Vaibhav Gupta on winning Indian Idol 14 (Photo: Vaibhav Gupta/Sony TV PR Handout)
Singer Vaibhav Gupta was announced as the winner of Indian Idol 14 on Sunday. Along with the trophy, Vaibhav also took home cash prize of Rs 25 lakh. Live voting was conducted to decide who would take the trophy home from the six finalists – Adya Mishra, Ananya Pal, Vaibhav, Piyush Panwar, Subhadeep Das, and Anjana Padmanabhan. Throughout the season Vaibhav managed to impress judges Shreya Ghoshal, Vishal Dadlani, and Kumar Sanu. With his final performance too, he left everyone cheering and rooting, including the special guest Sonu Nigam. After winning the finale, Vaibhav spoke to Indianexpress.com about how he sees this victory as a responsibility.
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Sharing his happiness on being called the winner of Indian Idol Season 14, Vaibhav Gupta said, “I feel good to call myself the winner of Indian Idol 14. People have loved me a lot. Dreams are coming true, this is just the start. God willing, I wish to enter Bollywood now. With the love and appreciation I was getting, I was hopeful that I could win this. Especially, when Mahesh Bhatt whistled for me, I loved that moment. I keep playing it in my head.”
When asked if he had decided on what he would do with the winning amount, Vaibhav excitedly shared, “I want to make my dream studio with the winning amount. I want this studio to create the kind of music I want to. I plan to make some music videos people.”
He also shared that life will drastically change now that he has won the show. “This win has made me more focused now. It has become an added responsibility, and now I want to give the fans even better.”
Vaibhav Gupta even revealed which Bollywood stars he sees himself doing playback singing for. He said, “I want to do playback singing for Salman Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and Ranveer Singh now. I will try my best that this happens someday.”
Before signing off, Vaibhav shared his take on the music industry today. “I want to bring back live music, the symphony kinds. The 90s feel is now coming back. People are listening to Kishore Da again, and this generation is focusing more on the melody. It is a very good era of music, and I want to present a new wave in it.”
Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.
Experience & Career
Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:
The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.
Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:
Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.
OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.
Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.
Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.
Authoritativeness & Trust
With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More
