New Delhi: The Satyamev Jayate Water Cup 2017, organised by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao's Paani foundation, saw the presence of Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Cash prizes were given to the top three winning villages of the Water Cup competition and also to top villages of each taluka.

Shah Rukh, who attended the event on behalf of Amir and Kiran, has shared an image of the event on Twitter, in which he is seen sitting next to Chief Minister  Devendra Fadnavis. Shah Rukh has written: "Thanks Aamir Khan and Kiran for giving me the honour to stand in for you. Devendra Fadnavis your concern for farmers is touching." 


Chief Minister Fadnavis also thanked the couple for organising a competition that aims to create a drought free state. He announced that the goal is to increase the reach of the competition by next year.

Water Cup is essentially a competition between different villages of Maharshtra to see who can do the maximum work for watershed management and water conservation in the period of the competition. The top three villages get cash prizes of Rs. 50 lakhs, Rs. 30 lakhs and Rs. 20 lakhs respectively.  In addition, the top village from each taluka gets a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs.

A total of 1,300 villages from 30 talukas took part in the second edition of Satyamev Jayate Water Cup competition. The top three villages were given their respective cash prizes. The top village from each taluka was given Rs 10 lakh. Village Kakad Dara from Arvi taluka of Wardha won the Water Cup. The second prize was given jointly to Bhosre and Jaybhaywaad (i.e Rs 30 lakhs each including 15 lakh from Maharashtra government) and the third prize was given jointly Bidal and Palaskhed villages (i.e Rs.20 lakh each, including Rs.10 lakh from Maharashtra government)

The Satyamev Jayate Water Cup is organised by Paani Foundation which is a not-for-profit company set up by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao in early 2016 in order to work towards creating a drought-free Maharashtra.

The event was also attended by Reliance Foundation’s Nita Ambani, Satyamev Jayate’s creator Satyajeet Bhatkal and other celebrities from Hindi and Marathi film industry.

It was during the event that Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao informed that they are suffering with swine flu, through video conferencing.