Indian Idol is a popular singing competition on Indian television. It started in 2004 and has given many talented singers a chance to shine. The show has completed 15 seasons from 2004 to 2024. Each season, contestants from all over India compete by singing songs. Judges and viewers vote to choose the best singer, who becomes the winner.

Format of the show

The format show of the show is very easy and every common man get a chance to be the winner of the show. A common man have interest in singing and looking for the platform where he/she can show his/her singing talent then it’s perfect platform.

First you have to clear some auditions rounds and if you are one of those lucky candidates who got selected and get a chance to be live on tv then you have to clear weekly round and on the grand finale day you could be the winner of the show on the basis of audience votes. So, without taking your too much time let’s move to winners of Indian Idol with their images.

Indian Idol Winners List Name 

Here is the quick overview of Indian Idol winners list from season 1 to this season which contains the name of winner, runner-up, host of the prize money and much more let’s have a glance on it.

Season Start Date End Date No. of Episodes Winner Name Runner-Up Name Host Name Prize Money
1 30-Oct-2004 5-Mar-2005 27 Abhijeet Sawant Amit Sana Aman Verma, Mini Mathur ₹50 lakh
2 21-Nov-2005 22-Apr-2006 28 Sandeep Acharya N. C. Karunya Aman Verma, Mini Mathur ₹1 crore
3 4-May-2007 23-Sep-2007 28 Prashant Tamang Amit Paul Hussain Kuwajerwala, Mini Mathur ₹1 crore
4 19-Sep-2008 1-Mar-2009 28 Sourabhee Debbarma Kapil Thapa Hussain Kuwajerwala, Meiyang Chang ₹1 crore
5 29-Apr-2010 15-Aug-2010 42 Sreerama Chandra Bhoomi Trivedi, Rakesh Maini Hussain Kuwajerwala, Abhijeet Sawant ₹50 lakh
6 1-Jun-2012 1-Sep-2012 30 Vipul Mehta Amit Kumar, Devender Pal Singh Hussain Kuwajerwala, Mini Mathur ₹50 lakh
7 1-Jun-2013 1-Sep-2013 28 Anjana Padmanabhan Debanjana Karmakar Karan Wahi, Mandira Bedi ₹25 lakh
8 30-May-2015 6-Sep-2015 28 Ananya Nanda Nahid Afrin Hussain Kuwajerwala, Asha Negi ₹25 lakh
9 24-Dec-2016 2-Apr-2017 28 L. V. Revanth Khuda Baksh Karan Wahi, Paritosh Tripathi ₹25 lakh
10 7-Jul-2018 23-Dec-2018 50 Salman Ali Ankush Bhardwaj Manish Paul ₹25 lakh
11 12-Oct-2019 23-Feb-2020 40 Sunny Hindustani Rohit Raut Aditya Narayan ₹25 lakh
12 28-Nov-2020 15-Aug-2021 75 Pawandeep Rajan Arunita Kanjilal Aditya Narayan ₹25 lakh
13 10-Sep-2022 2-Apr-2023 60 Rishi Singh Deboshmita Roy Aditya Narayan ₹25 lakh
14 7-Oct-2023 3-Mar-2024 43 Vaibhav Gupta Subhadeep Das Chowdhury Hussain Kuwajerwala ₹25 lakh
15 26-Oct-2024 Ongoing Ongoing To be announced To be announced Aditya Narayan To be announced

Now, let’s look at each season in detail:

Indian Idol Winners List of All Seasons With Image/Pic/Photo

Season 1 (2004-2005) Winner – Abhijeet Sawant

Indian-Idol-Season-1-Winner-Abhijeet-Sawant

  • Start Date: 30th October 2004
  • End Date: 5th March 2005
  • Number of Episodes: 27
  • Hosts: Aman Verma and Mini Mathur
  • Winner: Abhijeet Sawant
  • Runner-Up: Amit Sana
  • Prize Money: ₹50 lakh

In the first season, many contestants from all over India participated. After several rounds, Abhijeet Sawant won the title, and Amit Sana was the runner-up. The show was hosted by Aman Verma and Mini Mathur. Abhijeet received ₹50 lakh as prize money.

