Mohit Singh
MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 2026 — According to multiple entertainment reports citing exclusive sources from within the production, Shiv Thakare has reportedly emerged as the winner of Colors TV and JioHotstar’s reality competition The 50, beating three other top finalists in a time-based puzzle task during the grand finale shoot held on February 19, 2026, in Mumbai. The 50 finalists list for the grand finale was confirmed by February 18 as Mr. Faisu (Faisal Shaikh), Shiv Thakare, Immortal Kaka, and Krishna Shroff — with Rajat Dalal finishing in fifth place during the semi-final stage. An official announcement confirming the winner will only be made when the finale episode airs on March 22, 2026, nearly a month after the shoot took place.
The leaked outcome follows a season-long competition that saw Sapna Chaudhary’s medical exit due to a leg fracture on February 15 remove one of the show’s strongest physical competitors, and the rapid elimination of prominent names including Prince Narula, Manisha Rani, Yuvika Chaudhary, Urvashi Dholakia, and Archana Gautam before The 50 grand finale task. Sources indicate that six contestants — Hamid, Siwet, Arushi Chawla, Lovekesh Kataria, Lakshay, and Yuvika Chaudhary — were eliminated in the semi-final stage to arrive at the final four. The journey from 50 contestants on Day 1 to four finalists across a span of 19 days of recording makes The 50 one of the most rapid-elimination reality formats in Indian television history.
Also Read: The 50 Finalists Revealed: Prince Narula, Mr. Faisu, and Manisha Rani Lead the Race to the Finale
The grand finale task was a time-based puzzle challenge in which each of the four finalists had to solve a puzzle individually, in isolation from the remaining three players who were not permitted to watch. Immortal Kaka, one of India’s most-followed Punjabi music artists, was the first to attempt the puzzle but failed to solve it within the task’s requirements. His inability to complete the puzzle effectively removed him from contention for the title before the other three contestants had even begun.
Krishna Shroff, daughter of actor Jackie Shroff and a consistent performer throughout the season, took approximately 25 minutes to complete the puzzle, establishing the first completed benchmark for the remaining contestants to beat. Her time of roughly 25 minutes was a valid completion but placed her in a position that required both Shiv Thakare and Mr. Faisu to take longer in order to secure her victory. According to Times of India sources from the set, Krishna ultimately finished as the second runner-up of the season.
Also Read: Sapna Chaudhary Medical Exit: Official Statement on the Injury That Ended Her ‘The 50’ Journey.
Shiv Thakare was the third contestant to attempt the puzzle and reportedly solved it in approximately 10 minutes, more than halving Krishna Shroff’s time and placing him in a commanding position heading into the final performance. Sources described this as the moment that effectively settled the finale, with his time of 10 minutes setting a benchmark that was unlikely to be beaten. Thakare’s speed was noted by production insiders as a significant individual achievement in a task designed to test both intelligence and composure under pressure.
Mr. Faisu, the social media megastar and one of the season’s most popular figures with fans, was the final contestant to attempt the puzzle and initially completed it incorrectly. The Lion intervened to inform Mr. Faisu that his first attempt had not been properly solved, requiring him to redo the puzzle. After the correction, he completed the task in approximately 14 minutes in total — four minutes more than Shiv Thakare’s benchmark — placing him as the first runner-up of The 50.
The final standings as reported by insider sources from the shoot are as follows: Shiv Thakare as winner, Mr. Faisu as first runner-up, Krishna Shroff as second runner-up, and Immortal Kaka in fourth place. Rajat Dalal, who had been widely expected by fans to win the show before the finale, was eliminated in fifth place during the semi-final task before the puzzle round began. His exit in fifth place was described as the most surprising result of the finale sequence by multiple entertainment outlets.
Also Read: The 50 Prize Money Tracker: How much have the contestants lost due to fights?
Following the announcement of Shiv Thakare’s apparent victory, the makers introduced an unusual production twist: they shot the winning moment with all four finalists rather than only Shiv Thakare, in a deliberate effort to maintain secrecy about the winner until the March 22 broadcast. This approach of filming a winning celebration with multiple contestants is an uncommon practice in Indian reality television and was described by sources as a calculated move to prevent spoilers from being confirmed publicly. Despite the measure, multiple industry insiders and entertainment reporters confirmed Shiv Thakare’s name within hours of the finale shoot wrapping.
Shiv Thakare is no stranger to high-stakes reality competition, having previously competed in Roadies, Bigg Boss Marathi, Bigg Boss 16, and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa before his appearance on The 50. His Bigg Boss 16 appearance in 2022-2023 positioned him as a strong, alliance-driven player, and sources indicate he carried a similar approach into The 50. India Forums, which first reported his win, described him as having impressed both the production team and fellow contestants with his consistency and competitive behavior throughout the season.
Mr. Faisu, the first runner-up, had been among the earliest names mentioned as a potential winner due to his massive fan following and consistent task performance throughout the competition. Bollywood Shaadis, citing India Forums sources, noted that his sportsmanship and positive energy throughout the season made him a fan favourite even in defeat. The exact margin of his 14-minute completion versus Shiv’s 10-minute time, combined with his initial incorrect attempt, proved to be the decisive difference in the finale outcome.
The prize money for The 50, which began at zero and grew with task completions toward a maximum of ₹50 lakh, will go to the fan who registered on JioHotstar and selected Shiv Thakare as their chosen contestant from the competition’s start — if the reported outcome is confirmed on March 22. The exact amount of the prize pool at the time of the finale shoot, following deductions made after violent incidents including the Rajat-Digvijay fight and subsequent altercations, is not publicly disclosed. The official announcement and confirmation of the prize amount will be made during the broadcast finale on March 22, 2026, on Colors TV and JioHotstar.
The digital version of the show had already garnered 5.8 million views in its second week alone according to Ormax Media data, making it one of JioHotstar’s stronger-performing reality titles of the season despite the television ratings on Colors TV struggling to clock in strong TRPs. The show’s 19-day recording window, combined with a 31-day wait until the broadcast finale on March 22, means the spoiler-heavy environment surrounding the results will test the show’s ability to retain viewing interest over the coming weeks.
Shiv Thakare reportedly solved the finale puzzle in just 10 minutes — but does a single task truly define who deserved to win 19 days of competition? Tell us who you think should have lifted the trophy, and why.