Shahzad Poonawalla Meets CM Devendra Fadnavis After Winning Rise and Fall 2 Title

Mumbai, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : Shahzad Poonawalla, the winner of the reality show ‘Rise and Fall 2’, recently met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to present him with the trophy from his victory. This meeting comes at a crucial time as Poonawalla announced his decision to donate the entire prize money of 3.5 million rupees to drought relief efforts in Maharashtra, as well as flood relief initiatives in Assam and Bihar.

Poonawalla’s contribution to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is particularly significant given that Maharashtra is facing one of its harshest droughts in recent years. The state government has declared 305 of its 358 talukas as drought-affected, impacting over 85% of the state’s geographical area. This declaration follows a disappointing monsoon season, with rainfall recorded at just 804.4 mm, a nearly 19% decrease from the normal 994.5 mm.

The Marathwada region has been hit hardest, experiencing a 38% reduction in rainfall, while Vidarbha has seen a 27% drop. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division has the highest number of drought-affected talukas, totaling 76, followed by Amravati (56), Nashik (52), Nagpur (52), and Pune (51). More than 800,000 farmers have been affected, with significant damage to soybean and cotton crops.

In an interview, Poonawalla expressed admiration for CM Fadnavis, noting that they both come from humble beginnings. He praised the Chief Minister’s ongoing efforts for the welfare of the people of Maharashtra, particularly farmers in the face of the current drought. Poonawalla emphasized the importance of civic responsibility, echoing Prime Minister Modi‘s belief that the people are the true owners of the country.

Reflecting on his victory, Poonawalla shared his joy at winning ‘Rise and Fall 2’. He attributed his success to divine blessings, his mother’s support, and the love from the public. Competing as an outsider among many entertainment industry figures made his achievement even more special. He expressed gratitude to CM Fadnavis for inviting him to his residence and appreciated the acknowledgment of his charitable decision.

Poonawalla was officially declared the winner of the second season of ‘Rise and Fall’, which was hosted by former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag. The show is available for streaming on MX Player.