In 2006, a new show entered the entertainment landscape and had a lasting impact on the nation: Bigg Boss. The show is an adaptation of the international Big Brother series and has millions of viewers, with the 18th season topping 205 million views. Its success has seen it air in multiple languages and led to several spin-offs. The show’s concept is simple, yet it consistently delivers tantalising drama and hours of entertainment.
What exactly is it about Bigg Boss that keeps viewers coming back for more season after season? We’ll explore the answer in this guide. We’ll take you through the history and concept of the show to break down how this formula has shaped an addictive piece of reality TV that still remains thrilling nearly two decades later.
A Quick History of Bigg Boss
The debut season came out in 2006, following the success of the Big Brother series, which has adaptations across the globe, including in the Netherlands (the original version), the US, and the UK.
When Bigg Boss first aired in India in 2006, it was hosted by Arshad Warsi, who at the time was known for starring in films like Hulchul and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Warsi was replaced by Shilpa Shetty, the winner of the first season. After Shetty, actor Amitabh Bachchan took over. But these first three years of host-switching came to an end when Salman Khan stepped in as the host in 2010—a position he still holds today. His strong personality and unpredictable behaviour made him integral to the show, and his tendency to call out contestants for their actions adds to the allure and drama.
The show’s contestants largely consist of celebrities, but season 10 introduced non-celebrity contestants to the mix, adding another layer of intrigue. Since its debut, the show has become a cultural obsession with fans from all walks of life and across many regions of the country. The popularity has led to four spin-offs, including Bigg Boss Kannada in 2013, Bigg Boss Halla Bol in 2015, and Bigg Boss OTT in 2021.
How the Show Works
The name of the original Big Brother was inspired by George Orwell’s novel 1984. Like the novel, the show’s contestants are under constant surveillance much like the novel’s characters were by the government, commonly referred to as “Big Brother.” The show places the contestants in a home where they’re cut off from the outside world.
While there, the contestants are given tasks that challenge them physically and emotionally and challenge team and house dynamics, setting the stage for tensions, shifting alliances, and general drama. Each week, contestants must nominate another contestant for eviction. The audience then votes on nominated contestants to determine who has to leave the house. The last contestant left is declared the winner.
As the tasks unfold, show-mances play out on the screen, alliances are formed and broken, and opinions and frustrations are aired in confession rooms. They offer the audience glimpses into what goes on behind the scenes and the thought processes and emotional states of the contestants. This builds an emotional connection for the audience and leads to them rooting for their favourite contestants and evicting their least favourite—it’s drama that the audience gets to influence directly.
The Most Memorable Seasons and Winners
The formula of Bigg Boss has garnered a lot of attention over its 18 seasons to date, but some seasons and some moments stand out more than others for their controversy, viral moments, and for resonating with pop culture more deeply than other seasons.
The 13th season, Bigg Boss 13, is widely regarded as the most memorable to date. It boasted some of the highest TRP (Television Rating Point) ratings to date, and the seasons that have followed are always compared to it. The season had celebrity appeal, riveting contestant dynamics, and tasks that were exciting and less predictable than those of other seasons. Bigg Boss didn’t interfere or play favourites, or at least not as much; it only interfered with tasks to stir up on-screen drama, forcing dynamics to change, causing new partnerships and fallouts to ensue.
Just because Bigg Boss 13 is hailed as the best doesn’t mean there haven’t been memorable moments and winners from other seasons. If that were the case, we wouldn’t be looking forward to the 2025 season to unfold. Other standout winners and memorable contestants include Rubina Dilaik, who won season 14, and Pratik Sehajpal, who was the season 15 runner-up and went on to participate in the Bigg Boss OTT spin-off.
Bigg Boss in 2025: What’s New This Season?
Every season of Bigg Boss sees new challenges, tasks, and contestants, and now that season 19 has been confirmed, new details are starting to emerge about what we can expect. The biggest news? The AI doll Habubu will be a contestant on the show. Habubu is capable of holding conversations, recognising emotions, and carrying out domestic tasks. It will be nothing short of riveting to see how the robot contributes to the atmosphere and social dynamics of the season.
While less exciting than the addition of a robotic contestant, the season will also be longer than others, spanning five and a half months. It’s also rumoured that social media influencer Apoorva Mukhija may be a contestant. This has yet to be confirmed, but she has left hints in her posts about the possibility. The season’s theme is “return,” with hints that it will be filled with nostalgic elements, including the return of “the secret room,” where the bottom two contestants are forced to watch the tasks unfold from afar.
What Makes Bigg Boss So Addictive?
Though rumours add excitement, it’s the show’s addictive nature, with its unpredictable drama and emotional rollercoaster, that keeps people engaged. The audience is always wondering what will happen next, and the high-stakes tasks and tensions only add to the suspense.
The desire to know what happens next rivals other highly engaging entertainment forms. For example, top-ranking live casinos similarly use suspense to intrigue players and immersive, responsive experiences that keep them engaged in the same way Bigg Boss lets the audience have a role in the show’s outcomes. The two forms of entertainment create immersive experiences that pique our curiosity, release adrenaline, and get us emotionally invested. Though they’re completely different forms of entertainment, they have remarkably similar qualities.
Both online casinos and Bigg Boss feed into the growing desire people have for immersive experiences. No longer do people want to passively consume content; they want unpredictable and unscripted environments where they get to participate in the action. They blur entertainment and engagement, allowing audiences and players to be entertained and play an active role.
Why Bigg Boss Still Captivates India
In addition to the merging of entertainment and engagement through voting, Bigg Boss reflects cultural values and brings to light discussions audiences have every day. It’s a relatable piece of reality television that simultaneously removes them from everyday life while deepening conversations that are part of daily living.
The show is also well-suited to creating bite-sized entertainment moments that can go viral on social media, keeping the buzz alive between episodes and seasons. Clips hinting at drama and over-the-top tasks to come remind the audience to check in to see how the show plays out by capitalising on our desire to know what comes next. Social media enables fans of particular alliances and contestants they love, or love to hate, to share their thoughts, predictions, and opinions, creating a more enriching and meaningful connection between each audience member and the show.
These qualities all come together to shape a series that, even into its 18th season, still resonates with India’s population, keeping us captivated and ready for more from the series. From the chaos of the tasks and shifting dynamics to the charisma of celebrity contestants and the legendary host, Bigg Boss has exceptional staying power that enables it to be an ongoing cultural obsession.
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