectives, while making it clear that he has no tolerance for anyone who belittles Bharat or its history.
Shehzad also said it would be interesting to see how complete strangers navigate the game, sometimes forming alliances and at other times finding themselves on opposite sides. On a lighter note, he joked that he was happy he would not have to pay rent for the next six weeks.
Season format and more about last season
Rise & Fall centres on contestants switching between the roles of Ruler and Worker, with their standing in the game shaped by decisions, strategy and eliminations. The first season ended with Arjun Bijlani winning the title after beginning his journey as a worker and rising through the ranks to become a ruler. Aarush Bhola finished as the first runner-up, while Arbaz Patel secured the second runner-up position.
Arjun Bijlani, Aarush Bhola, Arbaz Patel, Dhanashree Verma, Nayandeep Rakshit and Akriti Negi had made it to the finale week of the previous season. The winner was decided through internal voting, and Arjun took home prize money of Rs 28,10,000.
Produced by Banijay Asia, MX Original, Rise & Fall Season 2 will stream on MX Player from September 26.