Preparations for the popular reality show Bigg Boss 19 are in full swing. Salman Khan is all set to host the grand premiere on 24 August this month. The trailer has already been released, and this season’s theme is “Politics”. With only 15 days left for the show to begin, speculations about the contestants are running high.
Recently, names like Divyanka Tripathi, Reem Shaikh, rapper Raftaar, and Mallika Sherawat were doing the rounds, but reports suggest that talks with them did not work out. Now, a new list of 16 celebrities and social media influencers has emerged. It is reported that YouTuber Purav Jha and gamer Payal Dhare (popularly known as Payal Gaming) are confirmed contestants.
This season will have 19 contestants in total — 16 will enter the house on the grand premiere, while 3 will join later as wild card entries. As per the theme, Salman Khan will divide the contestants into two parties on Day 1 itself. Each party will select a leader and contest elections. The winner, based on vote counts, will become the “House Leader” and form their own government. Meanwhile, the opposition will be given secret tasks from time to time to topple the government.
Purav Jha and Payal Dhare Confirmed
According to the latest reports, after Payal Dhare, YouTuber Purav Jha has also been confirmed as a contestant. Initially, the makers had considered keeping influencers and YouTubers out of Season 19, but later, keeping the “OTT-first” strategy in mind, they decided to include digital creators alongside TV stars.
Over 45 Celebrities and Digital Creators Approached
Reports suggest that the makers have approached over 45 TV celebrities and social media influencers for Bigg Boss 19. While some have turned down the offer, talks with others are in the final stages. This season will feature popular TV faces, music personalities, and digital creators. The final confirmed list will be locked by next week.
Possible Contestants This Year
The new list of 16 potential contestants reportedly includes actors Sharad Malhotra, Dheeraj Dhoopar, Lata Sabharwal, Gaurav Khanna, Apoorva Mukhija, Hunar Gandhi, Shailesh Lodha, Gurucharan Singh, social media star Mr Faisu, singer Sreerama Chandra, dancer Dhanashree Verma, actress Mugdha Chaphekar, Meera Deosthale, and music composer Amaal Mallik.
Divyanka Tripathi, Elnaaz Norouzi Decline Offer; Talks with Raftaar Continue
A day ago, it was reported that Divyanka Tripathi was being considered for the show, but the actress denied the claims. Similarly, The Traitors winner Elnaaz Norouzi’s name was also in the buzz, but she confirmed she would not be part of Bigg Boss 19. Rumours suggested she was offered ₹6 crore for the show. Rapper Raftaar, who was also seen in The Traitors, is still in talks with the makers.
Bigg Boss 19 to Stream on OTT First
Along with the trailer launch, the makers also announced that this time Bigg Boss 19 will stream on OTT before TV. Under this digital-first strategy, each episode will be available at 9 PM daily on JioHotstar, and will air 90 minutes later on Colors TV. Additionally, there will be a 24-hour LIVE telecast available exclusively on OTT.