Reality television star Shiv Thakare has added another prestigious title to his mantle, being crowned the winner of the high-stakes reality show The 50 on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Emerging victorious from a star-studded field of 50 contestants, Shiv defeated formidable finalists Faisal Shaikh (Mr. Faisu), Rajat Dalal, Krishna Shroff, and Kaka to claim the trophy.
An emotional Shiv dedicated his win to his mother and expressed his desire to hand the trophy to her personally, marking his second major reality win following Bigg Boss Marathi 2.
The victory was steeped in sportsmanship and drama, as Shiv dedicated his triumph to veteran reality star Prince Narula. During the semi-finals, Prince had secured his ticket to the finale by completing a grueling flag-climbing task with the fastest time.
However, in a shocking twist, Prince sacrificed his spot for Shiv, stating that having already won multiple shows, he wanted to see “younger contestants” shine.
This selfless act paved the way for Shiv’s eventual win, though the move didn’t come without controversy, as fellow contestant Sumaira Shaikh later accused the duo of strategic “backstabbing” during the competition.
In a unique format twist, the ₹50 lakh Grand Finale prize was not pocketed by the winner. Instead, Shiv handed the massive cheque to Sitaram, a devoted registered follower who had consistently backed him throughout the season. While Shiv walked away with the trophy and the glory, Sitaram took home the life-changing sum, acknowledging the symbiotic relationship between creators and their loyal fanbases.
As the show concluded, the internet remained divided, with Nikki Tamboli allegedly raising eyebrows by questioning the authenticity of social media engagement during the voting period. Despite the noise, Shiv’s win stands as a testament to his enduring popularity. Meanwhile, as the IMD issues a yellow alert for Mumbai’s fourth heatwave of the month, the television industry is already buzzing about Shiv’s next move in the digital space.