The grand finale of Ashneer Grover’s reality show Rise and Fall concluded with Arjun Bijlani lifting the trophy and winning Rs 28 lakh, but the victory has been overshadowed by significant controversy. While Arjun celebrated his win with his emotional wife Neha Swami by his side, fans and social media erupted with criticism, questioning the fairness of the finale and expressing overwhelming support for Akriti Negi, who was eliminated despite being one of the show’s most consistent and beloved performers. Let’s explore the drama, controversies, and the complex dynamics that defined this controversial finale.
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Arjun Bijlani’s Victory: The Facts
Arjun Bijlani lifted the Rise & Fall trophy, winning Rs 28 lakh on Ashneer Grover’s show. The finale featured performances from the top six contestants: Arjun Bijlani, Arbaz Patel, Akriti Negi, Aarush Bhola, Dhanashree Verma, and Nayandeep Rakshit. After eliminations narrowed the field, ex-contestants voted for the top three finalists, ultimately leading to Akriti Negi’s unexpected exit, which shocked fans and sparked massive backlash online.
Rise and Fall Key Controversies Surrounding the Finale
| Controversy | Details |
|---|---|
| Akriti’s Premature Elimination | Evicted with fewest votes despite strong audience support |
| Audience Voting Questions | Public voting still active when elimination results announced |
| Fan Support Ignored | Celebrities like Ishaan Kishan, Pankaj Tripathi, Elvish Yadav backed Akriti |
| Perception of Scripting | Netizens questioned fairness and called win “scripted” |
| Akriti as People’s Favorite | Fans crowned her “real heart-winner” despite loss |
The Arjun-Akriti Conflict Timeline
Throughout the season, tensions escalated between Arjun Bijlani and Akriti Negi. A major controversy erupted during the show when Akriti Negi misbehaved with Arjun and showed him the middle finger. Akriti faced a lot of criticism on social media for this incident.
Responding to the controversy, Arjun said, “I think forgiving is very important. Akriti is a very pretty, talented girl, a beautiful dancer. She even apologised in front of everyone, and I respect that. We’ve had great moments after that. I like to forget the past because she’s going to do many more shows”.
However, tensions resurfaced multiple times. Recently, the show witnessed one of its most heated arguments when host Arjun Bijlani began targeting Akriti over unnecessary points, seemingly trying to put her on the spot. During the clash, Arjun tried to assert dominance by playing the age card, saying, “Mai bada hi hu tujse”.
False Allegations and Targeting
In a recent episode of Rise and Fall, tensions rose when Akriti chose to play the game individually, without aligning with any contestant. This led to a heated argument between her and Dhanshree Verma. After the confrontation, Akriti sat alone, missing her family, and took out a pen and paper to sketch their pictures, a quiet moment of personal reflection. However, her private moment soon became the subject of controversy. Contestants Arjun Bijlani, Arbaz Patel, Manisha Rani and Dhanshree Verma began targeting her, falsely accusing her of performing black magic on Dhanshree.
These allegations sparked significant backlash from viewers who felt Akriti was being unfairly targeted and accused of sensational false claims.
Akriti Negi: The “People’s Favorite”
Despite not winning, Akriti emerged as a fan favorite. Akriti, known for her composed presence, strong performances, and positive attitude, had earned immense respect among viewers for staying true to herself throughout the journey. Her elimination has now sparked emotional posts, video tributes, and hashtags like #JusticeForAkritiNegi, #UnfairEviction, and #AkritiDeservedBetter, with fans celebrating her as “the real heart-winner of Rise and Fall”.
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Social Media Backlash Against Arjun’s Win
Netizens expressed widespread dissatisfaction with Arjun’s victory. Netizens weren’t happy with Arjun’s win, calling it scripted. Many felt that several other contestants were more deserving of the title than Arjun Bijlani. Comments flooded social media with users stating:
- “Actual Top 2 Akriti and Aarush! Rest are the drama & nautanki of makers”
- “Akriti was on the top, even host acknowledged this. It’s so unfair to her, used her for TRP”
- “Scripted Winner Arjun”
Arjun’s Character Under Scrutiny
Beyond game strategy, Arjun’s conduct faced criticism. During a casual conversation, Arjun Bijlani made shocking comments about Akriti, which viewers have called out as deeply disrespectful and insensitive. Referring to her, Arjun said, “Besharam hai woh, sharam hai kya usko. She does psychotic behavior”. These comments drew significant backlash for being insensitive regarding mental health.
The Winner’s Statement
Speaking about his win, Arjun Bijlani said, “Rise & Fall proved that every fall is just a step towards rising stronger”. However, this statement couldn’t quell the widespread criticism and disappointment among the show’s fanbase.
Rise and Fall’s Legacy
The show featured 15 celebrity contestants from diverse backgrounds, creating unpredictable dynamics. While Arjun won the trophy and prize money, the season’s true legacy appears to be Akriti’s inspiring journey and her refusal to compromise her integrity despite relentless targeting. For reality entertainment news and OTT platform coverage, follow dedicated entertainment platforms for detailed analysis.
FAQs
Q1: Who won Rise and Fall and what was the prize amount?
Arjun Bijlani won Rise and Fall, lifting the trophy and winning Rs 28 lakh. However, the victory sparked significant controversy as fans felt Akriti Negi was more deserving based on her performances and audience voting patterns. The finale drew widespread criticism for potentially favoring Arjun over other deserving contestants. For comprehensive details about the finale, results, and viewer reactions, visit Moneycontrol Entertainment and IBTimes for detailed coverage of this controversial conclusion.
Q2: Why did Akriti Negi’s elimination spark so much backlash?
Akriti was eliminated despite being one of the show’s most consistent performers and receiving strong audience support. Many fans who had been supporting her throughout the week shared that they continued voting, unaware that the results had already been decided. This led to a flood of online discussions questioning how the process unfolded. Additionally, she faced repeated false allegations, unfair targeting from multiple contestants, and constant criticism despite maintaining composure and integrity throughout the season. Celebrities like Ishaan Kishan, Pankaj Tripathi, and Elvish Yadav publicly supported her, and fans created hashtags like #JusticeForAkritiNegi expressing their belief that she was unfairly evicted. For reality show analysis and entertainment controversies coverage, check comprehensive entertainment news platforms for detailed discussion of the finale dynamics.
