Reality TV Milestones: Ritesh Pal Wins India’s Best Dancer Season 5 as Bigg Boss 20 Welcomes Film Stars

Reality TV Milestones continued to make headlines as India’s Best Dancer Season 5 wrapped up with Raipur’s Ritesh Pal emerging as the winner, while Bigg Boss 20 became a promotional stop for several upcoming films and entertainment projects.

The two Sony Entertainment Television and Colors TV reality shows have remained prominent parts of the Indian television landscape, with dance performances, celebrity appearances and promotional segments becoming key highlights of the latest episodes.

Ritesh Pal Wins India’s Best Dancer Season 5

Raipur-based dancer Ritesh Pal was crowned the winner of India’s Best Dancer Season 5 at the Grand Finale on September 27, 2026.

Ritesh lifted the trophy alongside choreographer Pratik Utekar after competing against fellow finalist pairs including Dipali Borkar, Prathamesh Mane, Anshika Dhara and Geetanjali Marwaha. The season followed the theme “India Wala Dance,” encouraging contestants to explore different dance forms and move beyond their established styles.

Reports also noted that Ritesh won the Battle Trophy three times during the season. His performances and partnership with Pratik became recurring highlights of his journey on the show.

Ritesh Pal Takes Home Trophy and ₹15 Lakh

Along with the winner’s trophy, Ritesh Pal received ₹15 lakh in prize money, according to reports following the finale.

The 19-year-old dancer from Raipur has been associated with contemporary dance and was repeatedly challenged to experiment with different styles during the season. His victory came after months of performances and mentorship from the show’s judges and choreographers.

Ritesh credited the experience and his choreographer Pratik Utekar after the victory, describing the achievement as a dream come true.

Star-Studded India’s Best Dancer Finale

The India’s Best Dancer Season 5 Grand Finale brought together the show’s judging panel of Karisma Kapoor, Jaaved Jaaferi, Geeta Kapur and Terence Lewis.

Special guests including Jackie Shroff, Tamannaah Bhatia and Sidharth Malhotra also appeared during the finale celebrations. Their presence added a Bollywood element to the concluding episode of the dance competition.

The finale marked the end of a season built around experimentation and the broader “India Wala Dance” concept.

Bigg Boss 20 Becomes a Promotional Platform

While India’s Best Dancer Season 5 concluded its competition, Bigg Boss 20 continued using its Weekend Ka Vaar episodes to bring film and television personalities onto the show.

The reality show’s popularity has made it a regular promotional destination for actors ahead of theatrical and streaming releases. Recent episodes have featured stars appearing alongside host Salman Khan and interacting with the contestants.

Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia Promote The Vvaan

One of the recent celebrity appearances featured Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, who visited Bigg Boss 20 to promote their upcoming film The Vvaan: Force of the Forest.

The pair appeared on Weekend Ka Vaar and participated in games and conversations with Salman Khan and the contestants. The film, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, was scheduled for a September 25 theatrical release.

Their appearance also generated entertainment-focused conversations, including Sidharth discussing fatherhood and married life with Salman Khan.

Ajay Devgn and Jaideep Ahlawat Join Bigg Boss 20

Bigg Boss 20 also welcomed Ajay Devgn and Jaideep Ahlawat as part of the promotional campaign for Drishyam 3.

The actors appeared on the show during the film’s promotional run, with Ajay participating in a light-hearted exchange involving Salman Khan and contestant Qazi Touqeer.

The appearance connected one of Bollywood’s established film franchises with one of television’s longest-running reality formats.

Sonali Bendre and Munawar Faruqui Promote a Reality Show

The promotional activity on Bigg Boss 20 has not been limited to theatrical films.

Sonali Bendre and Munawar Faruqui appeared on the show to promote the upcoming season of Pati Patni Aur Panga. Their appearance also featured conversations with Salman Khan and references to his earlier work with Sonali Bendre.

This reflects the broader promotional role played by Bigg Boss, where actors, reality-show personalities and other entertainment figures can use the platform to connect with a large television and streaming audience.

Reality TV Continues to Blend Competition and Promotion

The latest Reality TV Milestones show how Indian reality programming increasingly combines its core competition format with celebrity appearances and entertainment promotions.

India’s Best Dancer Season 5 remained focused on a competitive dance format before concluding with Ritesh Pal and Pratik Utekar as winners. Bigg Boss 20, meanwhile, has continued its established Weekend Ka Vaar model of bringing outside celebrities into the house environment.

The result is two different approaches to reality television: one centered on discovering and developing performance talent, and the other built around interpersonal entertainment, celebrity interactions and weekly promotional appearances.

What Ritesh Pal’s Victory Means for India’s Best Dancer

Ritesh Pal’s win gives the young dancer a national television platform following his Season 5 journey.

His three Battle Trophy victories and willingness to experiment with different dance forms were among the notable elements of his run. The partnership with Pratik Utekar also remained central to the performances that eventually took them to the title.

With the Season 5 finale complete, attention will now shift toward the contestants’ future projects and how the exposure from the show translates into professional opportunities beyond the competition.

Key Reality TV Highlights

• Ritesh Pal won India’s Best Dancer Season 5 with choreographer Pratik Utekar.
• Ritesh received a ₹15 lakh cash prize along with the trophy.
• The season was built around the “India Wala Dance” theme.
• Ritesh won the Battle Trophy three times during the season.
• Bigg Boss 20 featured Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia promoting The Vvaan: Force of the Forest.
• Ajay Devgn and Jaideep Ahlawat appeared during promotions for Drishyam 3.
• Sonali Bendre and Munawar Faruqui appeared to promote Pati Patni Aur Panga.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who won India’s Best Dancer Season 5?

Ritesh Pal from Raipur won India’s Best Dancer Season 5 alongside his choreographer Pratik Utekar.

2. Who was Ritesh Pal’s choreographer?

Pratik Utekar was Ritesh Pal’s choreographer during India’s Best Dancer Season 5 and shared the winning trophy with him.

3. How much prize money did Ritesh Pal receive?

Ritesh Pal received ₹15 lakh in prize money along with the winner’s trophy.

4. What was the theme of India’s Best Dancer Season 5?

The fifth season followed the “India Wala Dance” theme, encouraging contestants to explore different dance forms and styles.

5. Who were the judges of India’s Best Dancer Season 5?

The judging panel included Karisma Kapoor, Jaaved Jaaferi, Geeta Kapur and Terence Lewis.

6. How many Battle Trophies did Ritesh Pal win?

Ritesh Pal won the Battle Trophy three times during Season 5.

7. Which actors appeared on Bigg Boss 20 to promote The Vvaan?

Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia appeared on Bigg Boss 20 to promote The Vvaan: Force of the Forest.

8. Did Ajay Devgn appear on Bigg Boss 20?

Yes. Ajay Devgn and Jaideep Ahlawat appeared on Bigg Boss 20 as part of the promotional campaign for Drishyam 3.

9. Who promoted Pati Patni Aur Panga on Bigg Boss 20?

Sonali Bendre and Munawar Faruqui appeared on Bigg Boss 20 to promote the upcoming season of Pati Patni Aur Panga.

10. Why do film stars appear on Bigg Boss 20?

Bigg Boss provides a prominent entertainment platform for celebrities to interact with viewers and promote upcoming films, television programs and other projects. Recent Bigg Boss 20 episodes have included several such promotional appearances.