Shehzad Poonawalla wins Rise and Fall 2, pledges prize

Shehzad Poonawalla won the second season of Rise and Fall on November 6, taking the trophy and a Rs 35 lakh prize. He said he would donate the full prize to relief efforts, including flood-affected Bihar and Assam. The reports establish his pledge, not that the money has been transferred. Priyanka Chahar Choudhary finished as first runner-up and Gautam Gulati as second runner-up. The finale also included Niharika Tiwari, Karan Patel and Swara Bhasker among the final six contestants. The show’s final decision followed a vote that left the top three in a deadlock, after which the remaining contestants delivered the verdict, according to a finale account. Poonawalla said he had intended to donate the winnings before joining the show. In a video shared on Instagram, he said the money would go to the chief ministers’ funds in Bihar and Assam for flood relief. In a separate reported explanation, he said he wanted the funds used for the public interest and could be applied to another disaster or need. He also mentioned Maharashtra drought relief in an announcement, though his more specific account named the Bihar and Assam funds. The Rs 35 lakh award remains a pledge rather than a...