Stage Fire, Star Power, and Heartfelt High Notes: Elvish Yadav Lights Up I-POPSTAR on Amazon MX Player

Mumbai, November 7, 2025: Amazon MX Player’s I-POPSTAR continues its rise as India’s biggest independent music movement — a first-of-its-kind hunt for the country’s next pop icon. With mentors King, Aastha Gill, Aditya Rikhari, and Parmish Verma guiding twelve exceptional voices through every challenge, the show has become a vibrant celebration of originality, collaboration, and the new sound of India. After Kapil Tamane’s emotional exit last week, the stage reopened to fresh fire with the viral sensation — Elvish Yadav’s guest appearance, a clear fan-favourite moment. His spontaneous appreciation for Maan Pannu’s performance and his praise for the show’s fresh, independent sound underscored why I-POPSTAR has struck a chord with audiences.
Episode 9 kicked off with rapper Wicked Sunny AKA  Vikalp Dwivedi's infectious hosting, setting the tone for a night of rhythm and rivalry. Team Aastha shook things up when they were handed the power to put two artists from other teams into the danger zone — choosing Abhijay and Ravneet. The episode saw a standout act by Anurag Srivastava, which earned him both thunderous applause and a perfect pop score for his experimental yet groovy tune that hit all the right notes. Radhika Bhide brought a heartfelt and honest piece that resonated deeply, but at the same time prompted the judges to give constructive feedback, advising her to challenge herself. The judges later joined her on stage for a fun, impromptu jam. The episode ended with Rishabh Panchal pulling off one of the most dramatic comebacks of the season, turning last week’s lowest score into a perfect pop score this time around.

Episode 10 carried forward that emotional charge with moments that swung between nostalgia, raw confession, and pure stage euphoria. The “Lion of Maharashtra” — Rohit Raut delivered a powerful musical homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His commanding act left the audience and judges spellbound. Elvish Yadav demanded an “once more”, the crowd erupted, and Rohit walked away with a perfect pop score. Next up, Jaya Rohilla brought an energetic, foot-tapping number— while Parmish felt disconnected from the hook and Aditya shared similar thoughts, Aastha jumped to her defence — leading to a mild clash between the mentors. She later joined Jaya on stage for a high-spirited jam, with Elvish joining in too. Aastha even put a “nazar ka tika” on Jaya, sealing the moment with warmth. Inderjeet’s soulful, melancholic performance followed — beautifully written but tinged with nervousness. King noted the restraint, Aditya called it monotonous, and Aastha admitted her disappointment. Later, the mood lightened when Parmish, Elvish, and Inderjeet made a fun behind-the-scenes reel, with King behind the camera — a rare off-duty glimpse. Team Aditya Rikahri’s Charan performs a song inspired by his parents’ love story, which brought them to tears in the audience, earning heartfelt praise from all mentors. Later, in a touching segment, Parmish Verma opened up about his own musical journey before performing the power-packed medley of his hits Flex and Follow Up. The crowd went wild, and Elvish Yadav aptly called it “a live concert.” The episode’s emotional heart came when Abhijay Sharma broke down on stage mid-performance. Sharing how the internal voting process had made post-show interactions awkward and emotionally heavy, he admitted he didn’t want negativity to touch his music. The mentors rallied around him — King encouraged him to “just do it” and sing his truth, Aditya shared his own thoughts on artistic honesty, and Parmish gently reminded him that every artist’s struggle is fair and deeply personal. It was one of the rawest, most human moments of the series so far.

After a fierce night of performances and emotional ups and downs, Episode 11 saw the four pop artists Ravneet, Abhijay, Inderjeet, and Riya in the danger zone, raising the tension and emotions among teams. The two artists whose journey ended in the show were Ravneet and Abhijay Sharma, leaving the competition just a step closer to crowning India’s next indie pop icon. Meanwhile, the title of Stylish Performer went to Rishabh Panchal, whose dramatic comeback and flawless pop-score-winning act earned him the spotlight for that week. Guest star Elvish Yadav expressed heartfelt gratitude to the judges and participants for having him on the show, sharing how inspired he felt by their raw talent and the unfiltered energy that defines I-POPSTAR.

As the show inches closer to its finale, the competition is no longer just about who sings best — it’s about who feels, writes, and performs with conviction. Each episode pushes the boundaries of what Indian independent music can sound like — unfiltered, experimental, and emotionally real.