Shehzad Poonawalla asserted his authority as the Ultimate Ruler on Rise and Fall Season 2, making it clear that he would not tolerate any disrespect from fellow contestants, including Tej Pratap. Having previously shared a friendly dynamic with Gautam Gulati, Shehzad adopted a much stricter stance after stepping into power. He accused Gautam of taking him for granted and insisted that the newly established hierarchy inside the penthouse must be respected.
The power shift set the stage for further friction during a chaotic Lassi Factory challenge that left both the Workers and the Rulers frustrated. The task presented the Workers with a vital opportunity to attempt a coup to reclaim money from the prize pot. Teams faced a complex setup involving a processing tank, buckets operated by ropes, blindfolded collectors, and a supervising Ruler alongside a Worker Union Leader.
Before the activity commenced, the Rulers selected the difficulty level. While the Workers advocated for a medium setting, the Rulers chose the hard tier, putting a substantial sum at stake. Disagreements quickly mounted over supervision and fairness. Niharika, who had transitioned from a Worker to a Ruler, grew emotional about her former teammates' prospects, leading to an outburst before Raj was selected to oversee the challenge.
Friction escalated as the Workers resisted Raj's instructions while the Rulers remained dissatisfied with his handling of the situation. The challenge eventually ground to a halt when the main container broke, ending the contest without a result and leaving the Workers devastated. The abrupt conclusion also left the Rulers unhappy with how the event unfolded.
In private conversations, Shehzad criticized Gautam, calling him arrogant and delusional, while noting that there could only be one alpha male in the penthouse. He also targeted Swara, accusing her of playing a double game. Meanwhile, personal arguments flared up between Shehzad and Priyanka, and Tej Pratap opened up about his personal life by discussing his divorce.
Produced by Banijay Asia and hosted by Virender Sehwag, Rise and Fall Season 2 streams daily on Prime Video.