Indian Idol: Legends Return starts on Saturday, 17 October 2026 on Sony Entertainment Television, with episodes on Saturdays and Sundays at 8 PM, and streams on SonyLIV. Fifteen singers from past seasons are part of the line-up, from the first-ever winner Abhijeet Sawant and winners Salman Ali, Rishi Singh and Manasi Ghosh to Season 16 runners-up Anshika Chonkar, Manraj Veer Singh and Tanishk Shukla. Himesh Reshammiya returns as a judge.
This page lists every contestant named so far with a photo, the season they are best known for, and the answers to the questions viewers ask most: when it starts, what time it airs, who the judges are and where to watch. We will keep updating it as Sony confirms more names. Last updated on 7 October 2026.
Indian Idol Legends Return Contestants List
Nine of these singers are named on screen in Sony’s promo, and Prajakta Shukre, Sayli Kamble, Rishi Singh, Nihal Tauro, Senjuti Das and Manasi Ghosh are confirmed as part of the season. Each card shows the season they are best known for.
Contestants at a Glance
| Contestant | Best known for | Result |
| Abhijeet Sawant | Indian Idol Season 1 | Winner |
| Prajakta Shukre | Indian Idol Season 1 | Fourth place, only woman in the top five |
| Amit Sana | Indian Idol Season 1 | Runner-up |
| Salman Ali | Indian Idol Season 10 | Winner |
| Sayli Kamble | Indian Idol Season 12 | Second runner-up |
| Mohd Danish | Indian Idol Season 12 | Finalist |
| Nihal Tauro | Indian Idol Season 12 | Finalist |
| Rishi Singh | Indian Idol Season 13 | Winner |
| Bidipta Chakraborty | Indian Idol Season 13 | Finalist |
| Senjuti Das | Indian Idol Season 13 | Seventh place |
| Manasi Ghosh | Indian Idol Season 15 | Winner |
| Anshika Chonkar | Indian Idol Season 16 | Runner-up |
| Manraj Veer Singh | Indian Idol Season 16 | Runner-up |
| Tanishk Shukla | Indian Idol Season 16 | Runner-up |
| Myscmme Bosu | Indian Idol Season 16 | Finalist |
Indian Idol Legends Return Start Date, Time and Where to Watch
| Detail | What we know |
| Premiere date | Saturday, 17 October 2026 |
| Days and time | Saturdays and Sundays, 8 PM IST |
| TV channel | Sony Entertainment Television |
| Streaming | SonyLIV |
| Judge confirmed | Himesh Reshammiya |
| Host | Not announced yet |
The date and time come from Sony’s promo, which reads “starts 17 October” and “Sat-Sun 8 PM”. Episodes should reach SonyLIV after they air on TV, but Sony has not published an exact streaming schedule yet.
What Is Indian Idol: Legends Return?
Legends Return is a new Sony series built around singers who have already made their mark on Indian Idol, and viewers searching for Indian Idol 17 will find this is the show that follows Season 16. Instead of a fresh batch of auditioners, the show brings back artists from different generations of the franchise, from the very first season in 2005 to the most recent one that ended in July 2026.
Sony has not yet explained the full format, so a few things are still open: whether singers compete in rounds, how a winner is picked, whether viewers can vote and what the prize is. Once the channel shares these details we will add them here.
Who Is the Judge of Indian Idol Legends Return?
Singer and composer Himesh Reshammiya is the only judge confirmed so far. He has judged earlier seasons of the show and is back in the judges’ chair for this one. The other judges and the host have not been announced. For comparison, Season 16 was judged by Shreya Ghoshal, Vishal Dadlani and Badshah and hosted by Aditya Narayan, and you can read about that season in our Indian Idol Season 16 start date, judges and theme guide.
Meet the Indian Idol Legends Return Singers
Abhijeet Sawant: Season 1 winner
Abhijeet Sawant won the first season of Indian Idol in 2005, which makes him the show’s original champion. His return takes the franchise back to where it began.
Prajakta Shukre: Season 1 finalist
Prajakta Shukre was born in Jabalpur and finished fourth in Season 1, the only woman to reach that season’s top five. She was signed by Sony BMG after the show and made her debut album with composer Leslee Lewis.
Amit Sana: Season 1 runner-up
Amit Sana was the runner-up to Abhijeet Sawant in Season 1. With Prajakta Shukre also on the list, three of the season’s top finishers are back together.
Salman Ali: Season 10 winner
Salman Ali lifted the trophy in Season 10. He is one of four Indian Idol winners in the line-up, alongside Abhijeet Sawant, Rishi Singh and Manasi Ghosh.
Sayli Kamble: Season 12 second runner-up
Sayli Kamble finished as second runner-up in Season 12, behind winner Pawandeep Rajan. She is one of three Season 12 finalists in the line-up.
Mohd Danish: Season 12 finalist
Mohd Danish reached the Season 12 finale, and Sony’s promo introduces him as a finalist from that season. Our Indian Idol 16 contestants guide shows how the show has changed since his run.
Nihal Tauro: Season 12 finalist
Nihal Tauro, from Moodbidri in Karnataka, reached the Season 12 grand finale, which Pawandeep Rajan won. He joins Sayli Kamble and Mohd Danish as the third Season 12 finalist in the line-up.
