Mohit Singh
Mumbai: The 50 Finalist Shiv Thakare and fellow contestant Prince Narula both stepped in front of cameras shortly after the February 19, 2026, finale shoot concluded and directly addressed circulating reports of significant physical fights and serious conflicts inside the palace — with both contestants dismissing the claims, characterising their time on the show as a relaxed, almost holiday-like experience rather than the hostile environment that pre-shoot leak reports had implied. Shiv told reporters: “Laga hi nahi game khelne gaye hain” — “It did not feel like we were there to play the game” — and both The 50 Finalist duo described the show’s elaborate palace set as resembling their own homes in Mumbai, with the only material difference being the significantly larger living space inside the competition venue. Their responses, first surfaced by News18 and Moneycontrol on February 20-22, 2026, came as a simultaneous and separate formal statement from Nikki Tamboli’s team also denied a specific viral report claiming an “ugly spat” between Nikki and Shiv during the finale shoot itself on February 19.
What the Rumors Claimed
India Forums published a report during the finale shoot week claiming that a major argument had broken out between Nikki Tamboli and Shiv Thakare during the grand finale recording on February 19, 2026. The report alleged that the incident created a tense atmosphere on the finale set and that the situation had escalated beyond a minor difference of opinion — though the exact reason behind the alleged disagreement was not disclosed even in the original India Forums article. Reports of this nature began circulating rapidly across Instagram fan pages and X before Nikki’s team formally responded.
Nikki’s Team Formal Denial
Nikki Tamboli’s team issued a strongly worded statement on February 19, 2026 — the same evening as the finale shoot — categorically denying the India Forums report and calling the claims baseless. The statement, quoted by News18 and confirmed by multiple entertainment portals, clarified: “No fight occurred with Shiv Thakare during The 50 grand finale shoot. The shoot went smoothly. These rumours are baseless clickbait and media should fact-check before publishing”. Nikki’s team specifically asked entertainment portals to verify information with production sources before publishing, in an unusually direct media advisory appended to the denial.
The 50 Finalist: Shiv’s Specific Responses
Shiv Thakare, when asked directly about the fight rumors and the overall internal dynamics of The 50 palace across his 19 days of recording, gave responses that multiple reporters noted as notably unbothered in tone. He confirmed to reporters that contestants inside the palace followed a dietary regimen throughout the shoot — an unscripted detail about daily palace life that production had not previously disclosed. When asked about disagreements, Shiv acknowledged that minor differences existed between contestants but firmly rejected any characterisation of serious conflict.
Key verified statements from Shiv Thakare’s post-shoot media interactions:
- “Laga hi nahi game khelne gaye hain” — “It did not feel like we were there to play a game”
- Described the palace set as similar to his own home in Mumbai, with the key difference being the larger space
- Confirmed contestants followed a dietary regimen during filming
- Dismissed claims of significant internal fights as not reflective of the actual atmosphere inside the house
Prince Narula’s Responses
Prince Narula, appearing alongside Shiv in the same post-shoot media interaction, echoed Shiv’s tone and gave his own assessment of the conflict rumors. TellyChakkar’s Instagram post from February 20, 2026 confirmed: “Shiv Thakare and Prince Narula talking The 50 — alliances, fights and fun” — with both contestants addressing the alliance and fight narrative on camera in a joint interaction. Sources say Prince specifically avoided confirming the reports about whether he voluntarily gave up his finale ticket to Shiv, though Film Window’s original report had framed it as a brotherly sacrifice.
The Ticket to Finale Twist
The most significant backstory behind Shiv and Prince’s joint post-show appearance involves the reported Ticket to Finale task from February 18, 2026 — the semi-final shoot conducted one day before the main finale. According to Film Window’s report, Prince Narula won the Ticket to Finale task outright but voluntarily handed over his secured position to Shiv Thakare, saying: “He’s my brother and I want him to go to the finale”. This decision, if accurately reported, meant that the original four finalists — Prince, Rajat Dalal, Mr. Faisu, and Immortal Kaka — shifted to Shiv, Mr. Faisu, Immortal Kaka, and Krishna Shroff once Prince stepped aside.
“Bhayankar PR Game”: Netizen Backlash
Not everyone received Prince Narula’s reported sacrifice positively. News18 reported on February 18, 2026, that when the news of Prince reportedly giving up his finale ticket to Shiv surfaced, a substantial section of social media users described the move as a “bhayankar PR game” — a manipulative public relations strategy rather than a genuine act of friendship. The criticism centred on the argument that a contestant who had competed for 19 days had no logical reason to exit voluntarily unless the decision served his own image or commercial interests beyond the competition.
Alliance History: Their Bond Explained
Shiv Thakare and Prince Narula operated as part of the same alliance throughout the competition, with their alliance also including Karan Patel, Ridhi Dogra, and Yuvika Chaudhary at various points during the show’s run. Their bond, which both contestants have described publicly as a brotherly friendship, predates The 50 and is rooted in their shared history as prominent figures in Indian reality television — with both having competed in multiple shows previously. Insiders in the entertainment media community noted that the public image of their friendship held throughout the competition without any visible cracks in broadcast episodes up to the semi-final week.
Other Post-Shoot Reactions
Shiv and Prince’s joint media interaction was not the only post-shoot activity that drew coverage in the 72 hours following the February 19 finale recording:
- Mr. Faisu (Faisal Shaikh) gave a separate paparazzi interaction in which he addressed Prince’s earlier “influencer” remark, saying both of them still appeared on the same show
- Lovekesh Kataria posted an anti-spoiler Instagram Story urging media and fans to stop publishing finale results
- Nikki Tamboli’s team issued its formal denial of the Shiv fight rumour on the same evening as the shoot
- Karan Patel was photographed at the finale shoot premises breaking down in tears after his elimination in Episode 19
- Shiv and Prince’s paparazzi appearances drew combined media attention that appeared to dominate post-finale entertainment coverage for two consecutive days
What Remains Unconfirmed
Despite multiple post-shoot media interactions, several key details about the finale and its final days remain not publicly confirmed:
- Whether Prince Narula voluntarily surrendered his Ticket to Finale position or whether his exit occurred through a different mechanism
- The exact reason behind the reported Nikki Tamboli–Shiv Thakare tension that India Forums had published before the denial
- Whether Shiv Thakare has officially confirmed or denied the winner leak reports in any direct verbal statement to media
- The full dietary and daily schedule followed by contestants inside the palace during the 19-day recording
Both men appeared relaxed, almost amused, describing The 50 palace as a holiday home — while behind the scenes, fight rumors, denied statements, and a reported brotherly sacrifice of a finale ticket were all competing for the same news cycle. Do you believe Prince Narula genuinely gave up his finale ticket out of brotherhood, or was it the most calculated strategic move of the entire season?