P-Town rapper MC Stan was declared the winner of the Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss 16 at the grand finale held on February 12.

Stan, who faced a tough competition from runners-up Shiv Thakare and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, took home a prize money of Rs 31.8 lakh and a Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS car.

Thanking his fans for the “incredible and unbelievable” victory, Stan said, “When I entered the house, I felt like a misfit because I didn’t know how the game worked and everyone else seemed to know what they were doing. I understood the game late, but no regrets because that would not have made any difference to the way I would have conducted myself on the show.”

“I had to unlearn many things and wage a war against my impulses. I’ve learnt the biggest life lessons here and made solid relationships with people from different walks of life. What everyone called mandali became my home away from home. I’m so proud to be part of a season that delivered on the promise of non-stop entertainment. Haq hai,” he added.

Stan earned love and adulation from the audience for appearing real throughout the season. His lingo has caught on with viewers and sparked a huge fest of memes on social media. Way before his victory, Stan was credited with putting the community of underground rappers on the Indian map through his presence in this season.

His commentary and observation of the housemates in his signature style were satirical and hilarious. The rapper chose the right “muddas” and apologised when he was on the wrong side of a fight. His solid friendship with Shiv Thakare was admired by viewers and both were rooting for each other's victory till the end of the season.

This season of Bigg Boss was different in a true sense as Bigg Boss played his own game. For four months, the contestants spared no effort to earn a spot in the finale and gather support from millions of fans across the country.

According to Manisha Sharma, chief content officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment at Viacom18, the 16th season of Bigg Boss raised the bar with not just an exceptional contestant line-up but also with brand innovation and engagement. “A big credit goes to the loyal fanbase the show has earned over the years and our drive to deliver non-stop entertainment,” he said.

“This season witnessed a bigger and more novel fandom with unexpected twists and turns being introduced to keep the housemates alert and the viewers on the edge of their seats,” Shital Iyer, Non-Fiction Head of Colors, added.

Rishi Negi, CEO, Endemol Shine India, congratulated all the contestants for making it a huge success. “We at Endemol Shine India are delighted to have closed the curtain on a momentous season that has commanded an incredible fandom,” he added.