Drama & Dejavu: Urvashi and Karan Top ‘The 50’

New Delhi, February 2, 2026: The 50 grand premiere has officially landed, and while the “palace doors” are open, the early reviews are a bit of a mixed bag. Despite the star-studded lineup—featuring television royalty like Urvashi Dholakia and Karan Patel—the show is currently battling a heavy “Bigg Boss hangover” that might be clouding its unique potential.

A Massive Lineup with Familiar Friction

The show kicked off on February 1 with a staggering 50 contestants, ranging from daily soap legends to social media influencers like Mr. Faisu and Rajat Dalal. While the format is technically an adaptation of the French hit Les Cinquante, the first few episodes felt like a trip down memory lane.

With veterans like Prince Narula, Shiv Thakare, and Nikki Tamboli in the mix, the atmosphere quickly devolved into the loud arguments and forced drama typical of the Bigg Boss house. Critics have noted that many celebrities seem stuck in “reality show mode,” picking unnecessary fights just to secure screen time in a crowd of fifty.

The Shocking Twist: No Prize for the Celebs

The biggest headline coming out of the premiere isn’t the drama, but the bank balance. In a radical shift from reality TV norms, the celebrity contestants will not win the ₹50 lakh grand prize. The show’s motto, “Players paseena bahayenge, fans paisa kamayenge” (Players will sweat, fans will earn), is literal. The prize money is reserved for a lucky viewer. To win, fans must:

• Follow the show on the streaming platform (JioHotstar).
• Correctly predict and support the winning contestant.
• Engage with the show’s interactive “fan-powered” mechanics.

For the celebrities, the stakes are purely about survival, social currency, and the chance to gift a life-changing sum to their loyal supporters.

Reality Chaos in “The Mahal”

Under the watchful eye of the mysterious masked figure known as “The Lion,” the show has already seen its first casualty. Vanshaj Singh was eliminated after a grueling task in the arena, with the decision-making power resting in the hands of the 10 newly appointed captains, including Urvashi Dholakia and Karan Patel.

Key Highlights of the Premiere:

• The Power Ten: Ten captains were chosen early on to create immediate hierarchy and tension.
• Physical Over Emotional: Unlike the conversation-heavy Bigg Boss, The 50 leans closer to Khatron Ke Khiladi with physically demanding arena tasks.
• Violent Outbursts: Early clashes between Rajat Dalal and Digvijay Rathee suggest that the “hangover” is leading to some high-voltage, if familiar, aggression.

The Verdict: The 50 offers a fresh, high-stakes format that could redefine Indian reality TV, but only if the contestants stop trying to act like they’re in a Bigg Boss repeat. Whether the “fan-wins-all” model will keep viewers engaged for the full 50-day run remains to be seen.