Mary Kom and Aamrapali Dubey to Mahhi Vij and Qazi Tauqeer: Bigg Boss 20 welcomes contestants to ‘Vardaan’ house

MUMBAI: The wait is finally over as the new season of Bigg Boss has returned, bringing a fresh mix of personalities, rivalries and unexpected alliances to the screen.

With a diverse line-up of contestants stepping into the house, viewers can expect emotions to run high, friendships to be tested and drama to unfold at every turn.

Superstar host Salman Khan welcomed the 17 contestants for Bigg Boss Season 20, introducing them in his own distinct manner.

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The contestant lineup brings together an eclectic mix of champions, actors, digital creators, musicians, and rising personalities. While boxing legend Mary Kom brings an unparalleled sporting pedigree, Aamrapali Dubey and Uditi Singh bring their established screen presence and strong fan followings.

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Digital stars and young actors Arishfa Khan, Aman Gandhi, Love Gill, and Rohed Khan represent the new generation accustomed to commanding audiences online, while Qazi Ahmad Tauqeer and Isha Rikhi add their own entertainment and performance backgrounds to the mix.

Harsh Machare, better known as Yung DSA, and Tanmay Singh, aka ScoutOP, bring their own energy and competitive spirit alongside Kushal Tanwar, popularly known as Gullu. The lineup has been further strengthened by personalities like Mahhi Vij, Asif Khan, Rhiti Tiwari, and Kanika Mann.

At the premiere, Salman Khan kicked off the milestone season in style by performing on iconic songs, also marking his incredible 38 years in the film industry. The contestants also delivered special performances. In major surprises, Bhojpuri stars Manoj Tiwari and Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua joined in for the celebrations.

This year’s theme is ‘Vardaan’, with the makers teasing the idea of an “extra jeevan daan” that could bring an unexpected turn to the competition.

Mary, best known for her achievements inside the boxing ring, is now set to face a very different kind of challenge as she spends the next 105 days inside the Bigg Boss house. And before she began her journey, she received a special message from her friend and actor Priyanka Chopra.

Priyanka, who played Mary in the 2014 biopic Mary Kom, sent a video message for the boxer during the Bigg Boss 20 premiere. Chopra wished Mary luck and asked her to remain the same person she is while taking on the reality show.

The actor also had a warning for Mary’s fellow contestants, reminding them of the boxer’s powerful knockouts. In her message, Priyanka said, “Inka Knockout na bohot bhaari parta hai. Mary ap bas jaisi hai waisi rahie. Khule dil se kheliye. I’am so looking forward to your journey. Bohot Bohot sara pyaar.”

Priyanka and Mary have remained close since they worked together on Mary Kom. The film, directed by Omung Kumar, was released in 2014 and was backed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award at the 62nd National Film Awards.

For Mary, the Bigg Boss house marks a new chapter away from the boxing ring. With Priyanka’s “knockout” warning already out, it remains to be seen how the champion handles the challenges inside the house.

Bigg Boss 20 premiered on September 6 and is hosted by Salman Khan. The show is available on JioHotstar at 9 pm and airs on Colors at 10:30 pm.

The season’s contestants include Mary Kom, Aasif Khan, Kanika Mann, ScoutOp (Tanmay Singh), Amrapali Dubey, Mahhi Vij, Yung DSA, Qazi Touqeer, Arishfa Khan, Rohed Khan, Isha Rikhi, Gullu (Kushal Tanwar) among others. (ANI)