Season 2 (2005-2006) Winner – Sandeep Acharya

Indian-Idol-Season-2-Winner-Sandeep-Acharya

  • Start Date: 21st November 2005
  • End Date: 22nd April 2006
  • Number of Episodes: 28
  • Hosts: Aman Verma and Mini Mathur
  • Winner: Sandeep Acharya
  • Runner-Up: N. C. Karunya
  • Prize Money: ₹1 crore

The second season saw Sandeep Acharya winning the competition, with N. C. Karunya as the runner-up. The hosts were Aman Verma and Mini Mathur. Sandeep received ₹1 crore as prize money.

Season 3 (2007) Winner – Prashant Tamang

Indian-Idol-Season-3-Winner-Prashant-Tamang

  • Start Date: 4th May 2007
  • End Date: 23rd September 2007
  • Number of Episodes: 28
  • Hosts: Hussain Kuwajerwala and Mini Mathur
  • Winner: Prashant Tamang
  • Runner-Up: Amit Paul
  • Prize Money: ₹1 crore

The Season 3 of Indian idol was aired from May 2007 to September 2007 on the Sony TV. While, Mini Mathur was retained as the host, Amman Verma was replaced by Hussain Kuwajerwala. Anu Malik, Javed Akthar, Alisha Chinai and Udit Narayan were the four eminent personalities who judged the show and chose Prashant Tamang, a Nepali who hails from Kolkata in West Bengal, as the winner. After he emerged as the winner, Prashant Tamang honoured his contract with Sony and released a solo album called Dhanyabad. He also entered into a contract with Sony BMG, along with 4 other finalists, Meiyang Chang, Abhishek, Parleen and Suhit Goshan and they named the boy band as F 4 and released an album named TuTo Na Aayi. The Uud Chale song of this band was a huge success and they were acknowledged as the next big thing on Channel V.

Season 4 (2008-2009) Winner: Sourabhee Debbarma

Indian-Idol-Season-4-Winner-Sourabhee-Debbarma

  • Start Date: 19th September 2008
  • End Date: 1st March 2009
  • Number of Episodes: 28
  • Hosts: Hussain Kuwajerwala and Meiyang Chang
  • Winner: Sourabhee Debbarma
  • Runner-Up: Kapil Thapa
  • Prize Money: ₹1 crore

The fourth season, of Indian idol which was aired on Sony TV from  the 19th September 2008- 1st March 2009, for the first time in the history of this show, a female contestant emerged  as the winner and it was also in the season in which there were 2 women contestants among the top three finalists. The four judges for this season were Anu Malik, JavedAkthar, Singer KailashKher and Actress SonaliBendre.  This time HussainKuwajeriwala was retained as the host, but Meiyang Chang replaced Mini Mathur. Sourabhee the winner of season 4, bagged a contract for Rs.1crore with Tata Winger and Sony Entertainment Television. She released an album Meherbaan, as per her contract with Sony and performs shows in India and abroad.

Season 5 (2010) Winner: Sreeram Chandra

Indian-Idol-Season-5-Winner-Sreeram-Chandra

  • Start Date: 29th April 2010
  • End Date: 15th August 2010
  • Number of Episodes: 42
  • Hosts: Hussain Kuwajerwala and Abhijeet Sawant
  • Winner: Sreerama Chandra
  • Runner-Up: Bhoomi Trivedi, Rakesh Maini
  • Prize Money: ₹50 lakh

The season 5 of the singing competition show, Indian idol was aired on Sony TV and the finale was held on August 15th in the year 2010. Sreeram Chandra Mynampati emerged as the winner in this show, which for the first time had 3 contestants in the finale. Anu Malik,  Salim Merchant and SunidhiChauhan. The shows were hosted by AbhijeetSawant and PrajaktaShukre. The judges appreciated the singers in this season for the quality of singing, which was supposedly, superior to the other seasons. Sreeram Chandra hails from Hyderabad and has entered the Telugu Film Industry. He was given a chance to sing a song with ShreyaGhoshal for a movie, by SalimSuleman Merchant, even when the season was going on.

Season 6 (2012) Winner: Vipul Mehta

Indian-Idol-Season-6-Winner-Vipul-Mehta

  • Start Date: 1st June 2012
  • End Date: 1st September 2012
  • Number of Episodes: 30
  • Hosts: Hussain Kuwajerwala and Mini Mathur
  • Winner: Vipul Mehta
  • Runner-Up: Amit Kumar, Devender Pal Singh
  • Prize Money: ₹50 lakh

Season 6 saw Vipul Mehta emerging victorious with his melodious voice. Amit Kumar and Devender Pal Singh were among the finalists. The competition was fierce, but Vipul’s consistent performances made him the winner.

