Milestone season begins

The countdown to Indian television’s most-awaited reality show ended as Bigg Boss 20 premiered tonight, September 6. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, synonymous with the franchise, returned as host for the milestone season.

Confirmed names entering the house

Television actress Mahhi Vij, known as Nakusha in Laagi Tujhse Lagan, is back on reality TV after Nach Baliye and Khatron Ke Khiladi. She entered the news earlier this year after announcing separation from husband Jay Bhanushali.

Panchayat fame Aasif Khan joins the show. He became meme material during lockdown with the viral ‘Gazab Bezzati’ scene and spoke on camera about facing financial crisis after his father’s demise.

Actor-model Rohed Khan entered the house on September 6. The Austria-born actor who speaks German, Farsi, English and Hindi debuted in Bollywood with Kangana Ranaut’s Tejas in 2023 as antagonist Sarqalam and was also in Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff.

Gaming creator Tanmay Singh, better known online as Scout, is the show’s big digital pick. He has a huge fan following through Battlegrounds Mobile India livestreams, esports content and collaborations.

Model-actress Uditi Singh, known for her past relationship with television heartthrob Karan Wahi, and Punjabi star Lovepreet Kaur Gill aka Love Gill, who debuted with Karan Aujla’s ‘Facts’ music video and starred in Tu Patang Main Dor and Punjabi film Kuriyan Jawan Bapu Pareshaan, are also confirmed.

Child actor-turned-social media personality Arishfa Khan, music videos artist Isha Rikhi who is in news for her alleged marriage and separation with rapper Badshah, and Bhojpuri star Amrapali Dubey, who started with Hindi TV and entered Bhojpuri films with Nirahua Hindustani in 2014, feature in the line-up.

Singer-songwriter Rhiti Tiwari, daughter of actor-singer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari and BJP member since 2024, is confirmed after a promo with Salman Khan. Six-time World Amateur Boxing Champion Mary Kom makes her reality-show debut, becoming the first Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal with bronze at London 2012.

Actress Kanika, last seen in Naagin 7 as a dragon and previously in Guddan Tumse Na Hogaayega and Chand Jalne Laga, joins alongside Roadies and Splitsvilla winner Kushal Tanwar aka Gullu, who also won cooking show Maa Hai Na.

Singer Qazi Touqeer, winner of Fame Gurukul in 2005 alongside Ruprekha Banerjee and known for Kashmiri-Hindi-Urdu songs like ‘Yeh Pal’, returns to television after years away. Television face Aman Gandhi, known for Naagin 3, Bhagyalakshmi and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, completes the announced contestants.

Fan-driven entry

Rhiya Yadav, also known as Rhiya Ahir, who went viral for stopping a police van during a student protest in Mumbai, is linked to the season with entry to be decided by fans. She told Screen: “For Bigg Boss, I’m getting all the love. People from Punjab are also messaging me that they are voting for me. Honestly, I was reluctant to join Bigg Boss when the offer came because of the image that has been created. I have responsibilities that come with it, and I don’t want to let anyone down. I am a people pleaser, maybe. I don’t want to let people down. I want to stand by what has happened. Little kids are looking up to me, so I don’t want to misguide anyone in their lives."