Indian Idol Season 12 – Winner, Runner-Up, Host, Contestants & Prize Money (2020–2021)

Indian Idol Season 12 began during the COVID-19 pandemic and was shaped by it from the start. The November 28, 2020 premiere came as Indian television production had been restructured under safety protocols. What the pandemic produced, unintentionally, was the longest season in the franchise’s history — 75 episodes across nine months — because scheduling disruptions and COVID-related complications kept pushing the conclusion forward. The finale eventually aired on Independence Day, August 15, 2021, in a 12-hour marathon.

The season’s judging and hosting panels were both disrupted mid-production when the shoot location had to move out of Mumbai. And through all of it, the winner — a multi-instrumentalist from Uttarakhand with a classical foundation and a natural ease on camera — built one of the most consistently popular performances the show had ever seen.

Indian Idol Season 12 – Quick Overview

Host of Indian Idol Season 12

Aditya Narayan was the primary host for Season 12, continuing from his debut in Season 11. He contracted COVID-19 during production, leading to his temporary replacement by a rotating set of guest hosts.

Bharti Singh, Harsh Limbachiyaa, Rithvik Dhanjani, and Jay Bhanushali each hosted episodes during Narayan’s COVID recovery — an unusual multi-host arrangement that reflected the production challenges of the pandemic period. Aditya Narayan returned to complete the season.

Judges of Indian Idol Season 12

Himesh Reshammiya — who had replaced Anu Malik mid-Season 11 — returned as a full-season judge for Season 12.

Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani both began the season. When the show’s production location moved out of Mumbai due to COVID-19 circumstances, both opted out of the relocation. They were replaced by:

Sonu Kakkar (Neha Kakkar’s sister, also a playback singer) and Anu Malik — marking Malik’s return to the franchise again.

The rotating nature of Season 12’s judging and hosting arrangements was unprecedented in the franchise and directly reflected the production environment of 2020-21.

Winner of Indian Idol Season 12 – Pawandeep Rajan

Pawandeep Rajan was from Champawat, Uttarakhand — a small hill district in the Kumaon region. His father Suresh Rajan is also a musician who performs at events in Uttarakhand, giving Pawandeep a domestic musical education alongside whatever formal training he pursued. He plays multiple instruments — a quality that set him apart in a competition where most contestants present purely as vocalists — and his command of classical Indian scales gave his film song performances a structural solidity that judges and audiences both responded to.

He won the August 15, 2021 finale — the 12-hour marathon that was the franchise’s longest-ever finale format — receiving ₹25 lakh and a car. The finale itself was attended by Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, promoting their war film Shershaah.

His relationship with first runner-up Arunita Kanjilal generated significant attention during and after the competition — their duet performances were among the season’s most-discussed musical moments, and their evident chemistry created a fan following for their performances together that sustained well beyond the competition’s conclusion.

Runner-Up Profiles

Arunita Kanjilal — first runner-up of Season 12, a classically trained singer from West Bengal whose voice consistently impressed the judges with its purity and control. Her duet performances with Pawandeep Rajan were among the season’s most popular moments. She has remained active in Indian television and music following the competition.

Sayli Kamble — second runner-up, a singer from Maharashtra whose consistent performances through 75 episodes built a loyal national following.

Nihal Tauro — top 6 finalist from Mangalore, Karnataka.

Danish Mohammad — top 6 finalist.

Shanmukha Priya — top 6 finalist whose technically adventurous performances — including a much-discussed vocal runs showcase — generated significant viewer conversation during the season.

Indian Idol Season 12 – Top 15 Contestants

Indian Idol Seasons 9–12 – Quick Reference

5 FAQs About Indian Idol Season 12

Q1. Who won Indian Idol Season 12?

Pawandeep Rajan from Champawat, Uttarakhand, won Season 12 on August 15, 2021. He beat six other finalists in a 12-hour finale marathon. He received ₹25 lakh and a car. First runner-up was Arunita Kanjilal and second runner-up was Sayli Kamble.

Q2. Why was Indian Idol Season 12 the longest season?

Season 12 ran for 75 episodes from November 2020 to August 2021 — the franchise’s longest season — primarily due to COVID-19 pandemic disruptions affecting production schedules, location changes, judge availability, and the host contracting COVID-19 mid-production.

Q3. Who were the judges of Indian Idol Season 12?

Himesh Reshammiya, Neha Kakkar, and Vishal Dadlani started the season. When the shoot location moved out of Mumbai, Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani opted out and were replaced by Sonu Kakkar and Anu Malik for the rest of the season.

Q4. What was special about Indian Idol Season 12’s finale?

The finale aired on Independence Day, August 15, 2021, as a 12-hour singing marathon — the longest finale format in the franchise’s history. It featured all six top contestants performing, with Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani as special guests for Shershaah.

Q5. What was the Pawandeep-Arunita duet story in Season 12?

Pawandeep Rajan (winner) and Arunita Kanjilal (first runner-up) formed one of the season’s most-discussed performer pairings. Their duet performances generated significant fan following and viewership, and their evident chemistry became one of Season 12’s most prominent narratives, lasting beyond the competition’s conclusion.