Season 7 (2013) Winner: Anjana Padmanabhan

Indian-Idol-Season-7-Winner-Anjana-Padmanabhan

  • Start Date: 1st June 2013
  • End Date: 1st September 2013
  • Number of Episodes: 28
  • Hosts: Karan Wahi and Mandira Bedi
  • Winner: Anjana Padmanabhan
  • Runner-Up: Debanjana Karmakar
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

Season 7 introduced a kids’ version of the show. Anjana Padmanabhan, a young and talented singer, became the winner. She captivated the audience with her sweet and powerful voice. Debanjana Karmakar was the runner-up.

Season 8 (2015) Winner: Ananya Nanda

Indian-Idol-Season-8-Winner-Ananya-Nanda

  • Start Date: 30th May 2015
  • End Date: 6th September 2015
  • Number of Episodes: 28
  • Hosts: Hussain Kuwajerwala and Asha Negi
  • Winner: Ananya Nanda
  • Runner-Up: Nahid Afrin
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

Ananya Nanda won Season 8 with her amazing singing talent. Nahid Afrin was the runner-up. Both young contestants received immense love from the audience.

Season 9 (2016-2017) Winner: L.V. Revanth

Indian-Idol-Season-9-Winner-L.-V.-Revanth

  • Start Date: 24th December 2016
  • End Date: 2nd April 2017
  • Number of Episodes: 28
  • Hosts: Karan Wahi and Paritosh Tripathi
  • Winner: L. V. Revanth
  • Runner-Up: Khuda Baksh
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

L. V. Revanth, known for his playback singing, won Season 9. His energetic performances won him fans nationwide. Khuda Baksh, the runner-up, also impressed with his unique voice.

Season 10 (2018) Winner – Salman Ali

Indian-Idol-Season-10-Winner-Salman-Ali

  • Start Date: 7th July 2018
  • End Date: 23rd December 2018
  • Number of Episodes: 50
  • Hosts: Manish Paul
  • Winner: Salman Ali
  • Runner-Up: Ankush Bhardwaj
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

Salman Ali, a crowd favorite, became the winner of Season 10 with his soulful singing. Ankush Bhardwaj secured the runner-up position. The season was hosted by the entertaining Manish Paul.

Season 11 (2019-2020) Winner – Sunny Hindustani

Indian-Idol-Season-11-Winner-Sunny-Hindustanicx

  • Start Date: 12th October 2019
  • End Date: 23rd February 2020
  • Number of Episodes: 40
  • Hosts: Aditya Narayan
  • Winner: Sunny Hindustani
  • Runner-Up: Rohit Raut
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

Sunny Hindustani, a humble shoeshiner, turned into a singing sensation by winning Season 11. Rohit Raut was the runner-up. Sunny’s inspirational journey was the highlight of the season.

Season 12 (2020-2021) Winner – Pawandeep Rajan

Indian-Idol-Season-12-Winner-Pawandeep-Rajan

  • Start Date: 28th November 2020
  • End Date: 15th August 2021
  • Number of Episodes: 75
  • Hosts: Aditya Narayan
  • Winner: Pawandeep Rajan
  • Runner-Up: Arunita Kanjilal
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

This was the longest season of Indian Idol, featuring Pawandeep Rajan as the winner. Arunita Kanjilal, another talented finalist, became the runner-up. Their duets were especially loved.

Season 13 (2022-2023) Winner – Rishi Singh

Rishi Singh, Indian Idol season 13, 2023 winner

  • Start Date: 10th September 2022
  • End Date: 2nd April 2023
  • Number of Episodes: 60
  • Hosts: Aditya Narayan
  • Winner: Rishi Singh
  • Runner-Up: Deboshmita Roy
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

Indian Idol is back with it’s season 13th in September 10, 2022 with all new contestants and after 7 months of journey on the grand finale day Rishi Singh becomes the emerge winner of the show and lift up the trophy he also received a cheque of Rs 25 lakh from Sony Entertainment TV and a brand new Brezza from Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

While Debosmita Roy and Chirag Kotwa becomes the first and 2nd runner up of the show and a cheque of Rs. 5 Lakh each. To see the other contestants of the show click on Indian idol season 13 contestants and winner.