Rishi Singh: Season 13 winner
Rishi Singh, from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, won Season 13, taking home the trophy, a car and Rs 25 lakh. Debosmita Roy was the runner-up that season.
Bidipta Chakraborty: Season 13 finalist
Bidipta Chakraborty was a Season 13 finalist, the same season Rishi Singh won, so the two meet again here.
Senjuti Das: Season 13 top 7
Senjuti Das, a singer from Kolkata, finished seventh in Season 13 after being eliminated a week before the finale. She and Rishi Singh were on the same season, and she has since released music, including the song Karey Bechain with Jitul Boro.
Manasi Ghosh: Season 15 winner
Manasi Ghosh, from Kolkata, won Season 15 in April 2025, taking home the trophy, Rs 25 lakh and a car. She is the most recent Indian Idol winner in the line-up. Read our Indian Idol 15 winner report for how the finale unfolded.
Anshika Chonkar: Season 16 runner-up
Anshika Chonkar, a 21-year-old from Mumbai during the finale, was praised for moving easily between genres. Sony’s promo lists her as a Season 16 runner-up.
Manraj Veer Singh: Season 16 runner-up
Manraj Veer Singh is the third Season 16 runner-up in the promo. Read the Indian Idol 16 top 6 finalists to see how the season built to its finale.
Tanishk Shukla: Season 16 runner-up
Tanishk Shukla, 26, from Jabalpur, finished as first runner-up behind winner Jyotirmayee Nayak. He was a FIDE-registered chess player before taking up music professionally, according to news reports during the season. Our Indian Idol 16 winner report covers the final night.
Myscmme Bosu: Season 16 finalist
Myscmme Bosu, from Guwahati, was one of the Season 16 finalists. She also appeared on Season 15, which we covered in our Indian Idol 15 top 6 finalists story.
Vote: Which Legend Are You Most Excited to See?
Pick the Indian Idol Legends Return singer you want to see most. You can vote once per singer each day, so come back and back a different favourite too.
Which Indian Idol Legends Return singer are you most excited to see?
Abhijeet Sawant
Season 1 winnerPrajakta Shukre
Season 1 finalistAmit Sana
Season 1 runner-upSalman Ali
Season 10 winnerSayli Kamble
Season 12 finalistMohd Danish
Season 12 finalistNihal Tauro
Season 12 finalistRishi Singh
Season 13 winnerBidipta Chakraborty
Season 13 finalistSenjuti Das
Season 13 top 7Manasi Ghosh
Season 15 winnerAnshika Chonkar
Season 16 runner-upManraj Veer Singh
Season 16 runner-upTanishk Shukla
Season 16 runner-upMyscmme Bosu
Season 16 finalistMore Indian Idol and Singing Reality Coverage
- Indian Idol 16 winner: Jyotirmayee Nayak lifts the trophy
- Indian Idol 16 Platinum Mic winners list
- Indian Idol 16 contestants with photos
- Indian Idol Season 16 top 16 contestants with photos
- Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2026 contestants list
Indian Idol Legends Return FAQ
When does Indian Idol: Legends Return start?
It starts on Saturday, 17 October 2026, according to Sony’s promo.
What time does Indian Idol: Legends Return air?
The promo says the show airs on Saturdays and Sundays at 8 PM.
Where can I watch Indian Idol: Legends Return?
On Sony Entertainment Television, and it also streams on SonyLIV.
Who are the contestants of Indian Idol: Legends Return?
The fifteen singers are Abhijeet Sawant, Prajakta Shukre, Amit Sana, Salman Ali, Sayli Kamble, Mohd Danish, Nihal Tauro, Rishi Singh, Bidipta Chakraborty, Senjuti Das, Manasi Ghosh, Anshika Chonkar, Manraj Veer Singh, Tanishk Shukla and Myscmme Bosu.
Who is the judge of Indian Idol: Legends Return?
Himesh Reshammiya is confirmed as a judge. Other judges have not been announced.
Who is the host of Indian Idol: Legends Return?
Sony has not announced a host yet.
Is Indian Idol 17 the same as Legends Return?
Some outlets have called the show’s return Indian Idol 17, but Sony is promoting it as Legends Return, a series built around former contestants. We will update this answer if Sony clarifies.
Which contestants have won Indian Idol and are in the line-up?
Abhijeet Sawant (Season 1), Salman Ali (Season 10), Rishi Singh (Season 13) and Manasi Ghosh (Season 15).
Who won the last season of Indian Idol?
Jyotirmayee Nayak of Odisha won Indian Idol Season 16 in July 2026.
Can I vote in Indian Idol: Legends Return?
Sony has not announced a voting process yet.
This guide is based on Sony Entertainment Television’s promo and published news reports, and it is updated as the channel confirms more names and details.
Image credits: Abhijeet Sawant, photo by Yugbodh, CC BY-SA 3.0; Amit Sana, photo by Garg.ankit38, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped; Salman Ali, photo by Apni Dhun Devotional, CC BY 3.0, cropped, all via Wikimedia Commons. Prajakta Shukre, photo by Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Tanishk Shukla via Aaj Tak and Myscmme Bosu via The Sentinel. The other portraits are Indian Idol, Sony TV images. If you are the rights holder of an image and would like it removed or credited differently, see our terms of service or contact us and we will act promptly.
