Abhishek Malhan opens up on returning as mentor in Battleground 2

As anticipation builds around Season 2 of Battleground, Rusk Media has begun unveiling key elements of the upcoming season, starting with the return of creator powerhouse Abhishek Malhan, popularly known as Fukra Insaan. Rejoining the show as a mentor, Abhishek returns to defend his title with Delhi Dominators, the winning team from Season 1. His comeback marks a strong start to the mentor lineup reveal, following his team’s dominant run in the debut season.

Expanding the scale of the show, Season 2 introduces a fresh team lineup alongside the returning champions. Joining Delhi Dominators in the arena this year are Mumbai Strikers, Telugu Tigers, and Bhojpuri Bhaukaals, each bringing distinct regional flavour, new rivalries, and heightened stakes to the competition. While Abhishek Malhan is the first mentor to be officially announced, the other mentors are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks, with speculation already building around new faces joining the second season. With a mix of returning favourites and fresh personalities, Season 2 promises to raise the bar on both competition and entertainment.

Bigger teams, tougher competition, and rising expectations for Season 2

Further strengthening its appeal as a high-impact platform for advertisers, Battleground Season 2 has already onboarded leading brands including Performax and DaMENSCH as special partners and Pratikar as associate partner. The show continues to offer brands an opportunity to connect with India’s young, fitness-driven audiences through immersive and integrated content formats.

Mayank Yadav, Co-Founder and CEO of Rusk Media, shared, “Battleground has quickly evolved into a high-impact IP that brings together competition, storytelling, and community at scale. As we build Season 2, the focus is on expanding that universe, with stronger teams, deeper engagement, and more opportunities for both audiences and brand partners. Abhishek’s return is a big moment for the show, and we’re excited to reveal what’s coming next.”

Winning Battleground Season 1 with Delhi Dominators was an incredible experience and coming back as a mentor to defend that title makes it even more exciting

- Abhishek Malhan

Strong brand partnerships and growing fan engagement

Aruna Daryanani, Director at Amazon MX Player, said, “Battleground Season 1 resonated strongly with audiences across the country, scaling rapidly on viewership and building a passionate fan base for the format. The combination of competitive intensity and compelling personalities drove high engagement, making it one of the standout reality shows on the service. With Season 2, we’re expanding the canvas with fresh teams, bigger rivalries, and more immersive brand integrations. Our focus remains on delivering premium, accessible entertainment to viewers across India, completely free, while continuing to evolve formats that deeply connect with today’s audiences.”

Sharing his excitement about returning as a mentor, Abhishek Malhan said, “Winning Battleground Season 1 with Delhi Dominators was an incredible experience and coming back as a mentor to defend that title makes it even more exciting. The competition this time is going to be tougher, the teams are stronger, and the energy is on another level. I’m looking forward to pushing my team harder and making this season even bigger.”

Anurag Saboo, co-founder of DaMENSCH, added, “Battleground offers a fresh and engaging way to connect with today’s young audiences who value performance, confidence, and self-expression. The show’s high-energy format and strong cultural relevance make it an exciting platform for us to showcase the brand in a more integrated and meaningful way. We’re looking forward to being part of this journey and engaging with consumers through content that feels authentic and impactful.”

A spokesperson from Performax shared, “Battleground represents a new wave of fitness culture in India where performance is not just about winning, but about pushing personal limits and showing up consistently. That aligns strongly with what Performax stands for. At Performax, we believe in enabling individuals to go beyond comfort, beyond excuses, and beyond perceived limits. Battleground Season 2 provides the perfect platform to bring this philosophy to life, by engaging with a new generation that sees fitness as both identity and ambition.”

With a stronger format, new teams, and an expanding roster of mentors and brand partners, Battleground Season 2 is set to build on its momentum as one of India’s most exciting fitness reality formats. The new season will stream on Amazon MX Player from April 2026 onwards.