Season 14 (2023-2024) Winner – Vaibhav Kuwajerwala

Vaibhav Gupta

  • Start Date: 7th October 2023
  • End Date: 3rd March 2024
  • Number of Episodes: 43
  • Hosts: Hussain Kuwajerwala
  • Winner: Vaibhav Gupta
  • Runner-Up: Subhadeep Das Chowdhury
  • Prize Money: ₹25 lakh

The fourteenth season of Indian Idol was premiered on 7 October 2023 on Sony Entertainment TV and premiered till 3 March 2024 and the grand finale of the show was won by the Vaibhav Gupta from Kanpur while Subhadeep Das becomes the first runner up of the show.

Total 44 episodes were aired on TV and this season was hosted by Hussain Kuwajerwala and in the Panel of judges of Vishal Dadlani, Shreya Ghosal, Kumar Sanu who replace Neha Kakkar and Himesh Reshammiya.

Season 15 (2024) Winner – TBC

  • Start Date: 26th October 2024
  • Status: Ongoing
  • Hosts: Aditya Narayan
  • Winner: To be announced
  • Runner-Up: To be announced
  • Prize Money: To be announced

This season of Indian Idol 2024 was premiered on Sony Entertainment TV as on October 26, 2024 which is hosted by Aditya Narayan and in the panel of Judges you can see Badshah, Shreya Ghoshal & Vishal Dadlani.

Conclusion

Indian Idol has become a landmark show in the Indian entertainment industry. Over the years, it has provided a platform for countless talented singers to showcase their abilities. From Abhijeet Sawant in Season 1 to Vaibhav Gupta in Season 14, every season has produced remarkable singers who have left a lasting impression on the audience.

The show’s success can be attributed to its unique format, engaging hosts, and the immense talent pool it brings to the forefront. Many of its winners and contestants have gone on to have successful careers in the music industry, contributing to Bollywood and regional cinema alike.

With Season 15 currently airing, fans eagerly await the next superstar. Indian Idol continues to be a source of inspiration and entertainment for viewers across India and beyond. The journey of Indian Idol proves that talent, hard work, and perseverance can turn dreams into reality.

Stay tuned for more updates and surprises as the current season progresses. Who will be the next Indian Idol? Only time will tell!

Indian Idol FAQ

Q.1.: What is Indian Idol?
A: Indian Idol is a popular reality singing competition in India. It provides a platform for aspiring singers from all over the country to showcase their talent and compete for the title of Indian Idol.

Q.2.: When did Indian Idol start?
A: The first season of Indian Idol premiered in 2004. Since then, the show has had multiple seasons with different formats and judges.

Q.3.: How does Indian Idol work?
A: Indian Idol follows a format where contestants participate in auditions held in various cities across India. After the initial auditions, selected contestants move forward to compete in different rounds, including theater rounds, gala rounds, and elimination rounds. The judges and audience vote to determine the elimination of contestants until the final winner is chosen.

Q.4: Who are the judges of Indian Idol?
A: The judging panel of Indian Idol has changed over the seasons. In the past, prominent judges have included Sonu Nigam, Anu Malik, Farah Khan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Salim Merchant, Vishal Dadlani, Neha Kakkar, and Himesh Reshammiya, among others. The current judges can vary based on the season airing at the time.

Q.5: Who is the host of Indian Idol?
A: The hosting duties on Indian Idol have been fulfilled by several popular Indian television personalities. Some notable hosts include Aman Verma, Mini Mathur, Hussain Kuwajerwala, Mandira Bedi, Maniesh Paul, Aditya Narayan.

Q.6: How is the winner of Indian Idol determined?
A: The winner of Indian Idol is determined through a combination of judges’ scores and audience voting. The contestants with the lowest scores and votes are eliminated each week, narrowing down the competition until the final winner is announced.

Q.7: What is the prize for winning Indian Idol?
A: The winner of Indian Idol receives a cash prize, a recording contract with a music label, and often opportunities to work in the music industry. The specifics of the prize may vary from season to season.

Q.8: Are there age restrictions for participating in Indian Idol?
A: Yes, there are age restrictions for participating in Indian Idol. Typically, contestants must be within a certain age range, such as 15 to 30 years old, to be eligible for the competition. The exact age criteria may vary from season to season, so it’s best to check the official guidelines when applying.

Q.9: How can I audition for Indian Idol?
A: The auditions for Indian Idol are usually announced through advertisements and promotions on television, social media, and the show’s official website. Interested individuals can follow the instructions provided to register for auditions, which may involve filling out an online form, uploading performance videos, or attending in-person auditions at designated venues.