Hosted by Salman Khan, Bigg Boss 19 will start streaming on August 24, and there has been a lot of buzz around the list of contestants before the show. The producers had met more than 45 celebrities during the casting, as SCREEN had already reported a few weeks ago. Nonetheless, casting for the new season remains in process, significantly due to the fact that most of the celebrity actors are wary about sticking out for the five months in the extended run of the show.
Previously, we were informed that there would be no social media influencers in this season. But with the five-month tenure facing opposition from most celebrities, the producers also needed to contact a few content creators to participate in Bigg Boss 19.
Along with these, there are two other names who have made it into the list of likely contestants that SCREEN has learned exclusively about. As a source claimed, the upcoming 19th edition of Bigg Boss is lined up with participants Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Sailesh Lodha and online influencer Payal Dhare aka Payal Gamingg. Whereas Sailesh has not as yet responded to the offer, Payal is at the concluding stages of negotiations.
Sailesh Lodha has been offered to be featured in Bigg Boss many times after he quit Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2022. Even though Sailesh earlier had claimed that he did not want to take part in a show like Bigg Boss, it appears that he might have changed his mind. The actor was approached recently in Bigg Boss 19, but he has not agreed to be a part yet.
Another Social Media celebrity Dhare Payal, also known as Payal Gamingg, has 4 million fans on Instagram. She has become the new celebrity who has been approached to be on the Salman Khan-hosted show. Payal, a renowned gamer, has been associated with Rohit Sharma, Chaitanya Akkineni, and Sonakshi Sinha.
Many old actors of TMKOC were called this year to the Bigg Boss 19. There are some reports that confirm the former Sodhi, aka Gurucharan Singh, has been roped in the show. In 2024, Gurcharan was in the news after her disappearance from home in Delhi lasted nearly one month.
The other star that is claimed to be near finalizing his agreement to the show is social media star Mr Faisu. Mr Faisu most recently appeared as a Celebrity MasterChef Season 1 finalist. There were also rumours of his split with the actress Jannat Zubair in the news.
Bigg Boss Telugu season 5 has included singer Sreerama Chandra, who won the Indian Idol in 2010. He has appeared lastly on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 11. Sreerama is said to be one of the female contestants of Bigg Boss 19.
6. Dhanashree Verma
The last big screen appearance was of the social media influencer and former wife of cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, Dhanashree Verma, in Bhool Chuk Maaf starring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi. She has also been a finalist in the show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11 and is currently speculated to appear as a near definite participant ofBigg Boss 19.
Gaurav Khanna is a popular actor who became famous after playing in Anupamaa and later on took home the trophy of the first season of Celebrity MasterChef. And now, Gaurav is reportedly being discussed to be a part of Bigg Boss 19.
Apoorva Mukhija, a social media influencer, made the news this year as she was one of the subjects of the controversial India’s Got Latent episode. Apoorva appears to be another definite entrant into Bigg Boss 19. In reaction to SCREEN having enquired her on whether she was going to take part in the Salman Khan-hosted show, Apoorva had stated, “Never say never.”
Hunar has also been said to have been confirmed in Bigg Boss 19.
Music composer Amaal Mallik was also apparently tapped to host the show, after another set of controversies earlier this year. It is possible to state that since publicly declaring his estrangement with his family on social media and making outrageous claims and allegations on a podcast, Amaal has not been out of the spotlight.
On Sunday, only SCREEN reported that there will be 15 candidates in Bigg Boss season 19, of which about three wild cards will enter the show later. The show will be tenured for a five-month run, and will stream on JioHotstar initially and be delayed telecast on Colors 90 minutes after it.