New Delhi: Rishi Singh of Ayodhya, whose voice and singing style have been compared to those of Arijit Singh, and amassed a huge fan following including popular cricketer Virat Kohli, was declared the winner of 'Indian Idol 13' late on Sunday night.
Rishi, who has been a fan favourite from the start, wins a car and a cheque for Rs. 25 lakh. The first and second runners-up are Debasmita Roy and Chirag Kotwal, respectively. Sonakshi Kar, Shivam Singh, and Bidipta Chakravarty were among those that made it to the grand finale performance.
The popular reality show was judged by Himesh Reshammiya, Vishal Dadlani, and Neha Kakkar.
One of the highlights of the show was Rishi narrating the story of how his parents had adopted him. Otherwise, as he put, "Main kahin sadh raha hota, main kahin mar raha hota (I would have been rotting away somewhere, or maybe dying)."
Rishi said he had come to know about his past as recently as the Theatre Round of the reality show. That is when his parents shared with him his life's biggest truth. "Without them, I know I wouldn't have been here. They're like God to me," a grateful Rishi had shared with the world.
Today, out of the just 255 people whom Virat Kohli follows on social media, Rishi Singh is one. Indeed, his parents gave him the life he wouldn't have even dreamt of had he not been adopted by them.
In an exclusive interview to ETimes, the Indian Idol 13 winner said, "I want to travel internationally to learn and develop my music further with this money. Ek artiste to seekhta hi rahta hai hamesha. I want international exposure now. I want to grow to an extent that I come back as a judge on the show someday. Meanwhile, I have got many playback offers during the show, which I will be pursuing with my music video."
Indian Idol 13 aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
With IANS inputs!