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Indian Idol Legends Return Karisma Kapoor episode: Himesh Reshammiya recalls his first solo film, Nihal Tauro wins praise

By Ritu Chadha

Updated on November 12, 2026
IST 12:57 am

Indian Idol Legends Return brought in Karisma Kapoor for a two-part special that aired on 7 and 8 November 2026. Judge Himesh Reshammiya used the moment to recall that her film Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000) was his first as a solo music composer, while Karisma praised returning singer Nihal Tauro. The show airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM on Sony Entertainment Television and streams on Sony LIV.

Karisma Kapoor with a contestant on the Indian Idol Legends Return stage

What happened in the Karisma Kapoor episode of Indian Idol Legends Return?

Sony Entertainment Television’s singing reunion show welcomed actor Karisma Kapoor as a guest in weekend episodes that aired on 7 and 8 November 2026 (Episodes 7 and 8 in Sony LIV’s episode guide). Two separate reports on 5 November, from Adgully and from the news agency IANS, described the episode.

The episode had two main moments. The first was a conversation between Karisma and judge Himesh Reshammiya about their shared work in Hindi cinema. The second was Karisma’s reaction to Nihal Tauro, one of the 24 former Indian Idol contestants competing this season.

Guest episodes of this kind are a regular part of Indian Idol. They give the returning singers a chance to perform songs linked to the guest’s films and to get feedback from someone outside the judging panel.

What did Himesh Reshammiya say about Karisma Kapoor?

According to the IANS report, Himesh Reshammiya recalled that Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, the 2000 film starring Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor, was his first film as a solo music composer. He shared this in front of the film’s lead actor on the show’s stage.

He also told Karisma, “You are looking the same.” He then sang a few lines from “Pardesi Pardesi”, the hit song from the 1996 film Raja Hindustani, which starred Karisma Kapoor and Aamir Khan.

The IANS report also carried Himesh’s earlier statement about the season. He said that for the returning singers, “every performance becomes an opportunity to push boundaries, win hearts and prove their mettle once more.”

Why did Karisma Kapoor praise Nihal Tauro?

Adgully reported that Karisma Kapoor was surprised to learn that Nihal Tauro had sung the title track of Yeh Prem Mol Liya, a song he recorded with Shreya Ghoshal. Her reaction to his voice was direct: “Amazing… Mind-blowing! Wish you all the best. God bless you, dear.”

When she realised he was the singer, she added, “And it’s such an irony ki aapne gaya, Nihal.” She addressed part of her conversation to Himesh Reshammiya, who is the only judge this season.

Nihal Tauro is paired with Senjuti Das in this season. For a returning contestant, praise from a guest like Karisma Kapoor is useful exposure, as the show runs as a competition in which singers also score each other.

What is Indian Idol Legends Return and how does it work?

Indian Idol Legends Return is a reunion season of Sony’s long-running singing show. Sony Entertainment Television announced it on 10 October 2026, describing it in a press release as a season that “will bring together singers from previous seasons of ‘Indian Idol’ for a musical reunion.”

The format is different from a regular Indian Idol season:

24 former contestants compete in 12 duos.
Himesh Reshammiya is the “superstar judge” and the only judge on the panel.
The duos are judged by Himesh and also by their fellow contestants.
Singer Aditya Narayan is the host.
The show is produced by Fremantle and uses a new, larger stage built for this season.

At the launch, Harsh Sheth, business head of Sony Entertainment Television, said, “Indian Idol has always been about discovering extraordinary voices and creating moments that stay with audiences.” Aradhana Bhola, managing director of Fremantle, said, “Indian Idol Legends Return is setting its own bar.”

Who are the 12 pairs in Indian Idol Legends Return?

Sony announced the following 12 pairs before the premiere. The line-up brings back singers from many different seasons of the show.

Salman Ali and Mohammad Danish
Devender Pal Singh and Mayuri Saha
Swaroopp Khan and Ritika Raj
Prajakta Shukre and Amit Sana
Senjuti Das and Nihal Tauro
Subhajit Chakraborty and Bidipta Chakraborty
Ashish Kulkarni and Sayli Kamble Patil
Tanishk Shukla and Myscmme Bosu
Anshika Chonkar and Rishi Singh
Manraj Veer and Manasi Ghosh
Ankush Bhardwaj and Sireesha Bhagavatula
Abhijeet Sawant and Chetna Bhardwaj

Each pair performs together and is scored as a unit, both by Himesh Reshammiya and by the other contestants.

When and where can you watch Indian Idol Legends Return?

The show premiered on Saturday, 17 October 2026, at 8 PM. New episodes air every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM on Sony Entertainment Television, and the show also streams on Sony LIV.

The news of Himesh Reshammiya’s return as judge was first reported by PTI on 26 September 2026, which said the show would bring together “singers who have been part of different seasons of ‘Indian Idol'”. Sony then confirmed the full pairs list and premiere date in October.

Key facts: Indian Idol Legends Return

Channel: Sony Entertainment Television; streaming on Sony LIV
Premiere: 17 October 2026
Timing: Saturday and Sunday, 8 PM
Judge: Himesh Reshammiya
Host: Aditya Narayan
Producer: Fremantle
Format: 24 former contestants in 12 duos, scored by the judge and by fellow contestants
Guest in focus: Karisma Kapoor, special episodes aired on 7 and 8 November 2026
Songs mentioned: “Pardesi Pardesi” (Raja Hindustani, 1996), sung in part by Himesh; the Yeh Prem Mol Liya title track, sung by Nihal Tauro with Shreya Ghoshal

What to watch next

With 12 duos in the competition, the coming weekend episodes will show which pairs hold their scores as the season moves forward. Watch for further guest episodes, which Indian Idol uses to bring film songs and new judges’ views onto the stage.

Fans of returning contestants such as Abhijeet Sawant, Salman Ali and Sayli Kamble Patil can follow their performances every weekend on Sony Entertainment Television, or catch up on Sony LIV. Fans of Nihal Tauro will want to see whether the praise from Karisma Kapoor carries into stronger scores for him and his partner Senjuti Das.

FAQ

Did Karisma Kapoor appear on Indian Idol Legends Return?

Yes. Karisma Kapoor was the guest in the special episodes aired on 7 and 8 November 2026, where she praised Nihal Tauro and spoke with Himesh Reshammiya.