Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss returned for its 18th season on Sunday, unveiling this year’s contestants and introducing the theme ‘Time ka Taandav’. Here are the highlights from the opening night of Bigg Boss 18.
Salman completes 15 years as host
Salman Khan, who has been an integral part of Bigg Boss for 15 seasons, reflected on his journey with the show. Salman admitted that while he strives to advise contestants every season, they often take their own paths, disregarding his well-meaning tips. This year, however, Salman hinted that he won’t be giving any advice to contestants.
Two finalists announced on Day 1
In a move that defies Bigg Boss tradition, two contestants — Vivian Dsena and Alice Kaushik — were revealed as the finalists of Bigg Boss 18 much to their disbelief. The move was part of this year’s theme ‘Time Ka Taandav’. Bigg Boss assured them that if they reach the finale, the phone lines will open exclusively for them.
Vivian Dsena on rejecting the show eight times
After rejecting offers for eight consecutive seasons, Vivian finally agreed to join Bigg Boss this year. Known for his serious on-screen roles, he cleared the air on his reputation for being hot-headed, attributing it to his acting roles rather than his real-life temperament.
Shrutika Arjun Raaj’s fangirl moment
Former Tamil and Malayalam actress Shrutika brought charm and humour to the Bigg Boss 18 stage with her entry. She was in awe of Salman and couldn’t help fangirling over the Bollywood actor.
Tajinder Singh Bagga talks about his jail time
Politician Tajinder Bagga entered the Bigg Boss house with the aim of expanding his public reach. Sharing anecdotes from the time he was jailed, he said Bigg Boss would be an easier experience in comparison. Shrutika was quick to point out that Tajinder was blushing when Nyrraa Banerji joined them on stage, resulting in a banter.
Shilpa Shirodkar brings the 1990s vibe
A long-time fan of the show, Shilpa expressed excitement at finally joining the Bigg Boss house. “I am a huge fan of Bigg Boss and I have watched all the seasons. I always manifested how it feels to be inside the house. I am not here with baggage and I just want to enjoy myself,” she said. Shilpa was also ecstatic that she fulfilled her long-standing wish of sharing screen space with Salman.
Salman cautions Shehzada Dhami
Salman wasn’t amused with the air of arrogance with which Shehzada Dhami entered the Bigg Boss stage. He advised Dhami to approach his journey on the show with humility rather than arrogance. In response, Shehzada shared a difficult experience from his past, describing how he was removed from the well-known TV show. He recounted a particularly humiliating incident where a producer reprimanded him in front of roughly 150 crew members, leading to his dismissal.
Chaahat Pandey sent to ‘jail’
Television actress Chaahat Pandey attributed all her success in life to her mother. Chaahat revealed that she hails from a small town and maintains a simple lifestyle and down-to-earth approach. However, Salman was far from impressed. He said Chaahat’s real persona will be revealed inside the house. In a twist, as soon as she entered the Bigg Boss house, Chaahat was sent to jail with a condition — if she is able to convince two other contestants to take her place, she’ll be freed.
The surprise entry: Gadhraj the donkey
Gadhraj, a donkey, joined Salman on stage as the 19th contestant of the season, the only non-human to have ever participated in the show.
Other contestants
Nyrra Banerjee, Karan Veer Mehra, Avinash Mishra, Chum Darang, Rajat Dalal, Muskan Bamne, Arfeen Khan, Sara Arfeen Khan, Eisha Singh, Viral Bhabhi, Advocate Gunratna and Alice Kaushik are the remaining contestants for Bigg Boss 18, streaming 24X7 on JioCinema. New episodes will air on Colors TV at 10pm on weekdays and 9.30pm on weekends.
