salman khan-hosted Bigg Boss Season 20 premiered on September 6. While viewers were excited to see the new lineup of contestants, many were left disappointed as only a handful of popular names from the television and film industry made the cut. The milestone season also struggled to make an impact in its first week, drawing criticism over its contestants and lack of memorable moments. Amid the backlash, Salman gave the housemates a wake-up call and also opened up about the show’s casting process during the season’s first Weekend Ka Vaar.
During his weekend interaction with contestants, Salman addressed the backlash this year’s contestants have received. The Bigg Boss 20 host said, “We had thought we would handpick contestants, but sometimes our selection also falters. Those who are not seen on the show, their defence mechanism is that they are doing so much in the game, but the truth is whatever you are saying or doing is not worthy of airing.”
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Salman then turned his attention to individual contestants, calling them out for failing to live up to their potential. “Aman, you wanted to be the main character energy, right? Then why are you roaming around like a character artiste? You’re just giving passing shots, then why is it everyone else’s fault and not yours? Has anyone thought that it would be their mistake if they didn’t reach a certain stature, instead of blaming the whole world? There are so many beautiful people around the world. Uditi, you have not been brought here because of the way you look. It’s because of your personality. The team was very impressed by you, which is why you are on the show.”
Salman Khan also reflected on the show’s casting process and said, “There are 1000s of people whom the Bigg Boss team meets and interviews. From those, you 16 have been chosen. It takes them eight months to lock celebrities from different fields. Like a lot of people know Scout OP in his format, but others will also know him now. Rohed is from Austria; now people will know him. We have picked people from different walks of life. When you guys came here, people asked what kind of casting this was, but after a week, everyone is loving a few characters. Some people managed to change the negative connotation around them in the first week. The rest should also be doing that.”
“Rhiti, at the moment you are like a stone in the house who will soon get covered in moss. Rohed, you came here to win hearts, but I didn’t even see you in 2-3 episodes. You don’t even have a language barrier like Elli AvrRam or Natalia Janozsek had. The tradition of Bigg Boss has been that whoever joins the show is not necessarily a star; they are here for their personality. There is a chance for a lot of people who are not celebrities to come to the Bigg Boss house and show their talent and become a star when they leave the show. From here on, your actual personalities will start showing. I am not here to come and judge you. I will just share my opinions, but I want all of you to grab an opportunity and not just wait for one to come to you,” Salman added.
Bigg Boss 20 features Mahhi Vij, Aasif Khan, Amrapali Dubey, Aman Gandhi, Kanika Mann, Scout OP, Yung DSA, Rohed Khan, Arishfa Khan, Rhiti Tiwari, Isha Rikhi, Uditi Singh, Qazi Touqeer, Love Gill, Mary Kom, and Kushal Tanwar aka Gullu. The latest season streams on JioHotstar Every Monday to Sunday at 9 pm and airs on Colors TV at 10:30 pm.
Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a Focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his High-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector. Experience & Career Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media: The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments. Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media. Expertise & Focus Areas Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include: Reality Television: Specialized coverage of Major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles. OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres. Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends. Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community. Authoritativeness & Trust With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More
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