Arunachal Pradesh-based Manik Paul, known for his stunning aerial acts, was on Saturday announced the winner of the reality TV show India’s Got Talent.
Along with the trophy, Paul walked away with Rs5,000,000 (Dh288,488) and a Maruti Suzuki Celerio car after he looped his way to victory in the finale of the popular TV show’s sixth season, which was full of entertainment with dance, drama, rapping and shadow art.
An animated Paul couldn’t contain his emotions as tears rolled down his face. His mother too got emotional.
He was announced the winner based on audience votes. The voting line were opened for 20 minutes from 9pm on Saturday.
Paul was pitted against hand shadow artist Prahlad Acharya from Bengaluru, a children’s dance group named XIX Dance Group from Thane, another dance group Beat Breakers, gymnast Yogeshwari Mistry, who also excelled in aerial acts, and Harmanpreet Kaur and Parry G from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir respectively, who offered a fusion of singing and rapping.
Paul’s journey in the show was successful as he carved his way to the top spot with accolades after each of his performances. He stunned the audience with his aerial acrobats and also won praise from choreographer Remo D’souza in one episode.
Hosted by comedienne Bharti Singh and actor Sidharth Shukla, the sixth season of the reality show was judged by filmmaker Karan Johar, actress-producer Malaika Arora Khan and actress Kirron Kher.
The show, which brings talent from across India under one roof, went on air on April 18 this year on Colors channel.
Giving an emotional twist to the finale episode, Paul performed the song Nahin Saamne Ye Alag Baat Hai from the 1999 Bollywood movie Taal and received a standing ovation from the judges and the audience.
A flashback of the whole season was also screened in Bollywood movie format with Johar as hero, Khan as heroine, Kher as mother, Singh as the hero’s sister and Shukla as a lover boy.
The final episode was made grander with television celebrities joining the finalist for a performance. Paul and Yogeshwari danced with actress Elli Avram and choreographer Tushar in a surreal performance on Sun Saathiya — a rap performance by Raftaar with Parry G and Harmanpreet.
Actor Faisal Khan, who is also a contestant in the upcoming season of the reality TV show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded, performed with X1X and Beat Breakers.
Paul rocked the stage in a shimmering golden outfit with her energetic moves on songs like Bang Bang and Desi Look.
Shukla and Kher danced to songs Ye Raatein Ye Mausam Nadi Ka Kinara, Aajkal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche and Darling from the black and white era.
A lot of fun moments were also packed in the episode with Johar taking a fun jibe at Singh by offering to find a perfect groom for her and calling actors Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra for the same, who rejected Singh.
Another highlight of the episode was when Anupam Kher, actor and husband of Kirron, walked on the stage and danced with his wife.
The final episode of the show also presented a glimpse of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded with a clip in which Johar introduces Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor as the new judge of the upcoming dance reality show.