Content creator Aarush Bhola was one of the strongest contestants on Ashneer Grover-hosted reality show Rise & Fall. However, he eventually lost the trophy to actor Arjun Bijlani. Now, months after the show ended, Aarush has called it “biased” during a conversation with Farah Khan on her cooking vlog.
Recently, Farah Khan visited Aarush Bhola and Varun Yadav, aka Laali, for her cooking vlog with Dilip. During her visit, she also spoke to both of them about their reality show experiences. While discussing Aarush’s journey on Rise & Fall, Farah asked him, “Were you till the end of the show?” To this, Aarush replied, “I was the runner-up.”
When Farah asked how the winner was decided, Aarush remarked, “End mein wahi internal voting kar di (They held an internal vote at the end).” He then laughed and added, “Biased show, aapko pata hi hai (Biased show, you know that).”
Farah immediately disagreed, laughing and saying, “No, no, no. Jo show yeh naa jeete voh biased hogaya (Whichever show they don't win becomes biased).” He also seemed to be taking a dig at Lock Upp season 2, hosted by Farah, as the show also had an internal voting system, which led to Shreya Kalra winning the show.
Farah also joked about Aarush’s clashes with host Ashneer. While talking to Aarush’s mother, she said, “Maine isko (Aarush) ko bhi dekha tha, host ko hi rula diya tha (I saw him, he even made the host cry).”
On Rise & Fall, Aarush was one of the strongest contestants and frequently locked horns with host Ashneer Grover. One argument erupted after Ashneer repeated a slur that Aarush had used for himself in the Red Room. Aarush objected, saying Ashneer could criticise his gameplay but should not use such language against him.
Aarush said, “Ek host ke taur par main aapko kehna chahunga ki aap game ka koi bhi criticism do, magar ye baatein mat karna. Main camera ko kuch bhi bolun. Iska matlab ye nahi hai ki aap mujhe kuch bhi bologe (As a host, I would like to tell you that you can criticise my gameplay in any way you want, but don't say things like this. I can say whatever I want to the camera. That doesn't mean you can say anything to me).”
The argument escalated when Ashneer asked Aarush to leave the show, prompting him to respond, “Yes, open the gate.”
Rise & Fall is a reality show centred on power, strategy and social hierarchy. The format divides contestants into two groups, the Rulers, who enjoy privileges and control, and the Workers, who have to perform tasks and navigate tougher conditions. The show, which is available to watch on Prime Video, explores how quickly power can change hands and how contestants respond when they move from positions of authority to vulnerability. Arjun Bijlani won Season 1, with Aarush finishing as the runner-up.
Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More
