Bigg Boss Season 19: Contestants, Start Date, Host, Eliminations & Updates

Show Launch: Start Date & Format

Premiere Date & Platforms
Bigg Boss 19 premiered on 24 August 2025, first streaming on JioHotstar at 9:00 PM IST, then aired on Colors TV at 10:30 PM IST. The season represents a strategic shift — it’s the first in the show’s history to release on OTT first, then through traditional TV.

Host
Once again, the charismatic Salman Khan is at the helm, marking his 16th stint as host.

Theme: “Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar”
This season’s unique twist centers on a political-style format—housemates are divided into the Ruling Party and the Opposition. Each week, they vote to elect a leader who forms the “government” inside the house: assigning tasks, managing resources, and setting the tone for power dynamics. Contestants also attempt “secret tasks” to earn rations, adding stakes to their weekly performance.

During the premiere, Salman hinted that he will preside over the house for the first 15 weeks, before guest hosts like Farah Khan and Karan Johar step in.

Contestant Lineup

Confirmed Housemates (Initial 16)
According to credible sources, the following contestants entered on Day 1:

• Ashnoor Kaur – Youngest entrant; began acting at age 5 and scored 94% in her Class 12 boards. She also purchased her dream home at 19.
• Amaal Mallik – Singer-composer; opened the premiere discussing his battle with clinical depression.
• Gaurav Khanna – Popular TV star, noted humorously by Salman as the “green flag”—an ideal son-in-law figure.
• Awez Darbar – Social media influencer with a huge online presence; son of composer Ismail Darbar.
• Nagma Mirajkar – Content creator and influencer.
• Baseer Ali – Splitsvilla winner and seasoned reality TV face.
• Abhishek Bajaj – Film actor known for Student of the Year 2 and Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui.
• Kunickaa Sadanand – Veteran actress turned lawyer and activist.
• Natalia Janoszek – Polish actress-dancer who admitted she’s nervous about her Hindi skills.
• Pranit More – Comedian and former RJ; welcomed the season with wit.
• Farhana Bhatt – Actor and peace activist from Kashmir, a national taekwondo medallist.
• Zeishan Quadri – Filmmaker-actor known from Gangs of Wasseypur fame.
• Nehal Chudasama, Neelam Giri, Tanya Mittal – Adding variety through regional and influencer backgrounds.
• Mridul Tiwari – YouTuber who entered via “Fans Ka Faisla” vote, defeating Shehbaz Badesha.
• (Potential): Additional names like Baseer Ali, Siwet Tomar, Payal Dhare, Seedhe Maut, Atul Kishan, Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh were mentioned in broader lineups.

Wild Card Entries
The house will eventually expand to 19 contestants, with three wild cards joining mid-season.

Premiere Highlights & Early Drama

Highlights from the Grand Premiere:

• Salman Khan confessed he’s “never experienced true love” when asked by Tanya Mittal.
• Amaal Mallik opened up about his journey with depression, adding emotional depth to the premiere.
• Gaurav Khanna made a humorous self-introduction, positioning himself as the “ideal beta”.
• Mridul Tiwari secured his spot via fan votes, overtaking Shehbaz.
• Awez and Nagma shared their relationship is on a playful “test drive,” hinting at budding romance.

First Day Conflicts & Dynamics:

• A fiery debate erupted between Kunickaa Sadanand and Mridul Tiwari, with Kunickaa accusing Mridul of excessive leader-like behavior (“Leader giri mat kar”).
• Amaal Mallik’s loud snoring soon became the house’s first humorous highlight .

4. Eliminations & Power Plays

Elimination Process:
The first elimination task required contestants to unanimously choose who doesn’t deserve to stay. This sparked immediate confrontations and stripped alliances of veneer in the house’s first power play.

With the “Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar” theme, eliminations and leadership roles are tied to how contestants manage responsibilities and influence, rather than just nominations.

Summary & What to Watch