Indian Idol 16 Top 6 Contestants Revealed: Meet the Finalists Ahead of the Grand Finale

Indian Idol 16 has its final six. Sunday’s episode saw Chaitanya Devadhe, known on the show as Mauli, walk off the stage, and with that exit the race for the trophy has narrowed down to six singers who will now battle it out in the grand finale.

Chaitanya Devadhe’s Exit Seals the Top 6

The elimination came fast on the heels of Abhishek Kumar’s exit on June 28, which had already trimmed the field to seven. Chaitanya’s departure on July 12 (the show’s 78th episode) confirmed the top six. Industry sources say the makers are now planning a star studded grand finale to close out a season that has run for over nine months since its October 2025 premiere. For the full run of eliminations that got the show here, check our updated tracker.

Who Are the Indian Idol 16 Top 6 Contestants?

Anshika Chonkar

Anshika trained in music from childhood in Dombivli and had already built a reputation on Marathi television before Indian Idol 16 came along. She won the Symphony Singing Competition back in 2017 and later appeared on SaReGaMaPa, and her audition was strong enough that she skipped the Theatre round entirely and walked straight into the Top 15 with a platinum mic. Her pop and cabaret leaning style, paired with a sharp fashion sense, has made her one of the season’s more talked about contestants.

Jyotirmayee Nayak

Jyotirmayee brings a story that stands apart from the rest of the lineup. She studied computer science at KIIT and had a tech job offer waiting for her, but chose music instead. Off the show, she works as a certified music therapist, singing with cancer patients in hospitals to help them cope, and she has also sung as a playback artist for Odia films since 2018. Judge Vishal Dadlani has repeatedly called out her voice for its emotional depth.

Manraj Veer Singh

A Delhi University graduate in computer science, Manraj also bypassed the Theatre round and entered the Top 15 directly with a platinum mic. He leans into romantic and rock numbers, and his rockstar image, right down to the premium watches and gym routine, has made him a fan favourite for his look as much as his voice. He also runs his own YouTube channel where he posts song covers.

Suhail

Performing under the name Suhail Sufi, his real name is Sahil, and he comes from a Delhi based family with deep roots in Haryanvi folk music. His grandfather, Chandra Lal Sangi, was a well known Ragini singer whose legacy is honoured with a school and a hospital named after him back home. Suhail is the frontman of a Sufi fusion band called JOSH and has spoken about idolising Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and his tribute performance to his grandfather this season was one of the show’s emotional high points.

Tanishk Shukla

Tanishk’s journey is one of the more difficult ones in this line-up. His hair turned prematurely grey when he was just ten, which led to years of bullying, and by 15 he had been diagnosed with clinical depression. He credits music training, which he took up seriously in 2021 under mentor Prakash Warulkar, with pulling him out of that period. Before Indian Idol, he had already won titles like Voice of Mahakaushal and Voice of Gwalior.

Myscmme Bosu

Myscmme isn’t new to the Indian Idol stage. The 22 year old from Guwahati was a Top 6 finalist on Season 15, and she returned to Season 16 as a wildcard entrant during the show’s Golden Jubilee special alongside Chaitanya Devadhe. Trained in Odissi dance since she was three, she now teaches at the Kailash Kher Academy for Learning Art in Mumbai, and her renditions of songs like “Taal Se Taal” and “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” have stayed memorable for fans since her first run on the show.

What’s Next for Indian Idol 16?

Update: The grand finale has since aired, and Jyotirmayee Nayak lifted the Indian Idol 16 trophy, with Tanishk Shukla finishing as runner-up. Read the full winner story here.