Roadies Rebirth returns for its 21st season with a familiar format and a new battle line: the OGs versus the NewGs. The first two episodes combine nostalgia, strategic rivalries and personal stories of reinvention, bringing fresh energy to the auditions while retaining the confrontations and mind games that have long defined the reality show.
Streaming on JioHotstar and Netflix, the new season builds on the show’s 20-season legacy. Over the years, Roadies has become a platform for aspiring contestants to gain recognition, with gang leaders, physically demanding tasks and eliminations forming the core of its format. Season 21 attempts to refresh that structure by setting experienced faces against a new generation of leaders.
Nikhil Chinappa and Bani J Make Strong First Impressions
Among the OGs, Nikhil Chinappa emerges as one of the most assured presences. Drawing on his association with earlier seasons, he recalls selecting Bani J in Season 4 and points to Baseer Ali’s participation in Season 13, when Chinappa was a gang leader. His composed approach, direct observations and strategic thinking give the premiere a welcome sense of purpose.
Prince Narula and Neha Dhupia, meanwhile, continue to rely on the confrontational style familiar to longtime viewers. Their exchanges bring intensity to the auditions, although the recurring shouting and mind games sometimes feel at odds with the season’s promise of renewal. Even within the OGs, the rivalry between the two adds another layer of competition.
Among the NewGs, Bani J makes a particularly strong impression. Already familiar to audiences through projects including Four More Shots Please!, she appears comfortable in the gang leader’s role. Her confidence during physical challenges, including arm wrestling and pull-ups, combines with an entertaining, unforced screen presence.
Baseer Ali brings an understanding of the format from his experience as both a contestant and a host, though he is still establishing his individual identity as a gang leader. Abhishek Malhan, new to this particular world, demonstrates a willingness to strategise and assert himself during discussions. Both have room to grow as the season progresses.
Personal Stories Give the Auditions Emotional Weight
The season’s emphasis on rebirth is most evident in the contestants’ personal journeys. Karishma Talwar, who appeared opposite Prince Narula in Splitsvilla 8, shares a difficult account of losing her father, experiencing an abusive marriage and eventually rediscovering herself. Her story becomes one of the opening episodes’ emotional highlights, while her history with Prince adds a personal dimension to their interactions.
Preet Tanwar also brings a different quality to the auditions. Identified in the supplied report as the brother of Bigg Boss 20 contestant Gullu, he uses humour and charm to connect with the gang leaders. His appearance suggests that the selection process is not focused exclusively on conventional displays of fitness.
Challenging Problematic Attitudes
Some of the premiere’s most significant moments occur when the gang leaders challenge contestants’ views and behaviour. One applicant argues that the Hindi word “aurat”, meaning woman, should be banned and refuses to answer whether women’s clothing is responsible for rape. Chinappa confronts the contestant over these remarks.
In another instance, an influencer acknowledges having created online content that objectified women. The gang leaders ask him to return after working on himself rather than immediately rewarding him with a place on the show.
These moments give the auditions a purpose beyond confrontation. They demonstrate how a reality show built around competition can also question harmful attitudes and make accountability part of its selection process.
Can Roadies Rebirth Sustain Its Promise?
The opening episodes strike a workable balance between nostalgia and renewal. Nikhil Chinappa’s strategic approach and Bani J’s natural confidence provide the strongest early reasons to watch, while the contestants’ personal stories add emotional depth. The OGs-versus-NewGs concept also creates opportunities for new rivalries and changing alliances.
However, the familiar aggression remains firmly in place. The real test will be whether the season develops its new premise beyond the auditions, particularly once the journey, team dynamics and eliminations begin.
Roadies Rebirth starts with enough energy to draw in regular viewers, but lasting reinvention will require more than a new label and a fresh generation of gang leaders.
New episodes stream on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm.
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