After Season 5 on August 15, 2010, Indian Idol went quiet. Season 6 didn’t premiere until June 1, 2012 — a nearly two-year gap that, like similar pauses in other seasons, reflected production scheduling rather than falling popularity. When it returned, it returned with one structural addition to the judging panel that the show had not made in any previous season: Asha Bhosle.
A singer with over 12,000 songs across five decades and a Guinness World Record as the most recorded artist in history does not typically sit on panels alongside Anu Malik. The combination produced a Season 6 with a distinctive emotional texture, and it crowned a winner from Amritsar who had started classical training at the age of eight.
Indian Idol Season 6 – Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Season | Season 6 |
| Air Dates | June 1, 2012 – September 1, 2012 |
| Channel | Sony Entertainment Television |
| Total Episodes | 30 |
| Hosts | Hussain Kuwajerwala; Mini Mathur |
| Judges | Anu Malik; Sunidhi Chauhan; Salim Merchant; Asha Bhosle |
| Winner | Vipul Mehta (Amritsar, Punjab) |
| Runner-Up (1st) | Devender Pal Singh |
| Runner-Up (2nd) | Amit Kumar |
| Prize Money | ₹50 lakh + Nissan Micra car + Suzuki Hayate bike + ₹3 lakh from Max Life Insurance + music album contract |
| Winner Announced By | Kareena Kapoor |
| Notable Firsts | Asha Bhosle joins as judge — first time in franchise history; Mini Mathur returns after missing Season 5 |
Hosts of Indian Idol Season 6
Hussain Kuwajerwala returned for Season 6, his fourth season as a host for the franchise.
Mini Mathur returned as co-host — she had been a fixture of the franchise across Seasons 1–4 before sitting out Season 5, when Abhijeet Sawant had co-hosted.
Judges of Indian Idol Season 6
Anu Malik continued — his seventh consecutive season of involvement in some capacity with the franchise.
Sunidhi Chauhan and Salim Merchant returned from Season 5.
Asha Bhosle joined as the fourth judge for Season 6 — an unprecedented casting choice for the franchise. Her decades-spanning career, encyclopaedic knowledge of Hindi film music, and iconic status in Indian music gave her assessments an authority that no previous Indian Idol judge had possessed by virtue of their own recorded legacy. Her presence gave Season 6 a link to the classical and film song traditions that the show’s younger judging panels had typically engaged with from a fan’s perspective rather than a participant’s.
Winner of Indian Idol Season 6 – Vipul Mehta
Vipul Mehta from Amritsar, Punjab, was 17 years old when he won Season 6. He had begun studying classical singing at the age of eight despite having no family background in music — a self-motivated investment in training that gave his performances a technical foundation unusual for his age. Before Indian Idol, he had finished as runner-up in Amul Star Voice of India 2.
At the Season 6 finale, Kareena Kapoor announced his name as winner. His response: “I am really very happy. I thank god for bringing me where I stand today. I would like to thank the audience.” He received ₹50 lakh in cash, a Nissan Micra car, a Suzuki Hayate motorcycle, ₹3 lakh from Max Life Insurance, and a music album contract with Sony. His albums Rowaan Mein and Hello Namaste Sat Sri Akal followed. He subsequently performed for Amitabh Bachchan on Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 6 and collaborated with fellow Season 6 contestants on the Fabulous Four album.
Runner-Up Profiles
Devender Pal Singh (17) — first runner-up of Season 6, who reached the finale and fought closely for the title.
Amit Kumar (20) — second runner-up, noted for a strong and bold voice. He contributed to the Fabulous Four album alongside other top Season 6 contestants. Other notable performers from the season included Poorvi Kautish and Sohini Mishra.
Indian Idol Season 6 – Top Contestants
| Contestant | Position |
| Vipul Mehta | Winner |
| Devender Pal Singh | 1st Runner-Up |
| Amit Kumar | 2nd Runner-Up |
| Poorvi Kautish | Top Contestant |
| Sohini Mishra | Top Contestant |
Key Facts and Legacy of Season 6
Season 6 ran for just 30 episodes — the shortest main-series Indian Idol season by episode count — compressed into three months. Asha Bhosle’s addition to the panel remained its most discussed structural feature, and her assessments — particularly of classical nuances in film song performance — gave the season a musicological depth that brought a different kind of discussion to the judges’ table. Vipul Mehta’s prize package was the most extensive in the franchise at that point: cash, two vehicles, insurance money, and a recording contract.
5 FAQs About Indian Idol Season 6
Q1. Who won Indian Idol Season 6?
Vipul Mehta from Amritsar, Punjab won Season 6. The finale aired September 1, 2012, with Kareena Kapoor announcing his name. He received ₹50 lakh, a Nissan Micra, a Suzuki Hayate bike, ₹3 lakh from Max Life Insurance, and a music album contract. Devender Pal Singh was first runner-up and Amit Kumar was second runner-up.
Q2. Who were the judges of Indian Idol Season 6?
Anu Malik, Sunidhi Chauhan, Salim Merchant, and Asha Bhosle. Asha Bhosle joined as the fourth judge — the first time the franchise had featured her, and one of the most significant casting additions in the show’s history up to that point.
Q3. Who hosted Indian Idol Season 6?
Hussain Kuwajerwala and Mini Mathur. Mini Mathur returned as co-host after missing Season 5.
Q4. What was unique about the Indian Idol Season 6 judging panel?
Asha Bhosle’s addition as the fourth judge. With over 12,000 recorded songs across more than five decades, she brought a recorded legacy to the judging table that no previous Indian Idol judge had matched. The four-judge panel format was also unusual — most seasons used three judges.
Q5. When did Indian Idol Season 6 air?
June 1 to September 1, 2012, on Sony Entertainment Television. The season ran for 30 episodes.
