Judges reveal how they mentor emerging talent on the UAE’s global stage
Dubai: After two decades of discovering singing talent across India, Indian Idol, the iconic music reality show, has taken its first steps onto the international stage — and Gulf News got exclusive access.
The show’s cast and crew arrived in Abu Dhabi earlier this week to film special episodes at Yas Island, scheduled to air on February 21 and 22, 2026. But for those involved, this move represents much more than just a change of scenery.
In an interview with Gulf News, judge Vishal Dadlani described filming in the UAE as a pivotal chapter for the celebrated talent hunt.
“It’s exciting to be here. It shows that Indian Idol reaches beyond the borders of India. It goes to the whole world,” said Dadlani during the interview at Warner Bros. World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
If you want, I can also create a snappier, headline-friendly version for media or online publication that draws more attention to the UAE expansion. Do you want me to do that next?
He also shares what has kept the show’s spark alive for more than two decades and what it truly means to be a judge on Indian Idol.
Dubai: For Vishal Dadlani, being a judge on Indian Idol is less about judging and more about guiding. Having served on the show for seven consecutive seasons since 2018, Dadlani says the title “judge” doesn’t quite capture his role.
“I love being on Indian Idol because young talent always refreshes the musician in me,” he explained at Warner Bros. World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. “But I also feel that it’s not my place to judge—it’s my place to guide. I would rather be a friend to them. Sitting in that chair comes with a lot of responsibility, a prestigious platform, and the need to stay truthful to music at all times.”
Though he had announced his intention to retire last year—citing “being stuck in Mumbai for six months every year”—the show persuaded him to return. “I still want to retire. They won’t let me. They even showed up at my home and dragged me back. Now here I am,” he said with a laugh.
That sense of duty extends to his approach with contestants. “Someone who tells you why you’re going wrong is precious. Someone who discourages you is not. I try to be the person who points out mistakes and shows how to improve—because that’s the most necessary guidance a musician can have,” Dadlani said. His honesty, tempered with warmth, has earned him a reputation as a fair and encouraging mentor.
Over seven seasons, Dadlani has witnessed hundreds of singers, but a few remain unforgettable. “Salman Ali from 2018—his voice is insane. He never dropped off the entire season,” he recalled. “Sneha Shankar? Absolute magic. She’s going to be a mega star someday.” From the last season, Priyanshu stood out, and this year, Diwakar Choubey has raised the bar for everyone else.
For the Abu Dhabi episodes, acclaimed playback singer and composer Madhubanti Bagchi joins as a special guest judge. Known for hits like Aaj Ki Raat, Peelings, and Shararat, she admitted that judging is challenging but rewarding. “If I can help a couple of young kids become better playback singers, that’s why I’m here,” she told Gulf News. She also noted that performing abroad brings out a unique artistic expression in contestants.
At 20 years old, Indian Idol continues to stay fresh, largely because of its contestants. “Any show, any season, it’s the contestants that bring the magic. Judges are just guides,” said Dadlani. “Meeting young singers, seeing that spark in their eyes—it feels like the whole world is to conquer. That’s the magical part.” Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the show found ways to continue filming, creating bubbles and workarounds to keep music and joy alive.
For Dadlani, music is also a form of healing. “Music is the strongest healing force we have in the world, and the world needs healing,” he said. His love for music is all-encompassing, spanning hip-hop, Latin, Indian, and classical Western music. “It’s like asking a fish what it thinks of water—it’s what I live in.”
The Indian Idol Yas Island special episodes will air exclusively on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV on February 21 and 22, 2026, at 8 pm.
