Television actor Arjun Bijlani emerged victorious in Ashneer Grover’s reality show ‘Rise & Fall’, clinching the trophy and a cash prize of Rs 28.10 lakh after an intense 42-day journey that tested his mental strength, strategy, and authenticity. The grand finale, which aired on October 17, saw the ‘Naagin’ star defeat social media influencer Aarush Bhola (first runner-up) and reality TV personality Arbaaz Patel (second runner-up) in a closely contested finish.
The Journey from Basement to Penthouse
Bijlani’s path to victory was far from smooth. In his exclusive conversation with India Today, the actor revealed that from the very beginning, contestants were reluctant to see him rise to the penthouse, with people constantly nominating him for eviction from the basement. “In the beginning, nobody wanted me to rise in the penthouse. In the basement, people were nominating me. From there to here, the same people who were nominating me love me the most now,” he reflected on his dramatic transformation within the game.
What made his win particularly remarkable was the show’s unique format, which relied heavily on internal voting and strategic alliances rather than just public support. The reality show divided 15 celebrity contestants into two contrasting worlds – the luxurious penthouse where ‘Rulers’ lived with all amenities, and the bare-basics basement where ‘Workers’ struggled for survival. This power dynamic constantly shifted, making every decision critical to one’s survival in the competition.
Authenticity Over Image Management
For someone who has been a familiar face on Indian television for years, one might expect Bijlani to be cautious about his image on a reality show with 200 cameras watching every move. However, the actor admitted that initially, he was extremely careful about his words and actions but soon realized this approach was suffocating him.
“Initially, I was very careful about what I said and what I did. But then I realised that I can’t keep doing this because it’s kind of choking me inside. I’ll just be myself. If I get angry, I get angry, and I just let loose,” Bijlani shared. This decision to embrace his authentic self, flaws and all, became his greatest strength throughout the 42-day captivity.
The actor emphasized that pretending for such an extended period under constant surveillance was impossible. “You can’t be so controlled for 40 days. There are like 200 cameras on you from the time you get up to the time you sleep. You can’t act out there. And I didn’t want to act, honestly. I just wanted to have fun on the show,” he explained.
Emotional Moments and Personal Growth
While Bijlani’s strategic gameplay impressed viewers, it was his vulnerable moments that truly resonated with audiences. The most challenging aspect of participating in ‘Rise & Fall’ was being separated from his 10-year-old son, Ayaan, to whom he is deeply attached. During the show, contestants received a surprise visit from their loved ones in a special red room, and for Bijlani, meeting his son became the most cherished memory of his entire journey.
“The first day when I entered the penthouse, I was all alone. I said to myself, I want to rule this penthouse, and I want to win this show. And when I held that trophy, I think that was the moment. But the bigger moment was when I met my son in that red room. That’s the memory I have for life,” he said emotionally.
The show also served as a platform for self-reflection and personal growth. Having lost his father at the age of 19, Bijlani recalled being an extremely angry person in his youth. However, through this experience, he realized how much more patient and grounded he has become over the years, describing the transformation with visible pride.
In one particularly poignant moment, Bijlani retreated to the smoking room to avoid crying in front of other contestants, discussing with fellow participant Bali how people kept bringing up gender dynamics in the game. “Don’t guys have respect? Sometimes it’s okay for men also to let it out. We are humans,” he stated, challenging traditional notions of masculinity.
Validation Beyond Favouritism Allegations
For Bijlani, this victory holds special significance beyond the trophy and prize money. Four years ago, when he won ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 11’, he faced allegations of favouritism. Winning ‘Rise & Fall’, a show that relied minimally on external voting and heavily on internal strategy and competitor decisions, felt like a powerful validation of his abilities.
“Yes, this is special,” Bijlani acknowledged when asked about the validation factor. “Like I said, this show is not about votes. Of course, a part of it is about votes. But it is also about people in the show who are your competitors. What decisions do they make for you? What alliances have you made?” he elaborated.
Host Ashneer Grover had earlier in the game told him that everybody considered him one of the strongest competitors, which meant other contestants naturally wanted to eliminate him first. “But to come here till the end and then to hold the trophy, I think it says a lot about my game. I don’t want to call it a game, honestly. It was who I am,” Bijlani asserted.
Looking Ahead
Now that the show has concluded, Bijlani is encouraging his friends and industry colleagues to participate in future seasons. He mentioned wanting actors Nia Sharma, Karan Wahi, Aly Goni, Jannat Zubair, Reem Shaikh, and the entire ‘Laughter Chef’ gang to take up the challenge, confident that after watching his season, many would be inspired to participate.
As for immediate plans, the actor revealed that before any personal celebrations, he has several Diwali parties lined up that he needs to attend. However, he expressed his desire for a simple celebration: “Tomorrow, I think I’ll just sit with my wife on my balcony and watch the sunset with her,” the newly crowned winner signed off.
Bijlani’s journey in ‘Rise & Fall’ demonstrates that in an age of curated personas and strategic image management, authenticity still resonates most powerfully with audiences. His victory reaffirms that being genuine, embracing vulnerability, and staying true to oneself can be the most effective strategy of all.
By – Sonali