Pakistan Idol - Season 2 also known as Pakistan Idol - Aayi Dil Se Awaaz was the second season of Pakistani reality television series Pakistan Idol. It was announced in August 2025 as a reboot of the series, which originally aired in 2013–2014 created by Simon Fuller.
The first episode of season premiered on 4 October 2025, with auditions in Sukkur. The season is being hosted by Shafaat Ali and the judges panel includes Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Zeb Bangash, Fawad Khan and Bilal Maqsood. Hira Qaisar won the competition, with Aryan Naveed, Maham Tahir, Nabeel Abbas, Rouhan Abbas, Samya Gohar, Tarab Nafees, and Waqar Hussain finishing as runners-up.
Background Pakistan Idol first aired on Geo TV from 2013 to 2014. After an eleven-year hiatus, the network confirmed in August 2025 that the programme would return for a second season. The announcement included details of a new judging panel and was covered by multiple Pakistani and international media outlets.
Auditions Auditions for the second season were conducted through a combination of digital submissions and in-person city rounds. Aspiring contestants were required to submit a 60-second singing video via the Begin.Watch application during the audition window. Based on these digital submissions, selected applicants were shortlisted and invited to attend live city auditions.
The in-person auditions took place across several cities in Pakistan in August 2025. Participation in the city auditions was limited to shortlisted contestants and was not open to walk-in applicants.
During the audition phase, the judges awarded a limited number of Golden Mic selections to standout performers. Contestants receiving a Golden Mic advanced directly to the Top 16 stage of the competition, bypassing further elimination rounds in the audition phase.
+ Pakistan Idol (season 2) – auditions Location Date(s) Venue / Platform Online auditions Nationwide 2025 Begin.Watch app (60-second video submission) Live auditions Sukkur 17 August 2025 Sukkur Arts Council Multan 20 August 2025 Multan Arts Council Lahore 23 August 2025 Alhamra Cultural Complex Rawalpindi / Islamabad 25 August 2025 Rawalpindi Arts Council Karachi 31 August 2025 Arts Council of Pakistan
Format Pakistan Idol season 2 follows the established Idol franchise format, adapted for a contemporary Pakistani audience. Marking the show's return after an eleven-year hiatus, the season premiered on 4 October 2025 and utilizes a multi-stage elimination process driven by both expert judging and public participation.
The competition begins with an extensive audition phase, conducted both on-ground and digitally. In-person auditions take place in major urban centers including Sukkur, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. For the first time, the season also incorporates an online audition gateway via the Begin streaming platform, allowing aspiring singers to submit video entries remotely. Contestants who receive a majority of "yes" votes from the judging panel advance to the theatre rounds.
In the theatre rounds, performers are tested through solo performances. This phase serves as the final filter before the Gala and live performance shows. Beginning at the Top 16 stage, contestants perform weekly themed sets before a national audience, with public voting opening in the background during each broadcast. While the judges continue to provide real-time critiques, their scores are used to determine a weekly bottom three, from which the contestant receiving the lowest number of public votes is eliminated. The remaining contestants advance, with viewer voting ultimately determining who is crowned the winner.
The season is being broadcast simultaneously across several major networks, including Geo TV, PTV Home, and A-Plus TV. For international viewers and digital-first audiences, the series is streamed live and on-demand via the Begin platform, representing the first time a Pakistani reality series has employed such an extensive multi-network and digital distribution strategy.
Production Production delays Production of the programme was interrupted multiple times during its run. Earlier in the season, the show took a temporary break amid funding issues, before production resumed. The programme was later halted again amid further funding and legal issues affecting its production. The interruption extended through the scheduled Ramadan period, and the show ultimately returned on 23 August 2026. The delay also affected the scheduling of the finale, which was postponed amid regional tensions and calls for national austerity. The organisers stated that it was not appropriate to hold a large-scale national celebration while tensions were escalating, and assured the remaining contestants that the finale would take place at a later date.
