Virender Sehwag confronts Shehzad Poonawalla over 'vamp' remark on Priyanka Chahar
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Cricket legend and Rise and Fall Season 2 host Virender Sehwag publicly rebuked contestant Shehzad Poonawalla on the show after Poonawalla referred to fellow contestant Priyanka Chahar Choudhary as a 'vamp' — a remark that drew an immediate on-camera response from the host. The episode, which aired on Prime Video, has since sparked widespread discussion among the show's audience.
What Sehwag Said On Camera
Confronting Poonawalla directly, Sehwag declared, 'Yeh nahi allow karunga mein aapko. Aap shabd waapas lijiye, yeh shabdh nahi bol sakte aap… Kisi bhi ladki ke baare mein aap aisa shabd nahi bol sakte' — roughly translated as, 'I will not allow this. Take back your word, you cannot use such words... You cannot say such a word about any girl.' The rebuke was unambiguous, leaving no room for Poonawalla to deflect.
Poonawalla's Attempt to Reframe and Sehwag's Counter
Poonawalla attempted to pivot the conversation by recalling an earlier altercation involving contestant Siwet Tomar, during which his kurta was torn. He questioned how the incident would have been perceived if the roles were reversed and a woman had been involved. The argument, however, backfired. Sehwag redirected attention to Poonawalla's own track record on language inside the Tower, stating: 'Ache shabdo ki baat na kare toh badhiya hai, maine har hafte yaha aake ginaye hai kitne ache shabdh use kiye hai, itne beep istemaal hue hai, yeh maine aapko har baari bola hai, sabko bola hai' — meaning he had flagged excessive abusive language and 'beep'-worthy speech on multiple previous occasions.
Swara Bhasker Weighs In
Actress and fellow contestant Swara Bhasker entered the exchange, arguing that the context of the incident would be perceived very differently if the person in question were a woman. Sehwag, for his part, indicated that he did not intend to revisit past incidents and kept focus on the present remark against Priyanka Chahar Choudhary.
About Rise and Fall Season 2
Rise and Fall Season 2, backed by Banijay Asia, streams exclusively on Prime Video with new episodes releasing daily at 12 noon IST. The show, hosted by Sehwag, has drawn attention for its high-intensity dynamics among contestants drawn from entertainment, politics, and public life. This latest confrontation is among the more visible moments of the current season, underscoring the show's mix of personal conflict and public scrutiny.