Top 16 contestants The contestants who advanced beyond the theatre round, including those awarded a Golden Mic during the audition and theatre stages, are listed below: Contestant Hometown StatusHira Qaisar § Faisalabad, Punjab WinnerAryan Naveed Bhatti Bahawalpur, Punjab Runner-up Maham Tahir Khanpur, PunjabNabeel Abbas Khan § Dera Ghazi Khan, PunjabRouhan Abbas Δ Kunjah, PunjabSamya Gohar Lahore, PunjabTarab Nafees Karachi, SindhWaqar Hussain Karachi, SindhFaryal Amber § Faisalabad, PunjabEliminatedZain Baloch Multan, PunjabEliminatedMehtab Ali § Ghotki, SindhEliminatedMerab Javilin Karachi, SindhEliminatedMuhammad Minaam Δ Karachi, SindhEliminatedRawish Rubab Layyah, PunjabEliminatedRohail Asghar § Jhang, Punjab EliminatedRomaisa Tariq § Lahore, PunjabEliminatedMohammad Ibrar Shahdara, PunjabWithdrew
Finals Color key:
Top 16 – Celebration (Gala 1) The Celebration Round served as a showcase rather than a competitive stage, with contestants performing without a set theme to celebrate their talent and journey on the show. No eliminations took place during this round.
+ Top 16 (22–23 November 2025) Contestant Song Result Hira Qaisar "Jindiye Hun Te Magroon Leh Ja" (Noor Jehan) Safe Rawish Rubab"Hamari Saanson Mein Aaj Tak" (Noor Jehan) Safe Romaisa Tariq "Sun Ve Bilorri Akh Waliya" (Noor Jehan) Safe Merab Javilin "Bichren Gay Na Hum Kabhi" (Mehnaz & Alamgir) Safe Maham Tahir "Dildar Sadqe Lakhwar Sadqe" (Noor Jehan) Safe Tarab Nafees "Maan Mein Uthi Nayi Tarang" (Noor Jehan) Safe Samya Gohar "Chait Chadya Ke Tenu" (Humaira Channa) Safe Nabeel Abbas "Main Ne Main Kinno Aakhan" (Hamid Ali Bela) Safe Rouhan Abbas "Kyun Door Door" (Shaukat Ali) Safe Muhammad Ibrar "Kya Haal Sunawaan Dil Da" (Pathanay Khan) Safe Aryan Naveed "Tumhe Kaise Bata Doon" (Ahmed Rushdi) Safe Rohail Asghar "Aap Ko Bhool Jayein Hum" (Mehdi Hassan) Safe Waqar Hussain "Yun Zindagi Ki Rah Mein" (Mehdi Hassan) Safe Zain Baloch "Deewanay" (Fuzön) Safe Mehtab Ali "Kameez Teri Kaali" (Attaullah Khan) Safe Faryal AmberN/A Safe
Top 16 – Lyricist Tribute (Gala 2) This round was dedicated to remembering and honouring Pakistani lyricists. Contestants performed songs celebrated for their poetry and lyrical craftsmanship. + Top 16 (7–21 December 2025) Contestant Song Result Rohail Asghar "Ve Main Chori Chori" (Attaullah Khan)Bottom three Hira Qaisar "Tere Bina Rogi Hoye" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Mehtab Ali "Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Rawish Rubab "Nigahein Mila Kar Badal Jane Walay" (Mehnaz Begum) Safe Maham Tahir "Kithe Nain Na Jodi" (Reshma) Safe Waqar Hussain "Kabhi Kabhi Mein Sochta Hoon" (Mehdi Hassan) Safe Rouhan Abbas "Sanwal Mor Muharan" (Salamat Ali Khan) Safe Tarab Nafees "Payal Mein Geet Hain Cham Cham Ke" (Iqbal Bano) Safe Muhammad Ibrar "Dilri Lutti" (Noor Jehan)Withdrew Romaisa Tariq "Dil Mera" (Vital Signs)Eliminated Nabeel Abbas "Ae Dil Kisi Ki Yaad Mein" (Mehdi Hassan) Safe Zain Baloch "Keh Dena" (Atif Aslam) Safe Merab Javilin "Main Jis Din Bhula Dun" (Mehdi Hassan) Safe Aryan Naveed "Hum Chalay Tou Hamare Sang" (Alamgir)Bottom three Samya Gohar "Suno Suno Jo Tum Kaho" (Nayyara Noor) Safe Faryal AmberN/A Safe Muhammad MinaamN/A Wild Card
Top 15 – Ishq (Gala 3) This Gala Round centred on the theme of ishq, featuring predominantly Sufi-inspired performances. Contestants sang qawwali, devotional, and romantic classics associated with themes of love, longing, and transcendence. Farhan Saeed and Shuja Haider appeared as guest judges, while Shahzaman Ali Khan appeared as a guest artist.
+ Top 15 (3–11 January 2026) Contestant Song Result Rouhan Abbas "Maar Gayi Udeek Din Raat Di" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Waqar Hussain "Sawan Ki Bheegi Raaton Mein" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Maham Tahir "Ishq Deewana Mera" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Mehtab Ali "Piya Re Piya Re" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Hira Qaisar "Meri Zindagi Tera Pyar" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Rohail Asghar "Kiven Mukhre Ton Nazraan" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Faryal Amber "Dhol Mahiya" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Zain Baloch "Dam Mast Qalandar" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Safe Tarab Nafees "Thora Thora Pyar" (Fariha Pervez) Safe Rawish Rubab "Sanu Nehr Wale Pul" (Noor Jehan) Safe Samya Gohar "Chan Mere Makhna" (Shazia Manzoor) Safe Nabeel Abbas "Allah Allah Kar Bhaiya" (Allan Fakir & Mohammed Ali Shehki) Safe Merab Javilin "Dil Hua Bo Kata" (Fariha Pervez) Safe Muhammad Minaam "Akhiyaan" (Fuzön) Safe Aryan Naveed "Aatish" (Shuja Haider) Safe + Non-competition performances Performer Song Shahzaman Ali Khan "Kise Da Yaar Na Vichre" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) Rahat Fateh Ali Khan "Lagan Lagi Tumse Mann Ki Lagan" (Rahat Fateh Ali Khan) Farhan Saeed "Khat" (Farhan Saeed) Shuja Haider "Jind Mahiya" (Traditional)
Top 15 – Wedding (Gala 4) The remaining contestants performed iconic wedding songs traditionally associated with Pakistani wedding celebrations. Performances drew from folk, film, and popular music commonly played at maiyun, mehndi, and baraat events across three nights. Abrar-ul-Haq and Asim Raza appeared as guest judges, while Sara Raza Khan and Natasha Baig appeared as guest artists for the week.
+ Top 15 (10–18 January 2026) Contestant Song Result Tarab Nafees "Maiya Main To Bahoni Re" (Reshma) Safe Merab Javilin "Babula Ve" (Afshan) Safe Hira Qaisar "Dhiyan Te Dhan Paraya" (Noor Jehan) Safe Maham Tahir "Madhaniyan" (Musarrat Nazir) Safe Nabeel Abbas "Chaap Tilak" (Ameer Khusro)Bottom three Rohail Asghar "Bismillah Karan" (Nadeem Abbas Lunewala)Eliminated Rawish Rubab "Desan Da Raja" (Naseem Begum)Eliminated Rouhan Abbas "Tere Sehre Nu Sajaya" (Sadiq Saab) Safe Mehtab Ali "Shakar Wanda Re" (Asrar) Safe Aryan Naveed "Haye Dil Bechara" (Jimmy Khan) Safe Samya Gohar "Ik Pal" (Hadiqa Kiyani) Safe Zain Baloch "Mehndi Ki Yeh Raat" (Jawad Ahmed) Safe Waqar Hussain "Duniya Te Pyar Mile" (Noor Jehan) Safe Faryal Amber "Balle Balle" (Shazia Manzoor) Safe Muhammad Minaam "Ambwa Talay Dola" (Bilqees Khanum) Safe + Non-competition performances Performer Song Sara Raza Khan "Kahe Ko Beyahi Bede" (Thumri) Abrar-ul-Haq "Chamkeeli" (Abrar-ul-Haq) Natasha Baig "Barkha" (Natasha Baig)"Yaar Daadhi" (Traditional)
Top 13 – Nostalgia (Gala 5) The remaining contestants performed nostalgic songs from earlier decades of Pakistani music, revisiting classics associated with film, pop, and television that evoked a sense of musical reminiscence. Asim Azhar and Mekaal Hasan (of Mekaal Hasan Band), and Bilal Saeed appeared as guest judges for the week.